What to Do if Your Rabbit Has Overgrown Teeth

Rabbits have teeth that never stop growing, which can become problematic. Knowing how to keep your rabbit's teeth trim and what actions to take if they become overgrown can help prevent serious issues.

Normal Rabbit Teeth

Rabbits have 28 permanent teeth. Most herbivores, including rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses, have teeth that continuously grow above and below the gum line. The front teeth, known as incisors, are typically the most noticeable. However, rabbits also have molars at the back of their mouths, which can be problematic because they are more difficult to see.

How Do Rabbit Teeth Become Overgrown?

The natural grinding action that occurs when a rabbit chews fibrous plants usually wears teeth down to an ideal length, despite continuous growth. However, pet rabbits often need their teeth manually trimmed due to various health, environmental, and genetic factors.

While many of your rabbit's teeth can become too long, the incisors are the easiest to identify when overgrown. They can grow so long that they curl up and stick out between your rabbit's lips. This is problematic because they may get stuck on objects like cage bars or, worse, grow into your rabbit's gums or the roof of their mouth.

Similar to the incisors, the molars can also reach excessive lengths. Molars are difficult to see without a special instrument called a speculum, making it hard for rabbit owners to know if these teeth are overgrown. Rabbits and other exotic pets with overgrown molars tend to drool excessively and have difficulty chewing and swallowing, which are key signs to watch for. If a rabbit is unable to eat, ileus can quickly develop, causing a life-threatening situation.

Treatment of Overgrown Rabbit Incisors

Fortunately, you can easily manage your rabbit's overgrown front teeth. When done correctly, tooth trims are not painful, and there are two common methods used.

1. Nail Clippers - The first method involves using regular dog nail clippers to cut the teeth as you would cut toenails, but this is not the preferred way to trim teeth. There is a high risk of cracking or splitting the tooth due to the force applied with the clippers. This method can cause pain if the tooth splits to the nerve or is trimmed too short.
2. Rotary Tool - The second method uses a handheld rotary tool, like a Dremel or dental bur, to slice off the excess tooth. This method demands more skill and sometimes requires anesthesia or sedation to keep the rabbit still, but it can be performed easily at your veterinarian's office. This method does not traumatize the tooth or nerve. However, there is a risk of trauma to the gums or lips if the cutting tool accidentally grazes them or if a tooth is trimmed too short. Many exotic pet hospitals perform tooth trims inexpensively, but your rabbit may need sedation for the procedure to be safe and effective.

Treatment of Overgrown Rabbit Molars

Trimming rabbit molars is more challenging than trimming incisors. Molars are not easily visible to rabbit owners, so overgrown molars might not be noticed until the rabbit has trouble eating or is drooling. A veterinarian will use a speculum to view the molars and confirm their overgrowth. Your rabbit must be sedated to have its molars trimmed. A dental bur or special tooth file is used to grind the teeth down, but dental X-rays may also be recommended to check if the teeth are diseased and need extraction.

How to Prevent Overgrown Teeth in a Rabbit

While you cannot prevent your rabbit's teeth from growing, you can take simple steps to stop them from becoming overgrown.

• Oral exams - Check your pet's teeth weekly as best you can for signs of overgrowth.
• Fibrous food - Provide your rabbit with a diet that's rich in fiber to help it wear down its teeth and mimic what it would eat in the wild. Grass, leafy vegetables like kale, and hay are all good for your rabbit.
• Chew toys - Chewing is essential to your rabbit's dental health so provide plenty of safe objects for it to chew. Plain blocks of safe woods and other plants, specialized rabbit chew toys, and homemade toys are all good options.