I have just got a new rabbit, and am worried about his teeth. Can you help?
The best thing to do is to feed your rabbit freshly picked grass or hay, supplemented with some root vegetables or green vegetables, such as carrot tops.
If you have no access to a lawn, try to pick fresh grass for your rabbit daily or grow it in containers!
This is because pelleted diets do not offer chewing exercise, as they require crushing and rabbits' teeth have evolved for grinding.
Rabbits fed exclusively on this type of diet will get wear abnormalities in their teeth which can cause malocclusion (the rabbit’s teeth not meeting properly).
Basically, a rabbit needs to eat constantly, to wear down their teeth that never stop growing with this grinding action.
However, remember that rabbits are very sensitive to any dietary changes, so always discuss any proposed alteration in their diet with your vet.
It is also important that in addition to getting the high fibre diet they need, rabbits get enough sunlight for vitamin D production, so consider using a safe rabbit exercise run in the garden.
Signs of a dental problem include:
- Difficulties in swallowing
- Excessive salivation (drooling)
- Refusal of food, especially if it is hard
- Progressive weight loss
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