Que about teeth.

[Huckleberry]

 I am unable to tell from the pictures and diagrams I have seen where the front teeth are supposed to line up. I can tell that there are two rows on top and one on bottom. I just dont understand the “grinding down” process. How long are these teeth supposed to be before it is a problem? Are they ok as long as they are straight/not curling or pointing in a diagonal direction? 

When I took Huckleberry to the vet in Feb, the vet said she needed to start grinding her teeth down more. I can’t afford to take her to the vet again until March. She is not showing any signs of problems, but I worry about her to extreme excess. 

Does anyone have a photo of their bun’s healthy teeth that I could look at to compare? I just tried to take pics of hers for you all to look at and judge but even with two people it was impossible, so if you DO have photos, you’re a miracle worker!

[Sarita]

Was the vet talking about the molars in the back or the incisors in the front?

[Huckleberry]

She didn’t specify…

EDIT:

But she did say I need to bring her back in 4-6 weeks to have them clipped if she continued to refuse hay. She eats lots of hay now though. If that helps…?

[Sarita]

Not really – it sounds though like perhaps she meant molars which are in the back and you won’t be able to look in her mouth and tell if she has molar spurs – it takes an experienced vet to tell.

The hay is what grinds the molars in the back down – not the incisors in the front.

There isn’t any one way to tell if a rabbit needs her molars ground down though – some signs COULD be poopy butt, teary eyes, change in eating habits, drooling – sometimes you cannot even tell though! Which is another reason to at the very least have your rabbit checked annually if they are otherwise healthy.

Do you mean you won’t be able to take her in until May instead of March?

[Beka27]

 

 

I just did a google image search for “rabbit teeth problems” and this came right up.  The molar spurs are the pointy spikes on the sides of the teeth.  They can poke into the cheeks or tongue making chewing uncomfortable.  On the bottom, you can see that they’ve already been clipped off.  

Rabbits who have dental malalignment or issues grinding down their molars adequately will typically have this issue for life.  You can’t “make” a rabbit do much of anything, including grinding their teeth.  All you can do is continue to offer hay (different types and cuts might help encourage more consumption) and have check-ups as necessary.

If the issue is in the front incisors, the clipping is less of an involved process (this can usually be done without anesthesia).  If there is chronic malalignment, you can also elect to have the front teeth extracted.

[Sarita]

Cool photos! But remember, you won’t be able to see this just by looking in the mouth and doubtful you will be able to unless you have the proper tools.

[Huckleberry]

Ok, thank you! I think she is in good health then. She eats lots of hay now that I have a brand she enjoys and have cut back to only one small serving of pellets a day and one hefty serving of veggies a day.
Yes I did mean May lol… I am sleep deprived, the brain doesn’t work all that well.
Those pictures are very helpful.
I was mostly wondering about the front teeth. Do I need to worry about how long they get? They aren’t giving her problems to my knowledge. Her gums are light pink, I don’t see any irritation where the teeth could be rubbing. Her breath smells like hay, no nasty rotting stench.
I am really not worried that she is in trouble, I just want to know as much as I can so I can be a better bunny parent!

[Sarita]

Well you won’t necessarily get a nasty rotting stench smell from dental problems. Molar spurs are very common and you definitely aren’t going to be able to see them unless you have an otoscope and really know what to look for which is why you need an experienced vet to look.

Also molar spurs don’t affect the gums – they will affect the inside of the cheek or the tongue where they rub against those areas and I’ve only had a vet be able to tell me this.

I would say that if your vet has mentioned about possible molar spurs or high molars then it’s good to be diligent and watch for changes in behavior.

[BinkyBunny]

Bunnies that have a misalignment might have to deal with both front incisors and molar spurs on the back teeth.. Rucy, for the most part, only had to molar spurs. I could always tell when she needed to get them trimmed because even though she could eat, she would eat less and as it got worse, her eyes would begin to water and she would even jerk a bit in pain. So I would get regular check-ups to prevent that from happening. Plus, you don’t want the spurs to get so long that they can cut the cheek and have an abscess develop.

If you are not sure which teeth (the incisors or the molars, or both) it is important to clarify that with your vet. Because as the others have said, you won’t be able to see the molars yourself, so you will have to rely on your vets recommendations.

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