Duration: 2:23

2,032 views

22

Rabbit teeth are very different from human teeth in that they are constantly growing, an adaptation seen in animals that eat vegetation. Rabbits use their incisors to slice food, and the tongue moves the food into the mouth. The molars, moving in a lateral arc, grind the food on one side of the jaw at a time. It takes a lot of daily chewing and gnawing to keep them worn down to usable lengths. The top two teeth should overlap the bottom two teeth.

This way, as the rabbit chews the teeth wear each other down evenly.

A rabbits teeth for example can be infected and overgrown if not given the proper care leading to all sorts of health problems.

Overgrown teeth can happen even when you are giving your rabbit hay.

Reasons why your rabbit could have overgrown teeth are:

1- The rabbit was born with having this particular trait. It is more common in breeds such as Netherland dwarfs and lop eared rabbits.

2-When the rabbit has a injury to the face leading to disruption of the roots.

3- A Bacterial infection can lead to changes to the direction of the tooth growth.

So now that we know the reasons to why they have overgrown teeth, how do we prevent it?

Here are some ways to prevent this from happening:

1- Check the head and face. The sides should feel equal with no bumps or swelling

2-Check the incisor teeth. Check to see that they are not loose & that the gum tissue is healthy pink (not red or purple). Also make sure that the teeth are perfectly aligned.

3-Check for problems with grinding teeth. Watch for signs such as:
Drooling or wetness around the mouth
Swelling, warmth or pain at the jaw line or under chin
Change in food preference (especially, but not always, from harder to softer foods)
Showing interest in food, but not eating
Weight loss
Bad odor from mouth
Grinding teeth (not the happy purring sound)
Reclusive or grumpy behavior

Please note that giving your rabbit chew toys will not help its incisors.

If you should witness any of these symptoms or have a rabbit that has overgrown teeth please seek veterinary help immediately.

I hope this information has helped you with your rabbit.

Thank you for watching!
Stay Healthy!
CottonTail WildCraft