Overgrown Teeth

One of my rabbits has really bad overgrown teeth. She doesn't really like being held so I could never check them. She was losing weight and one night when she was eating I saw her teeth. Her lower molars cover the top ones. It didn't help that she was also weight. Well yesterday I noticed that she started eating differently. The vet that can trim the nails isn't open for memorial weekend. There is hospital about 40 minutes away but I don't if I should take her. Should I wait till Tuesday or just go to the hosptial??

Hi there. I would advise you to take your bunny today if it is possible as it is an emergency.

She does need to see a vet urgently. It sounds like she will need a full dental under anaesthetic. I would spend the next 24 hours feeding her up eg syringe feed every few hours. She will then be in better condition for the op. The weight loss and lack of eating already make her vulnerable to other serious conditions affecting her gut and liver function. Depending on what she will / can eat, I would offer her moistened or mushy pellets - especially if you can't handle her for full syringe feeding. Keep a very close eye on her.

Get her booked in as soon as you can (ie tomorrow). If she isn't eating much at all or her poos are very small / infrequent / otherwise not normal, she should see a vet today as an emergency.

mlmmars89 said:

One of my rabbits has really bad overgrown teeth. She doesn't really like being held so I could never check them. She was losing weight and one night when she was eating I saw her teeth. Her lower molars cover the top ones. It didn't help that she was also weight. Well yesterday I noticed that she started eating differently. The vet that can trim the nails isn't open for memorial weekend. There is hospital about 40 minutes away but I don't if I should take her. Should I wait till Tuesday or just go to the hosptial??

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Hi there :wave:

I suspect what you're seeing is not the molars covering the top ones, but the front teeth - the incisors.

If you saw a vet as an emergency, all he would do is trim/cut the front teeth down to enable her to eat, and you will have to get booked in to have those incisors out. Some people do keep trimming them, but it's painful and traumatic for a rabbit to undergo that every 4/6 weeks as the teeth constantly grow. The very best solution is for those front teeth to be completely removed. Rabbits can manage very well without their front teeth.

You should in the meantime syringe feed her with ground up pellets and baby food, if you can't get hold of any critical care formula. Do you have any syringes or can you get hold of some today?

Shimmer said:

She does need to see a vet urgently. It sounds like she will need a full dental under anaesthetic. I would spend the next 24 hours feeding her up eg syringe feed every few hours. She will then be in better condition for the op. The weight loss and lack of eating already make her vulnerable to other serious conditions affecting her gut and liver function. Depending on what she will / can eat, I would offer her moistened or mushy pellets - especially if you can't handle her for full syringe feeding. Keep a very close eye on her.

Get her booked in as soon as you can (ie tomorrow). If she isn't eating much at all or her poos are very small / infrequent / otherwise not normal, she should see a vet today as an emergency.

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Shimmer has given you very good advice. With Incisor malocclusion in some cases it may be better for the Rabbit to have the Incisors extracted. Prior to doing this skull radiographs are needed to assess the state of the tooth roots and for any underlining problems. Also, if the malocclusion is acquired as opposed to congenital then the Vet needs to consider why the problem has developed in the first place.

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/AcquiredIncisorAbnRabbits.htm

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Dental_diseases/Differential/Rabbit_dentistry.pdf