Hi... Our Daughter bought a rabbit at an auction, he is a mini rex and we were told he was born in April... anyhow we got him 2 weeks ago and have noticed one of his teeth is extending up into his nostril.. (tooth from bottom jaw)
he hasnt eaten any of the carrots we have given him (he does eat the pellets) and doesnt chew the wood like her other rabbits... so either this is the cause or the symptom.. I am going to call a vet in the morning but wondering if anyone knows what they can do for him or if their is anything I can do?
thanks
2006-10-22 17:19:34 · 12 answers · asked by CF_ 7 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Hi...I'm a vet technician, and we work with lots of rabbits at our clinic...call your vet in the morning, your rabbit will need to have the teeth trimmed...rabbits have teeth that continue to grow during their whole life-time...for whatever reason, some rabbits are not chewers, or their teeth are shaped funny so they can't chew and need to be trimmed from time to time...it is easy to do, but should be done by someone that has experience doing it...a rabbit has a very small and narrow mouth, so any tools used to cut the teeth could easily cut the tongue or cheeks...
On a side note (you may already know this) but because alot of people do not realize this, please always have fresh Timothy hay available at all times...most of the rabbit problems we see in our clinic could be avoided with this small tip...so I always pass that info on! Good Luck!
2006-10-22 17:34:43 · answer #1 · answered by luszoo3 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Rabbit's teeth are always growing. When the teeth are aligned, they wear down when the rabbit chews food like hay. If the teeth do not align, there can be problems. With the front teeth, a vet can clip or file the teeth when they get too long. If the back teeth are the problem, they can still be filed down, but it may require a sedative. You can get the teeth removed, but you do need to get the top and bottom ones done in the same spot or the left over one will grow and still need to be filed down. Removing the teeth does mean the diet may need to be modified so the rabbit can eat. The only way to stop the teeth from growing is to remove them completely.
2016-05-22 00:03:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabbits teeth can also become overgrown if they do not have enough chew toys or just don't like to chew. Wooden chew toys are a necessity for rabbits, alfalfa cubes can also help to keep their teeth short. If a rabbits teeth get too long, it can cause discomfort and the rabbit will not be able to eat. The rabbit would need to be taken to the vet to have the teeth filed down. You are right about calling your vet, sorry there is not much of anything you can do for him until he sees the vet. Once the teeth are filed, proper nutrition and lots of things to chew on. Good Luck.
If you are looking for a good site on rabbit info, check this out.
http://islandgems.net/readingroom.html
2006-10-23 02:18:26 · answer #3 · answered by ...... 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As others have said, you need to take him to a vet to get his teeth properly trimmed. Make sure that the vet has some knowledge of rabbits- if they plan to clip the teeth with nail clippers or something like that, take your rabbit and go elsewhere- this can fracture the teeth and cause the bunny even more problems. Also make sure that they check his back teeth as well- if his incisors are overgrown his back teeth certainly are as well, but this is something overlooked by many vets.
Not much you can do for him in the meantime, but as 'luszoo3' said, make sure he has access to hay at all times. Also, check the quality of the pellets- many pellets supposedly designed for rabbits don't have anywhere near enough fibre in them- should be something like 60% minimum (not so much of a problem if you're in the US or UK, but a big problem if you live in Australia). Biggest tooth problems in rabbits are diet related...good quality hay and some fresh vegies are the best things for them.
Good luck :o)
2006-10-22 18:57:18 · answer #4 · answered by Loz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it extending out over his lip and into his nostril? Or does it almost seem like it's growing through the roof of his mouth? It sounds like you need to get him to the vet to have his teeth trimmed. Rabbit teeth grow continuously, and sometimes either their teeth don't line up right or they don't have the proper things to chew on, so their teeth will grow too long. This can make it difficult or nearly impossible for them to eat, and can eventually lead to starvation in extreme cases.
Once his teeth are trimmed, make sure he has a variety of things to chew on. Apple tree branches are good, as is untreated wood and untreated drywall (which actually gives rabbits calcium!).
Below is a site that offers a TON of great rabbit info!
Good luck!
2006-10-22 17:41:52 · answer #5 · answered by Somebody 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My sister owns a mini rex, and I can tell you that they are supposed to chew on wood to keep their teeth short. If your rabbit doesn't want to chew on things, it's probably because his tooth is too long and it hurts to chew. The vet would know better than I do about what to do to fix it. Maybe they can pull the tooth and let it grow back, if that's possible. I can also tell you what my sister's bunny likes to eat; maybe yours will like these things too: carrots and their tops, strawberry tops, and wild clover (flower, stem, and all) are some of his favorites. One way you can tell if your bunny is happy is whether he hops (bounces on all fours) regularly.
2006-10-22 17:32:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You need to cut the rabbit's teeth and doctor the mouth. Keep cutting the teeth each time they grow until the teeth straiten out.
You can take the rabbit to a vet to have it done but you should ask if they tend to rabbits before hand, or find some one who raises rabbits.
I raise and show rabbit, so I have had this problem before too.
2006-10-22 17:32:33 · answer #7 · answered by Preacher's Daughter 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the vet will cut them. Lots of people have to get their rabbits teeth trimmed down on a regular basis.
2006-10-22 20:39:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely, you will have to take this rabbit to the vet to get its teeth filed down. I would first suggest offering all of your rabbits timothy hay, which will naturally keep the teeth minimized.
Please see this site regarding overgrown teeth:
http://www.lbah.com/rabbits/malocclusion.htm
Please view this site for dietary suggestions:
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabcare.html
2006-10-22 22:54:12 · answer #9 · answered by Tibbytwinkletoes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to take to your vet they will cut them down for you safely.Also go to your local pet store and ask about anything that they may sell like a salt lick to chew on and help to naturally wear them down but you may still have to periodically take a trip to the vet,it is not painful and takes seconds to do
2006-10-22 17:30:13 · answer #10 · answered by christine k 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋