Gallery

The pictures on this page are not pleasant - but show the reality of what can happen to rabbits teeth if they don't get enough of the right nutrients and FIBRE in their diet. Rabbits teeth grow continuously - about 12cm a year so they need lots of long, tough fibre like grass and hay to nibble on because the gnawing action helps to grind their teeth down to the correct length.

These pictures show what healthy rabbit teeth should look like.

When a rabbits teeth become too long they can no longer open their mouths fully. They are unable to chew properly and can slowly starve to death. Overgrown front teeth also handicap eating and can be painful.

But becoming overgrown isn't the end of the story. The back teeth can develop sharp spurs if they are not worn down. These can cut the rabbits cheek or tongue.

If rabbits don't get enough of the right nutrients like calcium in their diet (which can occur when they selectively feed), they get skeletal problems. Weaker bone structure allows the roots of the perpetually growing teeth to grow abnormally, leading to even more problems such as tooth root abcesses, blocked tearducts or even complete disintegration of the structure. Lack of a good diet is often seen as ribbing on the front incisor teeth. This means that the teeth are weak and brittle..

If caught in time overgrown teeth can be filed down. However this involves putting the rabbit under anaesthetic to access the rear molars. It can also be a very expensive procedure!

Selective Feeding on highly sugary and starchy foods and lack of exercise can lead to obesity. Obese rabbits are often too fat to eat their caecotrophs, predisposing them to problems around their backend and often allowing flies to lay eggs. When these hatch the maggots bury into the skin causing severe problems.