The tale of Jacob bunny and his naughty teeth

Poor Jacob bunny has been having problems with his teeth today and has been booked in for a dental examination at the vets tomorrow. Unfortunately, Jacob has recurring problems with tiny 'spurs' growing on his teeth and this means that every few months or so, Jacob has to have a dental, where under anaethestic, Richard (my vet) carefully grinds the spurs down.

Ok, this is the Science bit!

(http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rwf/articles/dental_disease.htm)

Rabbits are ' hypsodonts'. This tongue-twisting word basically means that their teeth are continually growing. Cleverly, if the jaw and teeth are perfectly aligned, the top row of teeth should wear against the bottom row as the bunny eats. Hay, which is a vital part of a rabbits diet for many reasons, also performs a crucial role in gently grinding teeth down.

Unfortunately, many rabbits have teeth that are not aligned and are crooked (just like us), and an uneven mouth leads to uneven wear on the teeth. The back teeth (molars) are where 'spurs' develop. 'Spurs' are basically where uneven wear leads to pointy, sharp bits of tooth and this is as painful for a rabbit as it sounds.

These nasty pointy bits of tooth, become more pronounced over time and dig into the rabbits soft cheeks and even their tongue. The poor bunny, as you can imagine is reluctant to eat as it hurts so much. Bunnies have a very sensitive digestive system and need to eat regularly. If they can't and therefore don't eat, this means that the gut has nothing to digest and it can shut down.

This is VERY serious and a rabbit medical emergency. A rabbit that hasn't eaten or toileted in 4-6 hours needs to see a vet immediately.

Jacob is off his food. Teeth problems were an immediate suspect and particularly when I gave Jacob some Basil and Spring Greens and though he tried to eat, he stopped almost immediately. As this has happened before, I am aware of the signs and as he is still going to the toilet, teeth problems are most likely. I have booked Jacob in to see the vet tomorrow and in the meantime have given Jacob some pain relief as prescribed by my vet. I have also given Jacob some mashed banana and some of his Science Selective food mixed with some Oxbow critical care and a bit of apple juice for extra taste. Jacob has eaten these by himself so there has been no need to syringe feed him. I am keeping an extra eye on him to ensure he is still drinking and going to the toilet.

Jacob will be assessed by Richard (vet) tomorrow morning and if teeth probelms are confirmed, Jacob will have to be very brave and be admitted for the day so the 'spurs' can be dealt with.

I will also have to be very brave as I sit at home waiting for the telephone to ring to confirm that all is well. There are always tears and although my other animals are always especially good to me and look after me, home isn't right when someone is missing.