Why does the rabbit grind its teeth. Why does a rabbit chatter its teeth. Diseases related to teeth

Rabbits living at home are several times more likely to suffer from dental diseases than their counterparts from the wild. Free representatives gnaw on hard pieces of food obtained, so their teeth are regularly ground down and self-cleaning. Domestic animals receive a ready-made diet that does not need to be chewed and chewed for a long time - all that remains is to swallow. The lack of solid food provokes the softness of the tissues of the oral cavity and the weakening of the structure of the teeth, leading to unpleasant pathologies. The most common diseases are described in detail below.

Two centuries ago, rabbits were classified as a group of rodents, explaining the decision by the external similarity between the animals. Changes to the general classification were made by the American zoologist William Gidley a little over a century ago.

He concluded that the representatives of the "Zaitsevye" family should be allocated to the order "Hare-like", since rabbits differ from rodents in the structure of the teeth and in the features of the development of the skeleton. Despite the unifying feature - the constant growth of incisors throughout life - the scientist's view began to be considered generally accepted.

The key differences that drastically separate the two species lie in the structure of the teeth. There are four signs in total:

1. Rabbits have two pairs of incisors in the upper jaw, and only one in rodents.
2. Lagomorphs - owners of 28 teeth, rodents - a maximum of 18.
3. The entire set of rabbit teeth is characterized by constant growth throughout life. In rodents (from hamsters to rats) only incisors grow. An exception is the guinea pig or chinchilla.
4. The teeth of lagomorphs function like scissors: their incisors move sideways, allowing them to "cut" food. If the rabbit begins to gnaw food without moving the incisors, this indicates a problem with the molars of the animal.

The peculiar structure and arrangement of the teeth is associated with the physiology of the herbivorous nature of rabbits, to which their digestive system is adapted - cut off with incisors, and thoroughly grind food with molars.

Often even experienced breeders are mistaken with the answer to the question about the number of teeth of their wards: some say that there are four of them, others have about six. Let's see where and how all 28 teeth are placed. So:

• 4 teeth are the upper incisors;
• 2 teeth - lower incisors;
• 12 molars - 6 on the upper jaw;
• 10 indigenous - 5 on the lower jaw.

It is noteworthy that the few incisors leave behind a diastema or toothless space, and the molars begin to grow a little deeper. Therefore, visually, we see only the front teeth of rabbits, which makes us mistaken in questions of their number.

Characteristic features of rabbit teeth

Milk teeth begin to form even at the stage of the embryo, and animals acquire a complete set by the end of the first month of life. Teeth are the main tool of rabbits, so they are constantly subjected to high loads. Interesting Facts:

• Continuously cutting and grinding food, the teeth are quickly erased and equally quickly restored (on average, their growth is 10 cm per year).
• The outer side of the incisors is covered with a dense layer of enamel, while the inner side is thinner. This ensures natural sharpening of the teeth, preventing overgrowth.
• With molars it is more difficult. They are prone to overgrowth due to constant chewing, and access to them is often difficult. At the first suspicion of excessive growth, breeders should contact a veterinarian.

If the help of a specialist is important with the molars, then you can handle the correction of the incisors on your own with ordinary forceps. There are no nerve endings in the front teeth of the rabbit, so the process is absolutely painless for the animal.

What are the dental diseases of rabbits

Atypical animal behavior such as refusing to eat or brushing their fur is often associated with problematic teeth, which leads breeders to a veterinary examination. A common cause is the diet of rabbits filled with grain feed - wheat, dried peas and other similar crops.

Such food is poor in calcium and D vitamins, which is why an imbalance develops. Diluting the feed with the necessary additives, useful substances rarely enter the body: rabbits choose tidbits from food, leaving vitamin supplements in the uneaten residue.

The result is weak bone tissue and poor quality teeth, which provokes inflammation and the development of unpleasant symptoms. Most often, rabbits are subject to three pathologies:

1. Malocclusion is a disease in which the jaw stops closing.
2. Abscesses or purulent inflammation in the jaw area.
3. Abundant growth of the root system of the teeth, leading to diseases of the eyes.

Each of the conditions is extremely painful for rabbits, and in some cases is fatal. The ability to recognize the first signs will help to cope with the disease faster and with less loss to the health of animals.

Malocclusion: from causes to treatments

This disease occurs due to poor grinding of the incisors and leads to a violation of the contact between the lower and upper jaw - the rabbit cannot close it. There are three reasons for the development of malocclusion, so we will talk about each separately.

1. Poor diet and improper selection of food. The typical diet of a rabbit living in the wild is fresh grass, leaves and stems. Thanks to such food, natural and even grinding of teeth occurs, since the “green” diet is very rich in minerals and chews for a long time, and low calorie content does not allow you to quickly get enough, so you have to chew more often.

For clarity, it takes at least 7 minutes to eat fresh grass, and at least 12 to chew hay. A diet consisting of grains will take a maximum of 2 minutes and will lead to satiety much earlier. Due to the rapid saturation, the chewing process itself is reduced several times, and chewing is the key to health for the rabbit's teeth.

1. Malocclusion. Pathology can be both congenital and acquired. In the normal state, the incisors close freely, resembling closed scissors. With a bite defect, the closure area is significantly reduced or completely absent, which excludes grinding.

There are two reasons for this: the teeth are too close and leave almost no gap, or the incisors of the upper jaw extend far beyond the incisors of the lower. Incomplete closure can result from trauma and malunion of the bones at the fracture site, resulting in poor abrasion.

1. Infection in the root of the tooth. Bacterial activity attacks the roots, causing misaligned teeth to grow.

Symptoms of malocclusion

All teeth are affected, including even the most distant molars. We list the main symptoms that should alert breeders:

• choosing soft food, ignoring hard food;
• poor appetite or complete refusal to eat;
• a sharp weight loss against the background of forced starvation;
• unwillingness to clean and comb the hair, wash;
• teeth lose their whiteness, acquiring a yellow tint;
• bowel function deteriorates, leading to the absence of feces;
• there is a creak of teeth and constant tearing;
• mucous membrane bleeds (in the active stage of inflammation).

The last symptom of the disease provokes the development of abscesses and requires urgent help. Suppuration in the tissues of the oral cavity leads to painful damage to their structure, creating a high threat to the life of the rabbit.

Primary diagnosis and method of treatment

You can determine the pathology of the incisors yourself, since the front teeth are available for visual inspection. The opposite situation with the root row: the teeth are placed deep in the cavity, so professional intervention is necessary. In most cases, veterinarians resort to anesthesia to diagnose malocclusion, since opening the mouth with special tools is accompanied by severe pain.

After confirming the diagnosis, a period of treatment begins, which fits into several stages:

1. The teeth are cut with a special knife (electromill), the corners are turned with files (anesthesia is used when processing the molars). If the bite is incorrect, problem teeth are removed or regularly trimmed.
2. The oral cavity is washed with a solution of furacilin to relieve inflammation, treated with a mixture of glycerin and lugol, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed (for example, Traumatin, Traumel and a number of others).
3. To restore the work of the gastrointestinal tract, "Gamavit" or "Aminovit" is prescribed. These drugs have a beneficial effect on the intestinal microflora and normalize metabolism.
4. At the final stage, fresh grass, leaves or hay, coarse varieties of feed are added to the rabbits' diet.

To prevent malocclusion, it is enough to follow a balanced diet: food should be saturated with minerals and have nutritional value.

Suppurations and abscesses

Even minor damage to the mucosa can lead to suppuration in the oral cavity. It all depends on the immunity of the individual rabbit: in some, the wounds heal quickly, in others an abscess forms. These are external formations that require antibacterial treatment, but do not pose a fatal danger.

On the contrary, internal formations or abscesses are extremely dangerous. Inflammation in the tissues of the body leads to pain and general intoxication of the body. In a neglected state, there is a threat of abscess rupture: pus that has entered the circulatory system infects the blood and causes damage to internal tissues (up to death).

The reasons are several factors:

1. Mechanical tissue damage (unsuccessful cutting of the tooth, non-healing wound on the tongue, gums, etc.).
2. Impaired metabolism against the background of weakened immunity, the growth of the roots of the teeth.
3. Abrasion of enamel and caries of teeth against the background of age-related changes.

The first signs of an abscess manifest themselves in the form of swelling in places where pus accumulates, pain and profuse salivation. Body temperature rises sharply, accompanied by poor appetite or refusal to eat. If symptoms are detected, it is necessary to exclude self-medication and consult a doctor as soon as possible: an abscess requires surgical intervention followed by antibiotic-based therapy.

Root growth problem

An unbalanced rabbit diet leads to a lack of minerals, which ultimately reduces the quality of bone tissue and provokes the growth of tooth roots. With the growth of the roots of the teeth of the lower jaw, the consequence will be an unaesthetic appearance of the gums of the rabbit (characteristic bulges form on them). The growth of the roots of the upper teeth is fraught with the development of diseases: dacryocystitis (this is inflammation in the lacrimal sac) or epiphora (and this is already constant lacrimation).

The causes of the disease lie in the diet of rabbits. There are two in total:

1. An imbalance in the animal's diet. The predominance of cereals and peas in the feed turns into a lack of calcium, as well as a violation of the calcium-phosphorus balance.
2. The body does not absorb calcium. The violation is the result of inflammation in the intestines, which are provoked by an infection or invasive diseases (worms, impaired metabolism, or a consequence of the age of the rabbit).

The first signs and method of treatment

Symptoms of the disease are easy to recognize in the early stages, if you carefully observe the condition of the animal. The following manifestations should alert:

• in the region of the roots on the lower jaw, convex areas appear, similar to tubercles;
• the eyes of the rabbit are constantly watery;
• purulent discharge appears in the corners of the eyes;
• begins the development of malocclusion.

To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to take an x-ray of the jaw and conduct a blood test for biochemistry, which will help determine the balance of minerals in the rabbit's body. After all the procedures, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed and eye treatment with furacilin solution. With a complex course of the disease (with the development of purulent formations), an antibiotic is prescribed to rabbits.

The treatment is supplemented with drugs like "Veracol" or "Liarsin", which contribute to the normalization of the intestines. A balanced diet completes the fight against the disease: rabbits begin to be fed roughage, which is saturated with calcium.

Teeth grinding: what bothers the rabbit?

Sudden grinding or chattering of teeth is a standard behavior of an animal that does not apply to possible pathologies. This is exactly the same as if the rabbit stood up on its hind legs and “hit the table with its fist”: through the grinding of teeth, it simply expresses its emotions. But pay attention to their intensity and loudness will not be superfluous.

So, what does the rabbit “talk about”:

• a loud sound with strong pressing of the teeth can mean physical disharmony or signal painful sensations;
• slight creaking or soft chattering of teeth conveys a state of relaxation and pleasure.

If you carefully observe the animal and memorize a few meanings from the sign language, then the breeder will always know how his ward feels. For example, when a rabbit feels complete peace and security, it lies on its back or side, and in a state of fright, it freezes or tries to run away.

Do not forget that the ability to observe the behavior of rabbits brings not only an understanding of his inner feelings, but allows you to notice the first symptoms of his illness and prevent the development of diseases.

Finally: prevention of dental diseases

The healthy condition of rabbit teeth, which are characterized by constant growth, directly depends on a balanced diet. The diet of lagomorphs requires food rich in minerals. Treat your rabbit with coarse (and preferably juicy) food, because it is he who is the main factor in maintaining healthy teeth.

It is important to remember other rules, including:

1. Ensure minimum injury. This means avoiding crowding in the cells, avoiding contact with sharp objects.
2. Monitor the relationship of "residents", avoiding possible fights and bites.
3. Prevent breeding of rabbits with a congenital jaw defect (malocclusion).

And most importantly - do not forget to periodically conduct a veterinary examination. Decorative breeds need to see a doctor every 3-4 months, rabbits of meat breeds need 2 vaccinations during the year.

This video shows how to trim a rabbit's teeth at home.

Rabbits are also at risk of getting sick with some kind of infection, so the breeder must be on the alert and make sure that the most common signs of the disease do not appear. As soon as the rabbit stops drinking, does not eat and grits his teeth, this is an alarm bell and it may be time for you to contact the veterinarian.

Very often, breeders complain about such a factor as teeth squeaking in furry animals. This causes concern, but not always justified. For example, if you caress your pet, he responds to caress in this way - he grinds his teeth, expressing pleasure. But if he makes such sounds simultaneously with the loss of appetite and interest in water, this is a serious reason to be alarmed.

To begin with, we conclude: rabbits do not always make a rattle in order to signal poor health. But if this creaking does not stop, and, in addition, you hear a suspicious chatter of teeth against each other, this is a reason to take a closer look at the state of health of the pet. He may be trying to tell you that he is in pain.

If the rabbit has lost its appetite, this is also an alarming sign.

There are several reasons for the loss of desire to eat goodies:

1. Most often it is some kind of disease.
2. Problems with nutrition and gastrointestinal tract. This also includes irritability of the walls of the stomach, swelling of the mucosa and swelling in the mouth and throat.
3. Perhaps the rabbit has babies - all this affects the appetite.

Discomfort in the mouth

The rabbit may experience pain, and therefore refuse to eat. After all, no creature is capable of experiencing appetite when it is disturbed by pain. The pain can be associated with the teeth: if they have grown too much and damaged the oral cavity, cheeks and tongue. If the fluffy has a dislocated jaw or just a sore gum, this will also discourage any desire to follow the usual diet. Often the cause of inflammation in the oral cavity can be pricks from too hard food (sharp stems, etc.).

So, what to do if the rabbit does not eat anything? If the rabbit has stopped eating, the first step is to check the cheeks and tongue for wounds. Then the teeth themselves for damage, because toothache is a common cause of loss of appetite. Animals are still hungry, but they cannot eat. This applies to male and female.

The disease of the teeth and the destruction of dental tissues is called malloclusia and manifests itself in an incorrect, displaced arrangement of the jaws. Therefore, a fluffy pet forms an incorrect bite, which is the reason for the problems of the oral cavity. So that the rabbit does not injure the upper or lower gums with protruding teeth, the teeth are cut down (the author of the video is Art Rabbit).

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract

Rabbits are not deprived of problems associated with the stomach. For the most part, problems occur due to toxins that have accumulated in the body of the animal or the wool that the pet has swallowed. This painful condition can occur in a rabbit after a birth, because during pregnancy she actively tears out her hair in order to make a cozy nest for her children.

Sometimes problems can arise due to negligence - the animal is able to swallow foreign objects, and sometimes due to tumors and abscesses, helminths and compression of the gastrointestinal tract.

Wrong diet

If a fluffy animal has an incorrectly composed diet, this can also be the cause of squeaking and loss of appetite and thirst. If the rabbit does not eat hay, but instead only eats vegetables and fruits, this is a wake-up call. After all, raw vegetables and fruits are a bonus to the main nutritious diet, which is dried grass and straw. These nutritional rules apply to all rabbits - to females and males, to rabbits after birth and her cubs.

If the refusal of food in rabbits, and especially rabbits after birth, lasts more than a day, then you need to urgently show the pet to a specialist. Fluffy pets can develop kidney failure, constipation, and liver problems due to improper diet. These problems can completely deprive of appetite, which will lead to exhaustion and death.

infections

Infection can cause not only loss of appetite and thirst, but also worse problems.

Solution Methods

If you find the symptoms mentioned above, then you need to urgently take action! And this does not mean that you need to self-medicate, ask neighbors, speculate and read Internet articles, all this was at the stage of clarifying the problem. Now the most important thing is to contact the veterinarian. Moreover, if the rabbits behave suspiciously for more than 24-4 hours - this is no accident!

You cannot treat rabbits yourself without finding out the cause of the disease, but further instructions are simple and should be taken into account:

1. After okrol, the rabbit should be in a cozy nest and eat well, this will save her from illness.
2. Don't scare your students. Eliminate all possible stress factors: do not drag rabbits from place to place, do not let them close to aggressive animals.
3. Follow the advice of a specialist when feeding your furry friends.
4. Keep all vaccinations on time to avoid deterioration of immunity and improve the health of rabbits.
5. Immediately place a sick rabbit that is suspected of having an infection in a separate room. This will help keep the animals healthy. If the rabbit died and this happened on the farm or when keeping more than one rabbit, then before disposing of it, it is advisable to give it for an autopsy to determine the cause.

Video "Diseases of rabbits"

About what rabbits get sick with, how to prevent problems with the gastrointestinal tract, and much more can be found in the video from the author OursBunny.

Even for people unfamiliar with rabbit breeding, rabbits are known to be rodents. Accordingly, their teeth are their main means of obtaining food (however, this is true for most animals). However, there are several varieties of these important "devices". In addition, rabbit teeth grow throughout life, which can create certain difficulties in breeding these rodents. What are these problems and how to solve them?

Description of teeth

First you need to figure out how many teeth a rabbit has, what varieties exist, and how they differ. So, the first - the adults of these rodents are the owners of 28 teeth. These include:

• 10 false;
• 12 indigenous;
• 6 incisors.

The next question is how are these teeth located? On the upper jaw there are two large incisors, as well as 3 false and 3 molars on each side. The lower jaw has a slightly smaller number. It has only 2 false teeth each, and the number of others is similar to the top one.

The rabbits themselves are born with only 16 milk teeth, which are replaced by adult teeth within a month and a half. Although they begin to try “adult” foods already on the 20-25th day of life, therefore, they should only have access to fairly mild diet options.

All molars and premolars of rabbit teeth grow, though constantly, but not very quickly, and therefore cause the animal and its owner a minimum of problems. The main difficulties are connected with the main means of what the rabbit eats - its incisors. It is these long and protruding teeth of rabbits that have the unique feature of continuous rapid growth. In a couple of weeks, they are able to increase their length by several centimeters, which is the main problem when keeping animals in cages.

Often there is such a phenomenon when rabbits grind their teeth (although this can also be heard from adults). Most often, the latter is a signal of the development of a disease. Sometimes this is something not related to the teeth, and the creak appears due to severe pain. On the other hand, this may mean the presence of a directly dental disease - malocclusion. The symptoms and development of this disease are so “comprehensive” that it can be classified as a whole group of diseases, each of which has its own characteristics.

Causes of the squeak

First you need to deal with the less unpleasant causes of teeth grinding in rabbits. Some of them have nothing to do with problems at all. For example, a rabbit may grind its teeth in pleasure. This replaces their cat's purr.

On the other hand, if the squeaking is quite violent and there is no real reason for the rabbit to feel good, it is likely that pain is the cause. These can be stomach cramps (especially if the rabbit is not eating), itching in the teeth or paws, the result of chronic internal or external injuries, or even increased pressure. The most unpleasant cause of dental squeaking is malocclusion. This disease should be discussed in more detail.

Malocclusion

So, as mentioned above, one of the most common diseases of rabbit teeth is malocclusion. It lies in the fact that the teeth of the animal are not erased properly. As a result, pointed hook-shaped ends are formed on them, which can severely damage the rabbit's oral cavity, as well as its tongue and cheeks with gums. The formation of wounds and ulcers in such a vulnerable place is a real disaster for the animal.

Main symptoms and treatment

It is not very difficult to determine the presence of the disease if you devote enough time to daily examinations of your wards. Anyone who has this unpleasant disease does not eat, becomes lethargic and gradually loses weight. In addition, the sick person periodically knocks with his paws, and can also chew food when he has no food. A wet chin is also a symptom, as the rabbit is unable to swallow normally due to pain.

Unfortunately, malocclusion is an incurable disease. You can only minimize its harm, but this will require certain efforts and / or costs from the rabbit breeder. The fact is that the procedure that reduces the harm of malocclusion consists in grinding the formed hooks on the molars and blunting the overgrown incisors.

The problem is that they will reappear. To minimize the risks, it is necessary to provide rabbits with a properly selected diet, as well as take them to the veterinarian regularly for check-ups.

Malocclusion of the incisors

This variant of this disease usually manifests itself in small rabbits. It is not very difficult to determine it even for an inexperienced rabbit breeder who does not have a special medical education.

It is enough to lift the baby's lips and look at the bite. If the incisors are skewed, some are longer than others, or the first wounds in the oral cavity are visible, the rabbit has malocclusion. The problem for the smallest is aggravated by the fact that it is physically difficult for him to quickly and actively grind down growing incisors.

Of course, the rabbit breeder himself can perform this task if he wants to keep this rabbit “in the ranks”. But it is better to entrust the procedure to a veterinarian who will carry it out using a special cutter. Most often, anesthesia is not required here, since painkillers at an early age can greatly harm the rabbit. On the other hand, the owner himself, or another familiar face of the patient, must be present there, otherwise it is too much stress for these gentle creatures.

Rabbits - problems of rabbits with teeth

Undercutting of the teeth of the rabbit

Removing teeth from rabbits at home

VLOG●TEETS LIKE A RABBIT!

In especially severe cases, there is nothing left but to cut the rabbit's teeth and remove them. The result of this will be the prevention of the formation of malocclusion already for the molars. Also, if removed at a young age, the rabbit will quickly adjust to the absence of its threatening incisors. However, here you will have to resort to anesthesia, since the procedure is quite painful. And, again, it should be resorted to only in severe cases.

Malocclusion of molars

This variant of malocclusion usually occurs as a result of an improperly selected diet. Reasons include:

• Industrial feed mixtures of poor quality;
• Bread and sweet pastries;
• Vegetables and fruits of excessive nutrition.

Any foods that rabbits do not have the ability to actively chew and gnaw can lead to malocclusion of molars. Plus, they tend to be too low in calcium, which is so important for teeth. The minimum that should be contained in the products is 0.44%, the optimal amount is 0.9-1%.

As a result of the continuous and incorrect growth of the molars, they begin to close not as they should. As a result, those very pointed hooks are formed (to know how they look, you should refer to the photo of the disease), which damage the gums, tongue and cheeks of the rabbit. The result is that the animal cannot eat from pain, and even death from starvation is possible if the rabbit breeder does not notice the problem in time.

To prevent the rapid development of malocclusion of molars, the rabbit's diet should contain a certain percentage of foods with coarse fibers and, of course, without fail, hay. Unfortunately, this does not completely solve the problem. The animal will still need regular and individual tooth grinding.

It is not always possible for a person to seek help from a veterinarian. The reasons can be very different, and it is pointless to consider them. Much more important is the answer to the question, what to do in such a situation?

If there is a need to trim the incisors at home, this can be done using ordinary wire cutters. However, this procedure should only be used as a last resort. If carried out incorrectly, there is a chance of damaging the tooth and leaving the dental pulp unprotected, and this is a direct route inside for a number of infections.

Therefore, the main recommendation on how to trim a rabbit's teeth at home is not to do it. This will cause more problems than benefits. Rabbits not only have teeth, but their jaws are very fragile. If the procedure is carried out carelessly, there is a high probability of a fracture, which will be more difficult to heal.

For this reason, the main recommendation is that for any dental procedure, including the one to cut and trim the teeth (or have them removed), you should only contact a veterinarian. In this case, the haircut operation will be done quickly, efficiently and painlessly.

Finally, the best option to prevent and slow down the development of malocclusion is to use branches. Yes, ordinary tree branches, about a centimeter thick, will be an excellent source of nutrients for the animal's body and, in addition, will allow it to effectively grind down the fast-growing teeth of a rabbit.

And the last important tip. Malocclusion is a genetic disease that has unpleasant consequences. Therefore, all rabbits with this problem should be culled and sent for slaughter. The chance of transmission of dental problems is too high to allow the patient to remain in the pedigree.

Conclusion

The teeth are as important as the vulnerable organ of rabbits. The problems associated with them are difficult to eliminate, and they have the most unpleasant consequences. So there are two main solutions here. The first is to always remember the right diet, as it is food that naturally has the greatest impact on the teeth of these rodents. And the second - if there is a genetic deviation, such as malocclusion, then the affected individuals should be culled from the herd in order to prevent its further spread through newborn rabbits.

People who breed rabbits are well aware that they have an excellent appetite. Animals can chew for at least a whole day, but when the appetite disappears and at the same time the animal begins to grind its teeth, this is a cause for concern, since this situation indicates a problem with the fluffy. Let's look at why this occurs and how to deal with it.

Reasons why a rabbit grinds its teeth

If the rabbit makes a constant grinding of teeth and at the same time they knock against each other, this indicates that the pet is in pain.

Did you know? A rabbit weighing 2 kg and a dog weighing 10 kg drink the same amount of water at a time.

• discomfort in the oral cavity;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• the diet is wrong;
• infections and stress;
• irritation when touching an animal.

Discomfort in the mouth

Causes of pain in the mouth can be:

• wounds on the tongue, cheeks, resulting from malocclusion;
• dislocation of the jaw;
• too long front teeth;
• incisors diverge to the sides;
• sores in the mouth from excessively spicy food.

If the rabbit stops eating, you need:

1. Check the oral cavity for wounds.
2. Examine teeth for damage.

Important! For any pathology in the oral cavity, you should not self-medicate, but immediately seek advice from a veterinary clinic.

So that the pet is not injured from long protruding teeth, they must be cut with a special tool, since the incisors of the animal grow constantly, they lengthen by 10 mm in a month.

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract

Like all animals, rabbits also develop digestive problems that manifest as bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. and they appear due to such reasons:

Important! With diarrhea and vomiting, the animal must be urgently shown to the veterinarian, as these may be signs of an infectious disease.

1. Constantly clean the cages where the animals are kept.
2. Monitor feed quality.
3. Introduce new products gradually, in small portions.
4. Give pets antihelminthic drugs.

Wrong diet

Feeding rabbits only fruits and vegetables can lead to kidney failure, liver problems, and inflammation of the appendix, all of which lead to poor appetite. You need to know that the basis of the diet of these rodents is hay and dried grass, and vegetables and fruits are just a treat.

infections

For the life of a rabbit, infectious diseases pose a serious danger. Viruses and microbes, entering the body, lead to malfunctions of the internal organs and, as a result, to intoxication of the body. Each infection has its own manifestations, but they all have one thing in common - a depressed state, loss of appetite and gnashing of teeth. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, self-medication can cause the death of an animal.

stress

Rabbits are very shy and gentle animals. An unstable nervous state in them can cause:

• harsh noise;
• car trip;
• the arrival of guests;
• other animals.

Annoyed or dissatisfied

The rabbit, like other animals, has a bad attitude towards what is done against his will. If he is in a good mood, then he makes a barely noticeable gnashing of his teeth - this is a sign of pleasure and calmness. When he is stroked and he likes it, in addition to the gnashing, the pet chatters his teeth a little audibly.

Did you know? There are three degrees of aggression in a rabbit, and they can be determined by the condition of the ears. Warning - ears are turned to the sides and slightly down to the back. Ready to attack - the ears are strictly at the top, and their inner side is turned back. The highest degree of dissatisfaction - the ears are pressed to the back to the maximum, and with any careless movement from the side, the rabbit will attack.

In case of irritation or unwillingness to be touched, the rabbit begins to quickly shake its head and grind its teeth violently. At such moments, the animal can lunge in your direction. It is better not to touch the pet and let him calm down.