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Dental disease is a common issue in companion rabbits
Abstract
There are approximately 1.1 million pet rabbits in the UK. Rabbit teeth continue to grow throughout their lifetime, and dental problems are not uncommon. New research from the Royal Veterinary College has identified that one in seven companion rabbits are experiencing dental disease. There are various risk factors which can contribute to dental disease, but all companion rabbits should have regular dental check-ups to maintain good dental health.
Rabbits are popular companion animals, but they can experience a number of health problem, including dental issues (Mäkitaipale et al, 2015). Dental disease can result in pain (Johnson and Burn, 2019) and weight loss (Hamlin, 2013), so is a serious problem that must be addressed.
There have been multiple previous studies into dental disease in particular. All types of rabbit can experience dental disease, but Siriporn and Weerakhun (2014) found that brachycephalic rabbits and lop ear breeds had an increased risk of dental disease. However, it should be noted that this study had a small sample size and selection bias. Dwarf rabbits often experience malocclusion, where the teeth do not align when the mouth is closed (Roux, 2005). Other risk factors for dental disease include old age, low bodyweight and being male (Jackson et al, 2024).
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