This is rabbit awareness week and we have special features every day on our Facebook page – so do check them out if your special family members are rabbits, or you are considering getting a pair of these delightful animals.
Dental Health for Rabbits
The health of a rabbit’s teeth has a huge impact on their overall health, so we decided to focus on that in our newsletter this month.
Unlike cats and dogs, rabbits have continuously growing teeth, and they require a diet of about 85% good quality grass or hay to keep their teeth from overgrowing, as it will naturally wear them down.
As such, inappropriate diets and issues with teeth alignment that may be present at birth or stem from injuries may make it impossible for this normal dental wear to occur.
Regardless of what’s causing it, dental disease is very painful, and it can translate into many other problems, including:
- Decreased food intake and weight loss
- Runny eyes
- Less grooming
- Faeces stuck on their fur
- Odd behaviours, due to pain
What may start as a bad tooth can quickly evolve into serious problems – such as gut disease due to not eating, or flystrike because of reduced grooming!
If you have concerns about your rabbit’s dental or general health, please do book an appointment online.
Heathfield Vets – Quality Care With A Friendly Face
