Rabbit Dental Care

Although our sick buck doesn't have elongated, or even misaligned teeth, he does have a damaged tooth, which, although unpreventable(in this case), could have been found more quickly and removed, improving his quality of life. Therefore, I would like to take today to help others prevent this problem and others, by giving tips on preventative rabbit dental care. I believe in the case of our buck, it was simply improper utilization of calcium, as his claws are also weak, that has created this mess, possibly caused by his advanced age. He is a five year old Silver Fox rabbit, and I am told it is rare for them to live beyond the age of three.

1. Greens, greens, greens! They contain fiber which is vital for a rabbit's health and "chew" which is vital for keeping their teeth filed down. Be sure, if your rabbit has not eaten greens recently or you don't know what they have eaten in the past, to introduce them SLOWLY so their bodies can adjust to the new food. Rabbits need time to develop the proper enzymes for digesting a certain food. Introduce any and all new foods one at a time and watch closely for allergic reactions. Allergies to new foods can be as fatal in rabbits as people. As always, always be absolutely certain of what you are giving as well. Make SURE you know what it is and if it's safe for rabbits. If you know for sure, check again. I have a neighbor who gives his rabbits what he claims to be one thing and I know for a fact it is not. I looked it up. Do not rely on what you knew when you were growing up. The people who introduced you to an item could be erring. Get your knowledge from an expert at all times.
2. Apple branches-help file down teeth, the wider the better. Watch them, though, because your rabbit WILL chew off the bark and leave the rest. That is when it is time for a new branch!
3. Carrot tops and other high-calcium snacks-should be used in moderation unless you know for a fact your rabbit is lacking in calcium. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, especially with rabbits!
4. Watch your rabbit - a change in eating habits, including chewing objects that aren't usually on his menu may indicate discomfort. Especially if he suddenly decides to chew smaller, softer food items.
5. Have your rabbit examined regularly-if we hadn't examined this buck, he would have surely died of starvation. We didn't know what was going on. Luckily, I decided to check his mouth. It is my personal opinion a split tooth is cause to visit the veterinarian immediately. My associate disagrees. Personally, I do believe a great number of ailments can be treated naturally at home without surgery, but I don't believe this is one of them.

I hope, using these tips, that you never have the problems I am and that your rabbit never suffers. If you do, however, please do not hesitate to take your rabbit to the veterinarian if at all possible. Your rabbit need not suffer nor does it need to be killed. Tooth extractions are fairly commonplace and rabbits often go on to live long, healthy lives afterword. I don't recommend BREEDING a rabbit with a lot of dental problems, but they can be have wonderful lives as somebody's pets.

Our injured buck isn't injured in the way we thought he was. It turns out, after a careful examination of his mouth, he has a split tooth. His teeth aren't overgrown or any such thing, but he split one of his front teeth to the gum anyway, so now he can't properly chew. This usually only happens when a rabbit has overgrown teeth, something we watch for with this rabbit constantly. We don't have the problem with the other rabbits, the greens seem to file most of their teeth nicely. There seems to be nothing wrong with his back and he is now gaining strength and walking, as we are getting him to gain some weight, but it will still take time. As he is my associate's rabbit, I have urged her to take him to the veterinarian to have the offending tooth removed, but she has, of yet, refused. There is still time. We are getting him to eat and he is gaining weight and strength daily, so he is in no immediate danger. We are currently giving him a special "mash" (recipe below) to encourage him to eat more, but it will be a long, difficult journey. He still has some pain on his back, but we believe it is from some scar tissue from the mites and will heal on its own.

Split tooth Mash:

1/4 c rabbit food fines(or 1/2c rabbit food, soaked in just enough hot water to soften)

1/8c applesauce

water sufficient to dissolve rabbit food, if water has not already been added. 

Instructions:
Add all ingredients together in an open bowl. Mix thoroughly. Give to your rabbit along with plenty of clean, fresh water IN A BOWL at all times. The reason we do not use water bottles for our rabbits with injured teeth is simple. Bottles will hurt their teeth and discourage the rabbit from drinking. These rabbits need as much water as they will drink.

We seem to have a rather small problem lately. Actually, a rather large one with a very small creator. Some of our rabbits have contracted fur mites. We are treating them and have them separated from the rest of the herd, but it is still a setback to any rabbitry. I suspect the mites were hiding in the hay which was fed to our rabbits.

The three rabbits who are affected are in separate hutches from the rest and are each receiving individual attention for it. We are using almond oil with thyme essential oil added(approximately four drops/ounce) rubbed into the rabbits' fur and combing apple cider vinegar into their fur as well. One of them has had this problem previously. I believe he became reinfested from eggs the previous infestation laid on his skin, so we are being even more aggressive this time. We want no eggs left behind. Should the more natural remedies not work, which we have no reason to believe they won't as they have in the past, we will have no recourse but to take the rabbits to the veterinarian for a chemical treatment. Rabbits are delicate, so we would rather avoid chemicals if at all possible.

One of the infested rabbits is also injured. It is, I believe, his back. He seems to be recovering, however. If he were not, the only humane thing to do would be to have him euthanized. Obviously, we are saving this as a last resort, but we don't intend to breed him again. He just seems to have too many problems. We are currently looking for a Silver Fox buck to breed with our does, approximately six months to eight months of age to replace him. Our current buck will be retired from this point on. He will not be eaten.

I thought I would post an entry today about the ten things I like best about breeding and eating rabbits. It doesn't matter whether or not you agree, rabbit meat is here to stay!

 

10. They are cute and fuzzy.

 9.Small enough to feed a family without having to worry too much about waste or long-term storage 

 8.Easy to pasture should you ever encounter and emergency. Not that I believe the food supply will disintegrate any time soon, but you never know what tomorrow will bring, especially in isolated areas.

  7.Sustainable-rabbits use fewer resources than larger livestock and have a larger return per pound.

  6. Tasty and nutritious, rabbit has many health benefits, it's very lean and the flavor has been compared to chicken or beef. It can be used in nearly every recipe that calls for either.

  5.Easy to process-There are many videos on YouTube and instructions online on processing a rabbit. A person can often, with a sharp knife or scissors, process a rabbit within fifteen minutes or less.

 4.Low odor-their waste, when handled properly, has little odor.

3.Waste does not cause root burn for plants, which means it can be added directly to our garden or compost. It is also great for vermiculture.

2.They're quiet. They don't make much noise, which means they can be kept, again managed properly, in an apartment or area where animals are not allowed and nobody will ever know. Management is key for this, though!

 1. They are full of personality and are a constant source of joy for me and my family. 

I hope you enjoyed reading my reasons for breeding rabbits. Not everybody will agree with them, but, then, not everybody is suited to rabbit raising.

Calling all SF breeders! Calling all SF breeders! We are in desperate need of Silver Fox rabbits! If anyone breeds SFs near the Sandy Lake, Pa area, please leave a message here! I will contact you as soon as it's received. Full pedigrees are desired, but not necessarily necessary. Please leave an email address for your rabbitry or bunny barn in the comments section. You will receive a response through email as soon as possible. Thank you!

We also need two cali bucks of any age, with or without pedigree.

P.S. we have no intention of EATING any SFs or calis we buy. Just breeding. SFs are still pretty rare and we would like to see the population grow!