Rabbit Teething Problems - Q&A...

My rabbit has been losing weight over the previous 2 months and dribbling a lot. What causes this, and what can I do about it?

Eighty percent of rabbit problems are dental related and it is likely this is the case with your rabbit. Unlike us rabbits have teeth that grow all their lives and get worn down by chewing fibrous food. If rabbits teeth grow at an odd angle or abnormal rate they may overgrow and cause pain and difficulty swallowing. This can be a hereditary condition is thought to be caused by the wrong calcium to posphate ratio at a young age. Feeding a balanced commercial rabbit food and not letting them selectively feed by using a pelleted version may go a long way towards preventing this. Contact your local veterinary surgeon who will be able to treat this by filing the incisors or cheek teeth flat.