Checking out their teeth..

[Aminah Undone]

When Bella was first picked up from the Chevron Refinery area.. she had an initial once over with one of the Vets, and it was determined that her teeth were in bad shape (some may need extraction, some were filed/trimmed down, etc.). The last few visits have just been following up on her weight gain and parasite issues (which she’s FREE of all “bad” cooties and such.. yey!), and no one has really given her teeth any attention cuz she’d had them trimmed so recently.

Can any of these issues correct themselves with proper diet, hay, pellets, fresh water intake over a prolonged time? Would “loose teeth” be a result of poor nutritional intake or malnourishment? I know overgrown teeth are a result of lack of proper food/hay and so on.

What is the proper way for me to do a “home check” on her teeth? Or should I just leave that all to my Vet?

 

She doesn’t seem to have any problems eating anything that I offer her. She even devours her timothy mats.. she LOVES those like people love Lay’s potato chips…

[Sarita]

Well, there are many reasons for poor dental health in rabbits. Part of it could just be genetics. Part of it could be poor general care which could be the reason for her dental problems. Perhaps if it’s just poor care hay will help with the proper wearing down of the teeth – pellets don’t help with this at all.

Loose teeth could be the result of trauma as well or possible dental disease…I would ask the vet what his/her thoughts on Bella’s dental problems could be and also for their suggestions as they have examined her teeth and done dental extractions and filings – I think that would be your best bet for information on her situation.

Your vet is going to be the best bet in examining her teeth since you need an otoscope to see the molars and sometimes your vet will have to put your rabbit under anesthesia to see problems as well.

There may be some changes in her behavior that could alert you though that she may be having dental problems and this can really vary from rabbit to rabbit. Some rabbits will stop eating pellets or vegetables – basically a change in their eating habits. Some may slober or have wet chins (usually if it’s come to this, it’s probably pretty bad). My rabbit Pepe gets more aggressive when his molars start to get points. So really you just want to be aware of any changes in their normal behaviors and habits that could alert you to any possible illness including dental problems.

[Aminah Undone]

Thanks.. I’ll be sure to ask my Vet everything from now on.

It sounds like a lot of it is very similar to Chinchilla teeth issues, though. I’ve been through the realm of dental stuff with one of my Chinchilla rescues.. “walrus tusks” ..spurred molars ..molars invading sinuses ..drooling ..the works! Blah.

[Sarita]

Poor Bella has been through alot!

Yes, I think they are very similar to chinchillas. It’s good you have experience then with dental disease – this can be so frustrating and you probably then have a vet who has lots of experience dealing with rabbit and chinchilla dental problems which is a plus for you.

[Aminah Undone]

You know.. Bella has really been through a LOT, but she’s amazingly resilient! I adore her strength.. heck! ..I envy it a little bit! She came here with a very withdrawn, lack of emotion of any kind ..expression and actions. She was obviously beyond exhaustion with humans and what life had offered her, thus far. But today ..and very quickly after coming into our home… she is full of expression and life! Some days, she’s REALLY full of “something”.. haha… and we LOVE her for it!

I get the bestest bunny kisses and nudges I could ever dream of getting from her!

 

(She’s very much like Phoenix.. the Chinchilla rescue I spoke of ..very resilient!  &#160

[jerseygirl]

The only checking you can really do at home is for the incisors. Check to see they’re lined up etc. Her past diet may have effected her teeth also, and how she processes calcium.  You’ll have to post some new pics of the happy, healthier Bella!

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