Do Rabbits Need Their Teeth Trimmed? (Teeth Issues Explained)

Rabbits are prone to some medical conditions, many of which can be avoided by providing a healthy diet. One particular issue that can occur when the diet is not quite ‘on point’ is excessive tooth growth. Specifically, a lack of hay in a rabbit’s diet results in a lack of the chewing motion required to keep the rabbit’s teeth trim.

Rabbits given plenty of coarse, fibrous, high-quality hay should never need their teeth trimmed medically. However, if you notice any symptoms of tooth problems such as drooling or lack of eating it’s wise to make an appointment with a vet for a health check.

Why Do Rabbits Need Their Teeth Trimmed?

You will have noticed that rabbits have large front teeth, a characteristic that they are well known for, but did you know that rabbits actually have 28 teeth?

Aside from the prominent large front incisors that grow top center they also have two large incisors on the bottom and a second set of small upper incisors known as ‘peg teeth’ teeth that sit right behind those large front ones, these are the cutting teeth (used to cut hay and grasses or more recently USB Cords!).

The rest of the teeth are their molars. These are located in their cheeks and are used for grinding their food. A rabbit’s teeth are constantly growing but for the most part, will take care of themselves by grinding against each other when the rabbit is eating.

Rabbits also grind their teeth when at rest (you may know this as purring) however there are a few reasons that a rabbit may need to have its teeth trimmed. Here are 3 common ones that veterinarians usually see:

1) Rabbit not provided with enough hay to chew

As rabbit teeth are continuously growing, they need high fiber foods to chew, for rabbits this should be good quality Timothy Hay and grasses. Not only do fibrous foods keep the rabbit digestive system working properly, but they are also essential to keep their teeth length down, if they lack fiber in their diet, overgrown teeth can be the result.

2) Malocclusion

Some rabbits can experience misalignment (malocclusion) of the teeth which makes chewing difficult or impossible, unfortunately for rabbits though, they can’t wear braces as we do! Misalignment of the teeth prevents the upper and lower jaw from contacting and filing down as they should, thus leading to the need for human intervention.

3) Fracture tooth or mouth injuries

Some rabbits may fracture a tooth or injure their mouth by chewing on things that they shouldn’t. A fractured tooth or mouth injury can be very painful and may put the rabbit off eating hay altogether, this may result in the teeth growing out or more serious conditions like gut stasis. If you notice that one of your rabbit teeth is shorter than the other they may need to have their teeth trimmed.

Rabbits with malocclusion, those not given enough hay, or those experiencing an undiagnosed medical issue that prevents them from chewing will likely have their teeth trimmed regularly.

Signs That Rabbits Need Teeth Trimming

There are many noticeable signs that could indicate that a rabbit needs its teeth trimmed the most obvious one is noticeably long teeth however other signs could include:

Drooling

Wet chin
Lack of grooming
Difficulty or disinterest in eating

Lethargy (lack of energy and tiredness)

Although these signs can be indications of other medical issues, not just dental, these are visible signs that deserve further investigation and discussion with a vet.

How Do Veterinarians Trim Rabbit Teeth

When your veterinarian trims a rabbit’s incisors they will also do a full mouth exam including the molar teeth to make sure that there are no other issues.

If a rabbit just needs its front incisor teeth trimmed this can be done without the need to put the animal under general anesthetic. Some rabbits who show stress (such as those who are not used to handling) may have to undergo anesthesia to allow a vet to fully examine the mouth and trim the teeth.

Veterinarians use specialized equipment to trim the front teeth and file down the back teeth. Back teeth are prone to getting sharp points (spurs) on the outside that can poke and irritate the side of your rabbit’s mouth however a vet has the necessary tools to smooth these out.

Many rabbits such as those that suffer from malocclusion need to have their teeth trimmed a few times a year.

Possible Medical Issues Arising From Overgrown Teeth

Overgrowing teeth can lead to a number of other medical issues including the following:

1) Abscesses in the mouth

Teeth can sometimes grow so long that they cut the gums and lips of a rabbit. This can cause infection and abscesses in a rabbit’s mouth.

The front teeth can enter into the upper or lower gums and cause a horrible infection to set in. If not treated quickly, this infection could lead to sepsis and possibly death.

2) Decreased appetite and G.I stasis

Overgrown teeth can restrict a rabbit’s ability to eat.

They may struggle to cut and chew their food which naturally reduces the amount they can break down for ingestion, If a rabbit does not get an adequate amount of fibrous food/hays to keep their gastrointestinal system moving they may end up with a G.I stasis, which can be incapacitating and lead to a rabbits death.

If you notice that your own rabbit is not eating take a look at their teeth and make sure that they are not overgrown.

Most of the time you will be able to notice that a rabbit’s teeth are too long but if the signs aren’t clear take them to your veterinarian to have a health check. A vet will check for any potential issues which may be causing appetite loss including teeth.

Remember, skipping a meal is never a good sign in a rabbit so If you notice any problems whether associated with dental or not, see your vet immediately. Rabbits can get very sick very fast.

How to Stop Rabbit Teeth Getting Overgrown

The best way to prevent your rabbit’s teeth from getting overgrown is to give them unlimited access to hay. Rabbits are known to be eating hay most of the day, this chewing action helps keep your rabbit’s teeth filed down.

Can I Cut My Rabbits Teeth Myself?

While some people have cut their rabbits teeth at home most leave that task up to their vet. If the incisors are not cut in the correct way there is a risk of them breaking long ways causing lots of pain.

Also, your veterinarian will be able to not just clip the incisors but file the tops of them down to remove any spurs after trimming them. This ensures there are no sharp points that may cut your rabbit’s gums.

If you feel like you are up for the challenge of trimming your rabbit’s teeth there are many videos online showing how this can be done. However, in the interest of not causing any pain or discomfort to your rabbit, we recommend leaving teeth trimming up to a veterinarian who can deal with any unforeseen problems if they arise.

Wrap Up

If you have noticed that your rabbit’s front teeth are getting long, make an appointment with your vet for an assessment, they will help you determine if your rabbit needs its teeth trimmed.

If your own rabbit does need the teeth trimmed down, unlike nail clipping (which we suggest learning to do yourself) we recommend paying a qualified vet to handle this task, after all, teeth trimming can be stressful for a rabbit and even more so if carried out by an inexperienced pair of hands

The most important thing you can focus on with your own pet is simply giving your rabbit the correct diet and unlimited hay. Do this and you can most likely let the teeth take care of themselves.