Rabbit Dental Health
Rabbits are cute, cuddly and very unique, especially when it comes to their health. Digestive health and diet are critical in keeping you r rabbit as healthy as possible. And something that impacts this greatly is dental health.Rabbits have 4 incisor teeth at the front of their mouth, 2 peg teeth behind and 22 molar teeth set back from these with pads of gum in between. The teeth are continuously growing throughout their life and therefore must be worn down through good chewing of proper foods.
Some rabbits are born with improper tooth position which can lead to overgrowth and must be addressed/managed regularly. But bunnies can also develop overgrown teeth through poor diet and chewing options.
So how do you know if your rabbit has healthy teeth? If your rabbit likes to be handled you may be able to view the incisors at the front which should be short with the upper incisors sitting slightly in front of the lower incisors. However, your vet will be able to check both the incisors as well as the cheek teeth (molars) at the 6 monthly check up/vaccination. Symptoms of poor dental health which you may notice at home can include elongated incisors, food/saliva staining around the mouth, dropping food, choosing softer foods and weight loss.If you have any concerns a check up with a vet is recommended. Elongated incisors can be trimmed, however this is a sign of generalised tooth problems, so it is always best to examine and shorten the back teeth under a general anaesthetic as well. Overgrown back teeth can cause pain and entrapment of the tongue, problems with swallowing and, over time, overgrowth of the roots which can deform the jaw, causing pain and abscesses.The best way to keep your rabbit’s teeth and gut healthy are to provide a healthy, balanced diet. This broadly consists of 70-80% good quality grass, oaten or meadow hay (available at all times), 10-20% fresh foods especially greens, and <10% formulated pellet diet (2-3 tbsp daily) and treats including fruit. More information about suitable foods is below.
- Veggies/greens - 2 cups per kilogram bodyweight per day of fresh leafy greens such as bok choy, celery tops, broccoli tops, alfalfa sprouts, weeds including dandelions, fresh grass, and parsley. At least 3 different leafy greens should be fed. Avoid very watery greens such as iceberg lettuce and celery which may cause diarrhea.
- Treats include Fruits, carrot, sweet potato, capsicum and other non-leafy vegetables.
- Choose a pellet with high fibre and low protein (both about 16% is ideal).
- No-nos include cereals, grains, seeds, oats, nuts, bread, biscuits, sweet items and chocolate.
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Although chocolate may be one of your favourite treats, never feed chocolate to your pet. It is poisonous for them! It contains substances called theobromine and caffeine (methylxanthine alkaloids) which are also contained in coffee, tea and some over-the-counter stimulants.
Chocolate poisoning is most commonly seen in dogs because of their habit to ingest food rapidly and they often have a “sweet tooth”. We see a higher incidence in puppies and young dogs, probably because they tend to ingest large amounts of unusual foods.
Chocolate poisoning can also affect cats, birds, rodents and reptiles however we see these cases much less frequently.
Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning
The toxins in chocolate can affect you pet’s digestive system, nervous system and cardiovascular system.
Digestive system
- Vomiting & diarrhoea (2-4 hours after ingestion)
Nervous System
- Excitation/restlessness (increased body temperature, alertness)
- Muscle rigidity & tremors
- Seizures
Cardiovascular
- Increased respiratory rate
- Increased heart rate
- Reduced blood pressure (hypotension)
- Progresses to cardiac failure leading to weakness, coma and death can occur within 12-36 hours after ingestion.
The toxins are found in the highest concentration in cooking chocolate and dark chocolate, and there are lesser amounts in milk chocolate. There is almost no toxins are found in white chocolate.
Diagnosis
Chocolate poisoning can look similar to many poisonings or other conditions. Serious poisonings such as that caused by strychnine, amphetamines, pesticides, and some rodenticides can cause similar signs.
If you know your pet has eaten chocolate, contact us immediately, especially if your pet is showing any of the symptoms above. If possible, bring any vomit to the clinic as well, since this may aid in rapid identification of the toxic substance. Your veterinarian will need to examine your dog's nervous system and cardiac function carefully. He/she may want to run some blood tests to check for blood sugar levels and rule out other diseases. Since this poisoning progresses rapidly, signs may need to be treated symptomatically until a laboratory diagnosis is confirmed.
Treatment
There is no antidote for chocolate poisoning. Your veterinarian may use drugs to induce vomiting if the chocolate was consumed within the previous 2 - 4 hours or they may even need to administer a general anaesthetic in order to pass a tube into the stomach to wash
Once the chocolate is out activated charcoal treatment may be given to prevent any toxins remaining from being absorbed.
Pets that show more severe symptoms may need more specific medications in order to control the seizures and to prevent heart failure.
The expected course of chocolate poisoning is 12 to 36 hours depending on the dosage and effectiveness of treatment. Prognosis is good if the chocolate is removed within 2 to 4 hours of ingestion. Prognosis is guarded in animals with advanced signs such as seizures and serious heart dysfunction. So, please remember to keep your chocolates, cakes and chocolate-coated goodies safely away from your pets. Stick to healthy treats if you want to reward your special furry or feathered friend.
Have more questions?
Our state-of-the-art facility offers separate consultation rooms for dogs and cats, a fully equipped in-house laboratory, and specialised suites for surgery and dental care. For those tender moments, our uniquely designed Grief.
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