Signs of Dental Disease in Rabbits

Weight loss

Weight loss can be subtle and difficult to pick up, especially if it happens slowly over a period of time. Many rabbit owners only realise when they feel that their rabbit is bonier to the touch than usual. Weighing your rabbit weekly to fortnightly using small scales like paediatric scales and keeping a log of weights can help pick up weight loss before it becomes deathly apparent.

Body Condition Scoring is also useful for picking up signs of illness in your rabbit. Underweight or skinny rabbits will have easily palpable hip bones, ribs and spine, which may be sharp to the touch. A lack of muscle and fat cover with a flat rump area can be another sign of an underweight rabbit.

Changes in chewing

Depending on what is going on with the teeth, the rabbit may start to chew differently, or only use one side of their mouth to chew. They may also open their mouths wider than normal, or drop food. Rabbit's have a distinctive way of chewing, usually chewing in circular, side to side motions to help keep their teeth at a comfortable length. Rabbit's with dental disease may develop painful spurs or sharp points to the edges of their cheek teeth due to uneven wear which will alter their chewing.

Drooling

Any oral pain or discomfort can cause drooling, and this normally shows up as wet patches around the face, mouth, and chin. This may also cause the fur around the mouth to smell and fall out. Fur may also be discoloured yellow or green.

Watery eyes

Watery eyes or "epiphora" in rabbits is due to blockage and/or chronic inflammation of the tear ducts. Rabbit tear ducts are very narrow and long, and lie over the roots of the cheek teeth. When these ducts become blocked or inflamed, tears are unable to drain into the nose. It can affect one or both eyes, and is often caused by dental disease or by non dental related illnesses.

Asymmetry of the face

If your rabbits face appears lopsided, or you feel bumps or hard spots that are not present on the other side, this may be due to abnormal dental or jawbone changes, facial abscesses, or excessive tooth growth. Common places for these lumps and bumps to appear include around or under the eyes, along the jaw and near the chin.

Teeth poking out from the lips

When the front teeth aka the incisors do not align it takes away the natural ability of these teeth to wear down normally, causing unrestricted growth, which may cause rabbits to grow walrus-like teeth. Malocclusion of the incisors can be congenital in nature, secondary to cheek teeth problems or from trauma.

Reduced appetite

Eating more slowly or choosing different foods than before may be due to dental disease. Most commonly rabbits will stop eating hay or preferentially eat other foods like greens or pellets over hay because hay is harder to chew. Rabbits may also initially appear enthusiastic about food, then fail to eat, or eat slowly and drop food as they go. This may also be an early sign of gut stasis. Check out our article on Gut Stasis for more information.

Bad breath

There's nothing better than bunny licks, except when that bunny has a stinky breath. Rabbits do not normally have bad breath, and it is a sign that there may be infection or ulceration in the mouth. Excessive drooling can also cause bad breath.

Changes in behaviour

Discomfort may cause a normally laid back rabbit to become grumpy and aggressive, or a rabbit that used to be clean may start to get unkempt and dirty. Rabbits with dental disease may also hide away and become more quiet and lethargic. Signs of pain in prey animals like rabbits are very subtle and can include: teeth grinding, rapid and shallow breathing, a hunched posture, a lack of movement and/or narrowed or squinting eyes.

Matted or soiled coat

Rabbits are meticulous groomers and like to keep themselves very clean. If they have dental changes and oral pain this makes grooming a lot more difficult. Rabbits with an unkempt coat, fur matts or a messy bottom with urine and/or faecal soiling may be suffering from dental disease.