U decorative rabbits, as well as in rodents, it often manifests itself in the form of a violation of grinding and changes in the shape of the front teeth - incisors.

Owners contact the veterinary clinic with complaints:
- “A rabbit’s teeth grow very quickly, they interfere with eating and curl like serpentines.”
- “My chinchilla does not sharpen its teeth, although there is hay and stone in the cage,”
- “Why does our guinea pig Do teeth grow so quickly and strangely?”
In fact, the detailed disease can manifest itself in a variety of ways, but the curvature of the incisors is the most noticeable, since these are the teeth that are clearly visible (some owners sincerely believe that these are the only teeth their pet has at all).
How the disease develops:
1. A factor arises that leads to malocclusion (occlusion) - the exact coincidence of the contact surfaces of the upper and lower incisors and the development of the so-called. malocclusion.
2. With malocclusion, the incisors stop rubbing/grinding against each other correctly. An important clarification: normally, rabbits’ incisors wear down primarily when the upper ones rub against the lower ones, and not against food components, stones, etc. Taking into account the fact that the incisors of rodents and rabbits grow throughout their lives (1-2 mm per week), disruption of wear leads to overgrowth. Excess growth causes curvature of the incisors and their exit from the oral cavity (typical of the lower ones) or wrapping in the mouth towards the mucous membrane (upper). Often this causes damage to the mucous membrane of the cheeks, lips, tongue, as well as the skin of the lips and nose.
In the process of malocclusion, the living tissues of the growth zone of the roots are also affected, due to which the position of the roots of the teeth in the jaw changes. In such a situation, the incisors lose their main function, capturing large particles of feed and dividing it into small parts. In some cases, overgrown incisors make eating much more difficult or impossible. This often leads to the development of dehydration and exhaustion. Only some animals, in cases where the bite is slightly changed and wear remains, albeit asymmetrical, adapt and live comfortably with deformed incisors.
Options for action in case of incisor wear violation:

1. Regular “biting” of overgrown incisors (the most common procedure).
Due to constant process The grinding of the rabbit incisor crown does not contain nerve endings. Therefore, this manipulation is painless for the pet. Most often, trimming the incisors is carried out by rabbit owners (less often in veterinary clinics) using a variety of cutting and biting tools (nail clippers, wire cutters, scissors, etc.). The procedure gives a temporary effect, and the appearance of “stumps” sticking out of the rabbit’s mouth does not cause joy. The disadvantage of this method is high probability splitting, both the crown and the root of the incisor, along, and not across. Those. the tooth simply cracks along its entire length, which leads to injury to the gums and the creation of a channel through which banal microflora from the oral cavity and external environment. The consequence of this process is very difficult to cure infection of the root area, accompanied by purulent inflammation(formation of abscesses), osteomyelitis (melting of the jaw bones), pain syndrome, refusal of food. In a slightly longer term, these problems lead to the death of the animal.

It is dental disease in rabbits and rodents that is the main reason for visiting a veterinary clinic. Violation of grinding of incisors is a clear manifestation of this. Owners of decorative rodents and rabbits should have general idea about the peculiarities of the anatomy of their pets’ teeth, which distinguish them from most other animals.

Veterinarian Artem Arkadievich Kazakov

Veterinarian Tatyana Sergeevna Semirotova

What you need to know about the teeth of decorative rabbits. Rabbits' teeth grow throughout their lives. Moreover, they grow very quickly, the growth rate of the front incisors is approximately 10 cm per year! Naturally, with such a growth rate, the rabbit needs to grind them down.

In nature, rabbits constantly chew on something: bark, branches, bushes, so their teeth wear down naturally. At home, especially if the rabbit is constantly kept in a cage and does not have anything to chew on, its teeth quickly grow back, and as a result, bite problems arise.

What to do to prevent bite disease in a rabbit The owner, to prevent the development of bite diseases, should do two main things:

- Firstly, give the rabbit plenty of hay, toys and objects that can be chewed. Branches of fruit trees are perfect for these purposes (if you are sure that they have not been treated with pesticides), as well as various sticks that can be bought at pet stores.

- Secondly, if the rabbit’s teeth are very strong, teeth should be trimmed. It may seem a little strange, but cutting teeth is a very common practice. Experienced rabbit breeders can easily cope with this themselves. The fact is that if a rabbit does not receive in its diet the proper amount of solid food, hay and branches that can be chewed, its front incisors grow very much, and in this case they need to be shortened, mainly to prevent secondary malocclusion of the chewing teeth .

A rabbit's teeth are quite fragile and toenail clippers can be used to trim them at home. After trimming, the teeth need to be sharpened. For these purposes, you can use a nail file to file your nails. But it is worth considering that this method is quite dangerous: firstly, the tooth may crack and become exposed dental pulp, which can develop into pulpitis; secondly, in similar situation your rabbit may behave unpredictably because this is for him painful procedure. So, if you are a beginner, it is still worth contacting a veterinarian. In veterinary clinics, a dental cutter is used to trim a tooth, which allows the procedure to be carried out less painfully and without causing negative consequences.

What to do if your rabbit breaks a tooth Many owners get scared when they see that their rabbit has broken a tooth. In fact, there is nothing wrong with this. A rabbit's teeth grow very quickly, so a broken tooth will grow back within one to two weeks. The only thing you may need to do is shorten the next standing tooth in accordance with the length of the broken one so that the length of both teeth is the same. We talked about how to trim a tooth in the previous paragraph.

Malocclusion If a rabbit does not receive enough solid, rough food and eats only store-bought food, he no longer needs to chew as much as in natural conditions, his teeth acquire an incorrect angle, and a problem of poor closure of the teeth arises - malocclusion. Once malocclusion occurs, teeth stop grinding down properly. The rabbit's mouth stops closing tightly, sharp edges form on their chewing surfaces, which damage soft fabrics in the mouth. At this stage the rabbit begins to experience severe pain when trying to chew, and it becomes clear to the owner that something is wrong. In such a situation, there is no point in delaying going to the veterinarian, as other diseases begin to progress in the rabbit: abscesses and problems with the digestive system.

If you notice following symptoms, then you should definitely contact your veterinarian:

• - Excessive drooling, the fur on the chin and around the mouth is wet and matted.
• - Watery eyes.
• - Refusal of food at the last moment (the rabbit willingly approaches the food, but refuses to put it in its mouth).
• - Change in " food preferences"(the rabbit stops eating what he loved before and begins to prefer softer food).
• - Abscesses on the rabbit's cheeks or jaw.
• — The rabbit shows pain when you touch its cheeks and jaws.
• - Red or white gums (in in good condition The rabbit's gums are pink).
• — Unpleasant smell from the mouth.
• — The rabbit begins to lose weight.

To successfully raise animals, the owner must know them " weak points", prone to disease or requiring special care. In rabbits, these are, among other things, their incisors, which need to be ground down regularly. From this article you will learn about the structure of teeth in rabbits.

Since rabbits eat only plant food, they have two types of teeth - chewing and incisor teeth, but no canines at all. The upper front teeth (incisors) are very large, noticeably larger than the rest. They are quite durable, thanks to which the animal can chew solid food: branches, roots and tree bark, raw vegetables, grains and rough stems. In addition, they grow throughout the rabbit's life at a rate of approximately 8 mm per month.

Number of teeth in a rabbit

Often owners are interested in how many teeth a rabbit has. Due to the nature of the jaw and narrow mouth, this issue sometimes causes confusion. Newborn rabbits have 16 baby teeth. Already in the third week of life, they begin to fall out and be replaced by radical ones. This process ends about a month after birth.

Adult animals have 28 teeth. On upper jaw there are 16 of them. In front in the middle there are 2 large incisors, 2 small ones are located behind them and are almost invisible. On the sides of the incisors there is an empty space - the diastema. Next are chewing teeth, 6 on each side. They are divided into premolars and molars, but the only difference is anatomical structure- By appearance and their purpose is almost identical. There are 12 teeth on the lower jaw: 2 incisors in the middle and 5 chewing teeth on each side.

What is important to know about bite

The two upper pairs of incisors form a kind of “cover” for the lower ones, which helps to effectively cut grass and crush food. In nature, rabbits grind down their incisors naturally, because they can chew solid food as much as they want, but pets may have problems.

The animal loses the ability to clean and comb itself (rabbits do this with their incisors). Due to discomfort in the mouth, they begin to chew on their cages and equipment. Too much long teeth injure the mucous membrane, which causes inflammation and suppuration to develop.

Eyes may also be affected: roots upper teeth are starting to put pressure on tear ducts, which leads to frequent tearing. If the problem is not solved in time, the discharge becomes purulent. In addition, the eyes gradually bulge. IN advanced cases Only amputation of the eyeball can help.

The incisors can become too long due to a lack of solid food. Most often, this problem occurs in ornamental animals: industrial rabbit food is often produced in the form of high-calorie granules, and the animal quickly becomes full without having time to receive sufficient stress for the teeth. Farm animals fed grass, hay and feed containing grass meal suffer less from this problem.

The cause of poor grinding may be malocclusion, that is, an incorrectly formed bite. This problem can be either congenital or acquired due to jaw injuries. In this case, improper closure of teeth can also make it difficult to chew food, which leads to exhaustion of the pet.

In case of malocclusion, it is necessary to pay special attention timely grinding or trimming of the rabbit's teeth. Some owners prefer a radical method, that is, removal of problem teeth in veterinary clinic. In this case, the pet subsequently needs to be given only finely chopped and softer food. In addition, the owner will have to take care of his coat.

Indicators that veterinary help is needed are: profuse salivation, refusal of solid food, lethargy, watery eyes, white or sore gums, swollen face, or obvious pain when touched.

How to grind teeth correctly

In order for a rabbit's teeth to wear down naturally, he must receive food containing abrasive particles: grass, hay, twigs, hard grain. You can buy special sticks in pet stores. When collecting branches yourself, make sure that the plant is suitable for a rabbit (they have a very delicate digestive system), and that the tree was not treated with pesticides.

If the incisors do become too long, experienced owners can cut them off with nail clippers and then trim them with a manicure file. However, it is still better to consult a veterinarian to carry out this procedure, since the tooth may crack due to improper treatment. In addition, if the mouth has already begun inflammatory process, this procedure will be very painful for the animal.

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From this video you will learn how to start rabbit breeding without any experience.

In this article we will find out how many teeth a rabbit has. We will also analyze the structural features of its jaws and talk about the diseases that most often torment the animal. When an animal’s incisors or molars begin to hurt, it refuses to eat, dermatological diseases, abscesses in the muzzle area. These pathologies can cause weight loss and even death. In order for your little ear to grow up healthy, it is worth regularly examining the oral cavity and not forgetting about preventive measures.

The structure of the dental system of rabbits

The structure of the dental system of animals is determined by physiology. Since rabbits only eat plant foods, it is finally crushed and ground in the stomach and intestines. The number of teeth in adults is 28, and they are intended for preparatory work.

Fluffies have 22 molars - molars (12 located above and 10 below), 2 pairs of incisors - on the upper jaw, one pair of incisors - on the lower jaw. Rabbits have a toothless cavity, which anatomically arises from the absence of fangs.

An animal's teeth begin to grow from the first days of life. In a week their length reaches 2.5 mm (approximately 9-12 cm per year). The enamel covers the entire length of the process, performing protective function. The rabbit breeder's access to the baby rabbit's molars is difficult due to the small opening of the mouth, so it is difficult to detect their growth in a timely manner.

The structure of teeth in decorative pets

In a decorative rabbit dental system no different from their wild counterparts. The rabbit breeder should monitor the condition of the incisors at least once every six months. To prevent active growth, long teeth need to be ground down in accordance with the intensity of their growth.

Grinding is ensured when the animal consumes roughage, for example, hay, branches. Juicy grass crops also do an excellent job with this task, plus they contain fiber and silicates.

If a rabbit is not sick with anything, he not only gnaws food with his front incisors, but also uses lateral teeth for crushing feed. Therefore, you should not think that there are too many of them.

If you suspect dental disease, you should take the animal to the veterinarian. The doctor examines the furry cat using an auroscope and makes a reliable diagnosis.

The doctor can diagnose malocclusion (the disease is characterized by a violation of the correct connection between the teeth of both jaws), the appearance purulent exudate and abscesses in the mouth or face. Intense root growth is often found in rabbits; it can cause problems in the eyes or nasolacrimal duct.

Malocclusion is the most common disease

If an animal has abnormal growth of teeth, they do not have time to wear down, injure the oral cavity and cause pain to the rabbit, we can talk about malocclusion. If a rabbit breeder suspects this disease in an animal, you should immediately contact a specialist. The veterinarian examines the oral cavity using sterile equipment. Sometimes the animal is given anesthesia for this purpose. For staging accurate diagnosis The doctor may need an x-ray of both jaws.

There are two types of malocclusion in rabbits: congenital and acquired. If the animal is completely healthy, the incisors will close when the mouth is closed. If the bite is incorrect, gaps will appear between them, as a result of which they will not grind down.

The distance between them occurs with underbite (the upper teeth are located in front of the lower ones) and overbite (the lower incisors are located in front of the upper ones).

Fold-eared sheep rabbits have a hereditary predisposition to malocclusion.

Main causes of disease in animals

The veterinarian will not be able to prescribe an effective therapeutic course if he does not find out the cause of the malocclusion. The most common factors influencing the occurrence of the disease are:

• poor nutrition:
• injury;
• metabolic disorder;
• bacterial infection affecting the roots;
• heredity.

If the rabbit is not given coarse fiber, weaving will not occur naturally. As a result, the fluffy will develop serious problems with teeth. Fattening the animal purchased feed, which contain little fiber, increases the risk of dental disease.

If the jaw bones become misaligned or do not heal properly after an injury, there is a high chance of a change in the bite. In this case, the teeth will wear down very poorly.

In order for 28 teeth to grow healthy, it is worth feeding the animal with foods with a sufficient amount of calcium. At poor absorption substances weaken, the habitual act of chewing is disrupted. Bacterial infection can cause correct bite.

A rabbit's teeth will wear down intensively if the food contains silicon salts (silicates), which provide abrasiveness.

Symptoms of the disease

Not only incisors, but also molars are susceptible to malocclusion. The main symptoms of the disease are: immediate loss of body weight, reluctance to eat. The animal may start eating and then suddenly stop. There is no desire to cleanse and comb, there is no bowel movement, which is associated with dysfunction digestive tract. The animal can imitate chewing food.

Also a symptom of the pathology is the cessation of eating night feces. The problem is due to the fact that the fluffy's incisors hurt very badly, and he cannot do anything about the pain. Another sign of malocclusion is that young animals prefer soft food and completely refuse to eat hay and rough food.

Other symptoms include: lacrimation, drooling, inflammation on the muzzle, injuries to the mucous membranes, grinding of the incisors, the appearance of abscesses, suppuration, and swelling. Thinning of the enamel layer and discoloration of the tooth also indicate dental disease.

Trimming teeth for malocclusion

Since malocclusion in rabbits cannot be cured, the veterinarian can trim the teeth to their normal size. It is not recommended to trim yourself, as such a procedure can further harm your pet. The only correct solution is to visit a specialist.

Before the procedure, the doctor must wash his hands, use disposable medical gloves, and disinfect instruments. The rabbit is given anesthesia and is secured with straps. This can be done by an assistant or the owner himself.

The doctor pushes the rabbit's lips away with his fingers. Long incisors are first filed with a drill or a special file. Then their parts are cut off with sterile scissors or nippers.

If part of the tooth breaks off during manipulation, correction is carried out with a special file. The doctor will tell the rabbit breeder what to do if soft tissues are damaged during teeth shortening. Worth using antiseptic for processing. The animal will not be hurt during the manipulation. You need to see a doctor for examination and prevention 1-2 times a month.

You will learn a lot of interesting things if you read our article “How does a rabbit differ from a hare.”

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Tell us in the comments what dental diseases your pet has suffered from.

Most viewers of cartoons where rabbits play the main roles have the wrong idea about these animals. cartoon characters display their two upper teeth. But in this case, the depicted reality is far from reality.

Number of rabbit teeth

How many teeth does a rabbit really have? In the mouth of a homemade or wild beast There are six incisors, as well as molars and pre-molars. The number of the latter is twenty-two.

Dental problems in domestic rabbits

The possibility of teeth grinding in decorative rabbits is minimized. This is due to their living at home. Oral cavity The pet should be examined every week, since tooth growth can cause abscess (inflammation) and the formation of “hooks” (peculiar hooks on the tooth enamel). Also, an increase in size leads to malocclusion (ulcers that appear due to malocclusion).

Formation and development of teeth

REFERENCE! Rabbit teeth are practically the earliest that are formed during the development of the embryo. The deadline for their formation is the second week.

Rabbits are born with sixteen teeth. Six of them are incisors. Young teeth are replaced by molars. This process begins approximately on the twentieth day of the baby’s life.

As a result, the rabbit has sixteen teeth, located on the upper jaw, and twelve, which are located on the lower jaw. It is the pair of protruding upper incisors that are business card animals. Many people don’t realize that they hide two more small teeth behind them.

Incisors without a root system increase throughout the rabbit's entire existence. That is why animals are forced to gnaw objects made of wood. This grinds down the rabbit's teeth, which allows him to chew food normally.

Caring for Rabbit Teeth

If your rabbit's incisors accidentally break, you can correct them with a regular nail file. You should not be afraid of this procedure, as their growth is quite fast - the increase in four weeks is eight millimeters.

If you have any problems with your rabbit's oral cavity, you should consult a specialist. Lack of proper bite can cause disruption of the pet’s normal nutrition and exhaustion.

To sum it up, it is worth noting that caring for rabbit teeth is not difficult, but the process requires constant vigilance. Veterinary statistics say that decorative rabbits are leaders in number characteristic diseases, far ahead of hamsters and rats.