First do no harm: Top tips for improving your rabbit dentals

The importance of providing high fibre (hay/grass) diets to pet rabbits can never be underestimated. Despite advances in our knowledge and understanding of the dietary requirements of pet rabbits, acquired dental disease continues to be one of the most common clinical problems for a rabbit.
With hypsodont dentition, rabbit dental growth rates are recorded at (approximately) 3mm per week for incisors and 3mm per month for cheek teeth. The 28 teeth require active 'dental exercise', with collective grazing times of 8+ hours per day, in order to maintain good dental occlusal health.
Failure to achieve intake of an appropriate diet can lead to an increase in occlusal pressure, dental curvature, widening of the periodontal space, dental spurs, gingival and/or lingual trauma apical penetration of the maxillary or mandibular jaw and dental apex abscessation. All of which cause pain and discomfort to the rabbit, often resulting in presentations of weight loss, inappetance, hypersalivation, halitosis, gastrointestinal stasis and facial swellings.
Otoscopic examination of the oral cavity should complete every physical examination and dental health checks are recommended every 6 months throughout the rabbit's life. This lecture assesses disease severity with diagnostic imaging and reviews the ongoing treatments (+/-burring, extractions and abscess surgery) that can be required to manage this challenging, and often frustrating, condition.

Learning Outcomes
1. Be able to describe predisposing factors for the development of dental disease 2. Identify the common clinical signs associated with dental disease 3. Discuss management strategies and prognosis for a rabbit with dental disease 4. Identify appropriate further diagnostic imaging required to grade disease severity 5. Be able to discuss your approach to a dental abscess surgery, including the provision of culture and sensitivity and the importance of abscess capsule removal

Chairperson: Niall Connell, Past President - RCVS
Speakers :Jenna Richardson, Head of Department - Dick Vet Rabbit and Exotic Animal Practice - The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

14 Nov 2024
16:50 - 17:40
RVC Clinical Theatre 3

Presented at London Vet Show 2024

Please note this session is not RACE-approved but you can still earn a CPD certificate