Rabbit teeth grow continuously and dental disease is a major concern

Do you know that herbivorous small mammals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas, have teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives?

- Wendy Chee and Christine Ng

Different teeth have varying growth rates, with incisors growing the fastest at up to 2.4mm a week.

Factors like age, diet and pregnancy can also influence tooth growth rates. This adaptation supports their fibrous plant-based diet but also makes them prone to dental issues.

Rabbits have 28 teeth in their oral cavity. Without sufficient grinding, teeth can overgrow and cause oral injuries (such as tongue or cheek ulcers), painful eating and even life-threatening infections.

COMMON RABBIT DENTAL PROBLEMS

One of the most common rabbit dental problems is malocclusion, where teeth do not align properly, leading to overgrown teeth or dental spurs. These can result in sharp edges that cut into the rabbit’s cheeks or tongue, making eating painful.

Dental irregularities in rabbits are commonly caused by genetic factors, poor dietary habits and imbalances in calcium to phosphorous metabolism.

Another common problem is elongated tooth roots, where molar teeth extend into the bone or sinus cavity, causing issues like nasal discharge, watery eyes and discomfort.