Why small pet teeth cause so much trouble

Rabbits and guinea pigs have teeth that never stop growing. A rabbit's incisors can grow around two millimetres a week, and the cheek teeth at the back of the mouth grow just as steadily. In the wild, constant grazing on coarse grass wears them down at the same rate. In a hutch, a diet that is low in long-stemmed fibre does not wear the teeth properly, so they overgrow, tilt, and develop sharp points known as spurs. Those spurs cut into the tongue and cheeks, which makes eating painful, and the roots can also elongate into the jaw and towards the eye.

Dental disease is one of the most common problems we see in small pets, and it is often far advanced before an owner notices anything wrong. Rabbits and guinea pigs are prey animals, so they hide pain until they can no longer manage. Learning the early signs means treatment can start while the problem is still manageable.

The classic warning signs

Watch for any of the following, even if your pet still seems fairly bright:

• Drooling or a wet chin. Saliva running down the chin, matted fur under the jaw, or damp patches on bedding are strong clues that the mouth is sore and the teeth cannot meet properly.
• Weight loss. Weigh your rabbit or guinea pig weekly on kitchen scales. Gradual loss is easy to miss under a fluffy coat and is often the first measurable sign.
• Reduced appetite. This may mean refusing pellets, leaving hard food, or taking much longer over meals. A pet who still eats soft greens but ignores everything else is not eating normally.
• Uneven, overgrown or misaligned teeth. Incisors that look slanted, ragged, or too long, or a jaw that appears offset, suggest the cheek teeth behind them are also affected.
• Dropping food or quidding. Food falling from the mouth, or wads of chewed food left uneaten, is a common sign of molar spurs.
• Changes in droppings. Smaller, fewer, or misshapen droppings point to a slowing gut, which often follows reduced eating.

Signs that are easy to overlook

Dental problems rarely stay in the mouth. Elongated tooth roots can press on the tear ducts, causing weeping eyes or a sticky discharge on the cheek. In guinea pigs especially, a weepy eye or a bulge behind the eye can be a dental emergency. Guinea pigs also produce a thick white fluid from the eyes as a normal grooming secretion, but this should never be constant or dirty-looking.

Other clues include:

• Reluctance to be handled, or a hunched, tense posture in the corner of the hutch.
• Loud tooth grinding, especially when not eating, which usually signals pain.
• Bad breath or a swelling along the jaw, which may mean an abscess.
• Poor coat condition, reduced grooming, or a guinea pig that stops squeaking and greeting you.
• Eating caecotrophs less often, or being unable to reach them, leaving soft droppings around the back end.
• Excess salivation staining the fur on the front paws.

Guinea pigs have an added risk: if they are not eating properly, they also take in less vitamin C, so their immune system and healing suffer.

What to do if you spot a problem

Do not wait and see. Dental disease does not resolve on its own, and a small pet that stops eating can develop dangerous gut stasis within 12 to 24 hours. If your rabbit or guinea pig has not eaten for 12 hours, is producing no droppings, or is sitting hunched and unresponsive, contact your veterinary practice straight away, day or night.

For less urgent signs, book an appointment within a day or two. Take notes on what you have seen, and take a fresh sample of droppings with you if the gut seems slow. Never withhold food before a veterinary visit; rabbits and guinea pigs must keep eating right up until any anaesthetic.

What treatment usually involves

Your vet will examine the mouth, often using a special scope to see the cheek teeth, and may take X-rays to check the tooth roots and jaw. Many dental procedures are carried out under general anaesthetic so the back teeth can be filed or burred safely and comfortably. Extractions, abscess drainage, and pain relief such as meloxicam are common. Supportive care at home often includes syringe feeding, gut motility medication, and careful monitoring of droppings and weight.

Some pets need dental checks every few weeks, and that is normal. Dental disease is managed rather than simply cured.

Preventing dental problems

Diet is the single biggest factor. Hay and fresh grass should make up around 80 to 90 per cent of what your rabbit or guinea pig eats, offered freely and topped up daily. Good quality hay should smell sweet and be long-stranded, not dusty or short-cut. Pellets are a small supplement only, roughly an eggcup a day for a rabbit, and muesli-style mixes should be avoided because they encourage selective feeding. Add a small handful of leafy greens and safe forage such as dandelion, and make sure guinea pigs have a reliable source of vitamin C.

Provide safe things to gnaw: untreated apple and willow sticks, cardboard tubes, and plain wooden blocks. Weigh your pet weekly, check the front teeth and chin every month, and book a veterinary check-up at least once a year, or every six months for older animals. A healthy mouth is easier to keep than to repair.