Dental and oral · Updated 2026-09-20
Rabbit dental disease
Overgrown or misaligned continuously growing teeth can cause chronic pain, wounds, poor eating and gastrointestinal slowdown.
Signs to watch for
- Drooling or wet chin
- Dropping food
- Selective eating
- Weight loss
- Reduced droppings
- Eye or nasal discharge
Causes and risk factors
Insufficient tooth wear, inherited jaw shape, trauma and tooth-root disease may contribute. A hay-poor diet increases risk.
How veterinarians diagnose it
A rabbit-experienced veterinarian examines the mouth; sedation and skull imaging are often needed because cheek teeth cannot be fully assessed awake.
Treatment and management
Pain relief, assisted feeding and dental correction are tailored to the lesion. Incisor clipping at home is unsafe and can fracture teeth.
Prevention
Provide unlimited suitable grass hay, leafy forage, safe chewing opportunities and regular weight and dental checks.
Outlook
Some rabbits need lifelong repeat treatment; early care improves comfort and limits secondary gut and eye complications.