Small pet mammals, also referred to as small furries, are a group of animals that includes rabbits and rodents, like guinea pigs, rats, mice, hamsters. Most of them are strict herbivores, however among them are also omnivore species too (e.g. rats). 

Rabbits’ and some rodents’ teeth grow throughout life, which is called hypselodonty. This means that worn teeth surface is replaced by the new toth tissue. This is the consequence of the high-fibrous diet like grass and weeds, that need to be chewed well to become a mash, which will be subjected to further digestion in the gastrointestinal tract. To keep teeth healthy, those animals have to spend many hours on eating, picking food and chewing to file their teeth surface.

 

Any dental deformation never happens throughout the night. It is a slow process, however it may progress really quickly. Usually starts with overgrown premolars and molars, which bend or misshapen within the oral cavity. Spurs and sharp edges of those teeth can be noticed at that point. Malocclusion of the premolar and molar teeth may push the incisors away causing the abnormal teeth abrasion, which will be easily visible during oral examination.. If this situation is maintained for a long time, because of the lack of space in the oral cavity, premolar and molar teeth start to grow into roots, expand in the skull and result in anorexia.

 

In rabbits and rodents dental pathology may have different origin:

 

1. Wrong diet

2. Congenital defect

3. Trauma

 

The most common reason for dental pathology in small pet mammals is the wrong diet. As mentioned above, rabbit and rodent diet should include mostly long-fiber grass and weed, which allows the teeth surface to be well filled. Too much of the easy to digest or high-sugar content food may reduce the daily amount of the food taken and in the long perspective also cause the teeth overgrowing. Good quality hay and grass like orchard, timothy or meadow hay should be fed ad-libitum and contains 80-85% of the daily food. Additives like green leaves (kale, lettuce, dandelion, basil) should become around 10%. Some vegetables like pepper, cucumber, celery can be used daily in small amounts. Other vegetables, especially root vegetables (carrots,beetroot) and fruits shouldn’t be fed daily and used more like treats.

Pelleted, commercial food can be given daily in small amounts, especially to guinea pigs, as an external source of the vitamin C, which they cannot produce endogenously. 

 

Some mini rabbit breeds like dwarfs or lops are brachycephalic, which means their face bones are shorter in comparison to other rabbits and for that reason dental problems are observed more commonly. Very often they are presented with incisors malocclusion, that need to be corrected by regular teeth filling or even teeth extractions.  Overgrown incisors may cause pain or be problematic for picking food. It happens too that the rest of the teeth may become pathological. For that reason it is essential to observe pets and try to identify the problem as soon as it appears.

 

Any facial injury may result in further dental problems. Skull fractures or abscessation may leave scars or bone redevelopment that may change the structure of mouth and teeth occlusion. It may happen as a result of excessive metal bars gnawing, fights among mates or accidents. Any of that will require veterinary help and preparing a plan for the future. 

 

Common symptoms of the dental disease:

 

• long incisors

• trouble eating

• hypersalivation

• depression

• weight loss

• teeth grinding

• lack of grooming

• presence of the caecotrophs

• wet nose and eyes

• abscesses

 

If your pet is showing any of those symptoms, please call your vet and ask for exotic pet appointment!