Maintaining pet rabbit tooth health the best you can

Please note: We are NOT licensed pet veterinarians and CANNOT give any medical advice about pet rabbits. We are simply sharing helpful pet lifestyle information. All medical pet questions should be directed to a licensed and experienced veterinarian near you.

Domestic pet rabbits are a very delicate pet to choose to care for. Proof of this is how some will develop tooth issues along the course of their life.

For some pet rabbits this issue can come early on in life, as a result of genetics. In these cases, their front teeth may not align properly and end up causing them uncomfortable overgrowth issues in the mouth. In some cases of extreme front tooth overgrowth, eating becomes too painful and this may then also contribute to poor diet, slower gut motility, and even gastrointestinal stasis which then quickly becomes a life-threatening condition for a pet rabbit. 

For other pet rabbits, tooth -- and specifically molar overgrowth issues -- can crop up later in life as they age and get older. This can be a result of poor diet during their life (not enough good quality, fiber-rich timothy hay to grind down the teeth and molars as they chew). Or it may result from dental disease caused by genetics or just from getting older.

Even with great care and proper diet, as some pet rabbits age their molars may still grow painful points in the mouth over time. It can cause more painful chewing in addition to a slew of other potential health issues in the bunny-- like looser stools (messy bum, wet tail, or diarrhea), but especially gut stasis* (slowed or stopped digestion) once eating becomes too painful in their mouth.

*GI stasis (gastrointestinal stasis) or gut stasis (when a rabbit fully stops eating) is a serious pet rabbit health condition that must be addressed quickly within 6-12 hours max, by starting assisted manual syringe feeding at home using Oxbow Critical Care feed mixed with water-- as well as with a prompt veterinary visit-- to avoid it turning into a critical, emergency health situation for the pet rabbit within as fast as just 24 hours. 

Molar overgrowth inside the jawbones may also start to place extra pressure on the teeth roots inside the jawbone. This may then at times also lead to jawbone abscesses and infections. It may show up in the pet rabbit as symptoms of wet chin from over-salivation, and/or eye-weeping from the increased molar root pressure inside the skull near the eye sockets. 

When in doubt, it's very important to get your pet rabbit checked by a licensed AND experienced exotic pet veterinarian. It's best to find an experienced vet who has seen & treated lots of pet rabbits, and one who is also specifically experienced in pet rabbit dental work too.

​While you should always look out for any changes in your bun's daily activities that could signal a change in health (eating / drinking / playing / pooping habits), only a licensed AND experienced pet rabbit veterinarian can determine if your rabbit is having issues due to overgrown teeth or molars (or any other issues)-- and only such a vet can diagnose and treat them. 

There's no guarantees, since many a pet rabbit can encounter tooth issues at some point in their life. But there's a few things you can do to try and help them stay as healthy as possible. Definitely ensure their proper diet as described on our Food page. A healthy diet may also help keep their teeth better trimmed while maintaining their intestinal tract healthier and constantly moving as it should.

You may also be able to help keep their teeth as naturally trimmed as possible by feeding them 1st cut Timothy hay, such as the Small Pet Select brand boxes available in different box weights on Amazon. Again, while it's not an absolute guarantee, it's still a good, higher-fiber, tougher long-strand hay option pet rabbits will enjoy chewing longer both for good digestion and a bit of entertainment.

You can tell 1st cut hay mainly from its longer stems and long flowerheads, plus coarser / stronger strand texture (as compared to 2nd or 3rd cutting, or other safe, dried grasses and hays for pet rabbits).

SPS does sell their hay in several different box sizes. Some of our volunteers find that the 10lb, 20lb, or 40lb sizes offer the best deal for feeding their own pet rabbits at home. You can find a direct link to this product below, and the shelter does earn a small commission if you decide to buy anything from this link: 

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This type of 1st cutting Timothy hay does come highly recommended by some of our volunteers. Again, this Amazon link does also help the shelter earn a small commission of any products purchased from this link. All proceeds go to the shelter as funds raised for the care and maintenance of our rescued rabbits. 

​Hope your pet rabbit stays happy and healthy. Thanks for your time and support! 

​Please note: We are NOT licensed pet veterinarians and CANNOT give any medical advice about pet rabbits. We are simply sharing helpful pet lifestyle information. All medical pet questions should be directed to a licensed and experienced veterinarian near you.