How to Keep Your Rabbit’s Teeth Short

Do your rabbit’s teeth look overgrown? Are those front chompers starting to resemble buck teeth? Your pet’s dental health is nothing to ignore! Rabbits’ constantly growing teeth require special care and vigilance by owners. Without proper wear, erupting incisors and molars can overgrow to extreme lengths, misalign, and cause serious problems. But don’t despair! With some basic knowledge of rabbit dentition and smart strategies to promote chewing, you can manage those rapidly elongating teeth. We’ll explore why rabbits have such active teeth, how to spot issues early, and make chewing fun with toys to keep your bunny’s smile sparkling. Get ready to become a rabbit dental expert and take control of those relentless rascally teeth!

Why Do Rabbits Have Long Teeth?

Rabbits have long teeth for a very specific reason – they are herbivores that eat grasses, hay, leafy weeds, root vegetables, fruits, tree bark, and bushes. Their natural diet requires a lot of chewing and grinding down of tough plant materials. Rabbits have evolved specialized teeth that grow continuously throughout their lives to account for all this chewing and wear.

The incisor teeth at the front of a rabbit's mouth have enamel on the front surface only. This keeps a sharp chisel-like edge for biting off pieces of food. The back of the incisors and the entire molar teeth have no enamel cover and form ridges that grind plant matter. A rabbit's teeth are open-rooted and grow at a rate of 3-5 mm per week! Proper tooth wear and length is essential for a rabbit to eat normally. Overgrown teeth can prevent proper chewing and cause serious digestive issues.

Rabbits have 28 teeth total – 6 upper incisors, 2 upper peg teeth, 6 lower incisors, 2 lower peg teeth, 6 upper cheek teeth, and 6 lower cheek teeth. The cheek teeth are the molars and premolars used for chewing up food. The peg teeth (or intermediate teeth) sit directly behind the incisors. Rabbits have one of the most complex dentition systems of any mammal. Maintaining proper tooth length and alignment is crucial to your pet rabbit's health.

How Many Teeth Do Rabbits Have?

Rabbits have a total of 28 teeth. Their dental anatomy is:

6 upper incisor teeth
2 upper peg teeth
6 lower incisor teeth
2 lower peg teeth
6 upper premolars/molars
6 lower premolars/molars

The incisors are the long front teeth of the upper and lower jaws. These teeth are used for biting off pieces of food and grow constantly at an angle to create a sharp chisel edge from the enamel on the front surface.

Behind the incisors are the smaller peg teeth or intermediate teeth. These teeth resemble pegs and sit close to the incisors. They help guide food back to the cheek teeth.

The premolars and molars make up 12 cheek teeth in the upper and lower jaws at the far back of the mouth. These broad teeth have ridges for grinding up fibrous plant material and wear down slower than the incisors and pegs. The cheek teeth do not grow continuously like the incisors and pegs.

Proper tooth alignment between upper and lower teeth is very important for normal chewing motions. Malocclusion or overgrowth can allow the teeth to develop sharp edges and points that cut into the tongue and cheeks. Regular dental examinations help catch dental issues early.

How Long Should Rabbit Teeth Be?

A rabbit's incisor teeth should be shortened to the proper length just behind the gumline. The upper incisors should slightly overlap the lower incisors when the mouth is closed. The lower incisors should end bluntly and squarely against the upper incisor's cutting surface when viewed from the side. The peg teeth should not be overgrown.

Ideally, a rabbit's teeth should be worn down 2-3mm per week by chewing abrasive foods. If the incisors and pegs overgrow and are left untreated, they can grow to extreme lengths that interfere with eating and injure the mouth. Incisors can curve and grown in a spiral shape, sometimes growing back into the roof of the mouth or face.

Signs of overgrown teeth include drooling, decreased appetite, weight loss, wetness or staining around the mouth, and avoidance of hard foods. You should be able to feel your rabbit's teeth lightly through the lips, but they should not be poking your fingers. Schedule an exam with your vet if your notice any of these symptoms.

Your vet can trim overgrown teeth with special clippers. Proper tooth length will be restored shaped for proper wear and alignment. Your vet can instruct you how to monitor tooth length at home between appointments. Providing plenty of hay and safe chew toys can help wear down constantly growing teeth.

How to Stop Rabbit’s Teeth from Growing

While we can't stop a rabbit's teeth from growing entirely, we can take steps to control excessive growth and keep teeth worn to a proper length:

Provide unlimited grass hay at all times – grass hays like timothy or orchard can help wear down teeth
Rotate different hays to add variety – mixing in oat, brome, bermuda hays
Offer chew toys like untreated wood, loofahs, cardboard tubes
Some hard extruded rabbit foods also help scrape teeth
Add a salt lick or mineral block to gnaw on
Provide branches and sticks from untreated fruit trees for chewing
Brush teeth weekly to prevent tartar buildup
Check incisor length weekly – look for overgrowth
See a rabbit vet every 3-6 months to assess tooth alignment and length
Have overgrown teeth trimmed promptly to avoid injury/misalignment
Address any underlying issues like dental disease, abscesses, or malocclusion
Treat pain/infection with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories as needed
Correct diet with unlimited hay, limited pellets, vegetables can promote proper chewing
Monitor rate of tooth growth and wear – growth varies by individual

By promoting enough chewing activity and having overgrown teeth trimmed as needed, we can help slow the rate of tooth elongation and maintain proper alignments for a healthy mouth. But ultimately, rabbit teeth grow continuously and require monitoring.

What Can Rabbits Chew on for Their Teeth?

There are many good chew toys and objects to provide dental wear for rabbit teeth:

Hay – Unlimited grass hay for all-day chewing. Timothy, orchard, oat, brome
Wood – Untreated wood blocks, sticks, loofahs, toys without varnish/glue
Cardboard – Toilet paper tubes, small boxes. No ink or dyes.
Mineral chews – Salt licks, mineral blocks with calcium
Sea grass mats – Provide edible chewing and digging texture
Paper – Shredding plain paper like egg cartons. No glossy paper.
Hard rabbit pellets – Some extruded foods help scrape the teeth
Twigs and branches – Apple, pear, and other fruit wood. Ensure not toxic.
Phonebooks – Thick paper is safe to shred and chew
Small wicker baskets – Natural harmless reed material
Cotton towels – Provides texture and pulling for chewing
Unpainted wicker balls – Sturdy and natural to chew, roll, and toss
Pine cones – Natural outdoorsy texture and light resin is safe
Natural sprays – Some bitter cherry sprays redirect from bad chewing

Always supervise your rabbit with any new toy. Remove immediately if chewing loose small pieces that could be a choking hazard. Rotate variety to keep your rabbit interested and happily filing down those constantly growing teeth!

How Fast Do Rabbit Teeth Grow?

A rabbit's teeth grow surprisingly quickly! The incisors and peg teeth of rabbits grow an average of 3-5mm per week. This amounts to over 15 centimeters or 6 inches per year of growth for each incisor tooth. This is why these teeth need constant chewing abrasion to wear them down at the same rate they grow.

The cheek teeth (premolars and molars) grow at a much slower rate of just 1-2mm per month because they get more wear during chewing. Normally a rabbit's cheek teeth will wear and erupt at an equal rate as the rabbit ages.

Tooth growth rate can vary between individual rabbits based on factors like diet, genetics, chewing habits, and dental health. The front incisors typically grow faster than the upper and lower peg teeth. An imbalance in wear can cause misaligned bites over time.

Providing unlimited grass hay gives rabbits the best chance to naturally wear down teeth as they grow. Hay should make up at least 75% of a adult rabbit's diet. In addition to hay, gnawing on wood, mineral chews, and cardboard provide supplemental dental wear.

Rabbits around 6 months old begin transitioning from milk teeth to adult teeth. Baby rabbits may temporarily have some slightly faster tooth growth during this time. Adolescent rabbits also have faster growth rates before growth stabilizes around 1 year old. Senior rabbits may see slower tooth growth but still require monitoring.

Regularly checking your rabbit's teeth length and alignment allows you to spot excess growth early. Schedule trims with your vet as needed to maintain proper occlusion and length. Knowing just how fast those rabbit teeth grow helps us stay on top of their dental health!

How Can I Tell if My Rabbit's Teeth are Too Long?

It's important for rabbit owners to regularly monitor their bunny's tooth length and know the signs of overgrown teeth. Here's what to look for:

Difficulty eating, dropping food, reduced appetite
Spilling, dribbling food from the mouth
Weight loss from lack of eating
Excessive salivation or wetness on mouth, chin
Avoiding hard foods, reluctance to chew
Nasal discharge, runny eyes if incisors overgrowing into roof of mouth
Rubbing face and mouth excessively
Developing sharp tooth points that cut into tongue, cheeks
Misaligned bite, inability to properly close mouth
Visibly overgrown or unevenly worn teeth
Extreme tooth lengths curving, growing into jaw or face
Loss of fur around mouth from slobbering
Gas, stasis, gut slowdown from inability to properly chew fiber
Lethargy, depression from pain or malnutrition

Gently press the cheeks to part the lips and check incisor lengths weekly. Upper incisors should slightly overlap the lower pair when closed. You may be able to see misaligned molars. Seek help from your vet if you notice any concerning symptoms. Overgrown teeth left untreated can cause malnutrition, infection, and serious health complications.

What Happens When a Rabbit's Teeth Are Overgrown

Overgrown rabbit teeth that are not trimmed down to a proper length can cause a number of health problems, including:

Irregular wear and sharp points – Cuts tongue, cheeks, roof of mouth
Misaligned bite – Prevents proper chewing motions
Difficulty eating – Leads to reduced food intake and malnutrition
Weight loss – From reduced ability to eat normal amounts
GI stasis – Lack of fiber from reduced eating slows gut motility
Cheek tooth spurs – Can ulcerate tongue and cheeks
Tooth root abscesses – Infection and pain; requires antibiotics
Damage to face – Extreme overgrowth can penetrate nasal or eye area
Loss of fur and whiskers – Around mouth and jaw due to dribbling
Wet dewlap – Saliva wetting from inability to fully close mouth
Anorexia – Complete refusal to eat due to mouth pain
Chronic pain – Compromised quality of life

Prolonged overgrowth results in a viscous cycle. Reduced eating from tooth pain or difficulty chewing leads to further weight loss and weakness. Lack of chewing abrasion allows teeth to elongate more. Disease results and the mouth can be permanently damaged.

Catching and treating overgrown teeth early is key to prevent prolonged issues. Schedule regular vet dental exams to assess alignment and occlusion. Vets can trim overgrown portions and leave healthy tooth length for proper function. Ensure unlimited hay to promote chewing.

Can You File a Rabbit's Teeth?

Yes, a rabbit's teeth can be filed down to shorten overgrown portions and restore proper alignment. Special small animal tooth files are made for rodent and lagomorph dentition. Proper filing by a vet provides a temporary fix and buys time for improved diet to wear teeth naturally.

A rabbit should first be fully anesthetized for filing. Their mouth can be held open with a device called a speculum. The vet will assess occlusion and choose an appropriatefiling angle. Small strokes are used to gradually shorten the tooth. Caution is taken around the pulp cavity to avoid pain or exposure.

Filing incisors and molars restores proper length and bite alignment so the rabbit can eat normally. However, filing is a temporary measure on constantly growing teeth. The teeth will start elongating again rapidly.

Filing provides time to improve diet with unlimited hay, chews, and abrasives to help wear down teeth. Underlying issues like malocclusion may need correction. Regular trims will be needed if growth outpaces wear. Filing maintains comfort while addressing root causes of overgrowth.

Finally, filing can shape teeth prior to bonding or capping procedures. The prepared surface provides an ideal area for adhesive bonding agents. Filing is an important tool in the rabbit dental toolkit, but is not a permanent solution for controling tooth elongation.

How Much Does Burring Cost?

The cost to have your rabbit's teeth trimmed or burred by a veterinarian can range from $100 – $300 per procedure. The final price depends on several factors:

Extent of tooth overgrowth – More severely overgrown teeth take more time, effort to shorten.
Type of teeth – Incisors, premolars, or molars. Difficult to reach cheek teeth cost more.
Additional diagnostics – Full mouth x-rays to assess all teeth may be needed.
Location – Vet dental specialists will be more expensive than general vets.
Anesthesia required – Rabbits usually need general anesthesia for safe burring.
Antibiotics prescribed – If infection is present at the tooth roots or gums.
Follow up care – Rechecks and additional burring sessions raises overall costs.
Degree of difficulty – Problematic access, abscesses, or other complications add cost.

Trimming overgrown rabbit teeth is often an ongoing need rather than a one-time cost. Dietary changes and chew toys can slow the rate of regrowth between burring sessions. Rabbit dental problems should be addressed promptly before they become complex issues.

Can I Trim My Rabbit's Teeth Myself?

It's not recommended for the average owner to trim their own rabbit's teeth at home. Safely reducing overgrown teeth requires proper restraint, anesthesia in most cases, the right tools, finesse, and veterinary training. However, you can take steps to wear teeth down naturally and monitor tooth issues at home between vet visits:

Offer a variety of hays – Grass, oat, botanical hays provide chewing abrasion
Rotate willow, apple, and other safe wood branches – Natural chewing
Use edible twigs, loofahs, cardboard – Healthy gnawing options
Try compressed hay treats, hard pellets – Assist tooth wear
Brush teeth weekly – Removes tartar and plaque buildup
Check incisors weekly – Monitor length and alignment yourself
Learn proper tooth anatomy – Know what normal occlusion looks like
Provide chew toys – Redirect from unwanted chewing on objects
Watch for signs of trouble – Drooling, weight loss, etc.
Seek prompt vet assistance – Don't allow teeth to become severely overgrown

While trimming teeth at home is risky and inadvisable, you can take an active role in providing a chewing-centered diet, toys, and track any changes to get your rabbit veterinary help early. Be their first line of dental defense!

Do Rabbits Regrow Lost Teeth?

Unlike humans, rabbits can regrow lost or damaged teeth in some cases. Rabbits have continuously erupting teeth, so their tooth roots remain open and active throughout life. This gives them the ability to regenerate teeth under the right conditions.

If an injury damages the incisor or molar teeth above the root level, but leaves intact roots and healthy gums, there is a chance of tooth regrowth. It takes 1-6 months for new enamel and dentin to redevelop and the tooth to erupt into view. Time and nutrition impact the regeneration process.

However, if tooth loss involves significant damage to the roots or supporting structures, regeneration is unlikely. Severe trauma, abscesses, and oral cancers destroy portions of the root needed for regrowth. Removal of the entire tooth including roots does not allow regrowth.

Milk teeth lost in juvenile rabbits under 6 months are predictably replaced by permanent teeth due to the natural eruption process. But for damage or loss of adult teeth, regeneration ability varies case by case. Focus on preventing dental problems through proper diet, chewing, and routine veterinary care.

Do Baby Rabbits Shed Their Teeth?

Yes, baby rabbits will naturally shed their small milk teeth as adult teeth erupt. Like humans, rabbits have two sets of teeth in their lifetimes – the temporary deciduous teeth followed by permanent adult dentition.

A rabbit kit is born toothless. The milk incisors erupt around 2-3 weeks old. The premolars arrive around 3 weeks old. By 6 weeks, the full set of milk teeth are present. These smaller smoother teeth allow the kits to start sampling solid foods from mom in addition to nursing.

Around 12 weeks old, the permanent adult teeth will begin to push up behind the milk teeth. The adult incisors and premolars emerge as the milk teeth loosen and fall out. By 6 months old, the full adult dentition of 28 teeth has replaced the baby teeth. Some may persist until 9 months old.

If milk teeth don't shed on their own by 6 months, a vet can extract persistently retained teeth. The adult teeth may come in misaligned if blocked. Provide plenty of hay and safe chews as adult teeth erupt to wear down sharp points and edges. Proper occlusion will develop gradually. Monitor alignment closely in adolescent rabbits.