Interesting piece on hay and teeth problems

[osprey]

This comes from Oxbow, so they definitely have an agenda, but it is interesting nonetheless.  I found this on petsource.com:

 

Providing your pet herbivore with unlimited grass hay to eat is important for 5 main reasons: ensuring proper intestinal mobility, maintaining bacterial balance in the cecum, providing environmental enrichment, preventing obesity, and – most critically – preventing dental disease. 

 

Popular pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and prairie dogs are biologically classified as herbivores, meaning they eat only plant material.  A unique characteristic of these animals and other small rodents is that their teeth constantly grow in order to replace what is worn away.  This unique dental physiology is an evolutionary adaptation to a plant-rich diet. 

 

In nature, these animals graze on weeds, grasses and shrubs.  Inside each tiny cell of these plants are even smaller, abrasive particles called phytoliths (“plant stones”).  As herbivores graze, they grind and break apart the plant cells, releasing the phytoliths, and exposing their teeth to the abrasive particles.  This chewing action wears down the animal’s teeth much the same way that sandpaper wears down wood.   

 

Pet herbivores are usually fed pelleted diets designed to provide the complete and optimum fiber, protein, fat, and nutrient levels necessary for proper health.  From a nutritional standpoint, this is excellent, but from a physiological standpoint, pellets are not enough.  Pellets, while nutritionally compete and necessary, do not contain enough phytoliths to properly wear down your pet’s teeth.  Herbivores need hay, because hay is a natural source of phytoliths. 

 

Your pet’s teeth will keep growing, just as they were designed to do, regardless of diet.  Without hay in your pet’s diet, there is nothing to wear the teeth down, leading to dental problems that can impact overall health.  There are many varieties of grass hays available to supply your pet with different flavors or to suit its individual preferences.  Oxbow carries several sizes of Western Timothy, Brome, Oat, Orchard and Hay Cakes.

 

Providing your pet with unlimited grass hay is the best and simplest method of preventing dental disease.  Animals with healthy teeth are less likely to develop tooth and gum abscesses, go off their feed or require emergency veterinary visits.

 

 

Laura Duclos, PhD

Director of Nutrition and Product Development

Oxbow Pet Products

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Thanks for sharing!! That really breaks it down for you, like on how Hay wears down the teeth!

[Sarita]

Interesting!

Of course if your rabbit’s teeth aren’t aligned properly they may still have dental issues no matter how much hay they eat.

[kralspace]

Yeah, my poor Toby is in for his monthly teeth clipping today, his teeth are so badly mis aligned they stick out at all angles. I often wonder if he’d be better off having them removed.

Kathy

[kimberleyanddarren]

thanks for that, was a nice read! yes its like elephants only live as long as their teeth last, because they dont grow they get to an age where they have no teeth left, although they do grow 6 new sets in a lifetime once they get really old they have used their last pair and have 2 munch on soggy stuff.. poor elephants but their species has survived so they cant be that badly off i guess.. rambling sorry lol

[bunnytowne]

hm m m maybe toby could get soem dentures?   i never thought  of buny dentures b4

[kralspace]

chomp! I’ve read where some have had them removed and they still pull the food and hay in with their lips. When I saw him the first time at the shelter, his teeth were almost an inch long (he’s a tiny bunny) skinny like spaghetti and interwined so he could hardly open his mouth and growing into his gums. They had taken him from someone who had a lot of neglected animals. Once their vet cut his teeth, he ate like a horse. They contacted me to see if I would foster him, and I just couldn’t let him go. (I’m a baaaddd foster mom)

It makes me so mad and sad to know that he nearly starved to death with food right in front of him. Poor baby. I’m glad he’s fat and sassy now.

[rabbitsmba]

This is a picture of Remy, a bunny dumped at our rescue’s vet clinic.  His teeth were so long he had almost starved to death.  Once his teeth were clipped, he ate like a pig and gained all his needed weight.  Seriously, how can ANYONE look at teeth like that and not know that something is wrong?!

[Sarita]

That’s bad. We had someone surrender a bun like that too at our sanctuary.

Kralspace – I’m glad they asked you to foster Toby :~) otherwise he wouldn’t be fat and sassy and married to the lovely Pringles.

[osprey]

I pulled a bunny from a shelter named Luchi.  Her top teeth were overgrown and curved inward, so she actually had a wound on her lower lip and chin from where the teeth rubbed against her face.  She would only eat pellets, but once the teeth were trimmed, she really enjoyed hay.

We have had several bunnies in The Haven who’ve had teeth pulled.  They can get along fine if their veggies are shredded first.  They eat hay like spaghetti, but cannot crunch on whole veggie leaves.

 

[kralspace]

Yikes, that’s close to Toby’s teeth when they took him in, except they were crossed over.

Yes, Sarita, I brought that little charmer home and he stole the hussy Pringles heart. and I had to bring poor rejected dejected Daisy to you for speed dating, and we came home with the beautiful Lola, which explains how I went from ONE bunny to FOUR! ahahahahhahahahh Do I have sucker tatooed across my forehead or not? 

This photo was taken barely 5 minutes after I brought Toby home, it was lust at first sight.

 

 

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[Scarlet_Rose]

Wow those teeth are more like tusks. Poor things, seriously how can you look at that and not think it needs some kind of attention?

[Toki+Pumpkin+Elmo]

I cant imagine all those times that the bunny had to live with those ‘tusks’.

[kimberleyanddarren]

oh poor bunny! it makes me sad people can be like that 2 animals

[Author]

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