Small animal dental health

Dental health of our small animals is something most peopledon’t spend time thinking about, and yet it is vital to their overall health as it is for our cats, our dogs, and even us.

 

Nearly all small animals kept as pets belong to the order Rodentia (which literally means “to gnaw”) and one characteristic is that their teeth continue to grow throughout their entire lives. While rabbits are not in the same order (being members of the order Lagomorpha) but have the same feature with their teeth (this is why people think rabbits are rodents). They must chew on wood to keep their incisors short and trimmed. 

 

Malocclusion – where the teeth do not meet up properly, are unevenly worn, or grow crooked – is a common problem for small animals if their teeth are not cared for, and it prevents them from eating properly. For rabbits and their sensitive digestive tracts this can be a life threatening problem. In severe cases, the teeth continue to grow and begin to grow into their head.

 

Severe cases of malocclusion require a veterinarian’s intervention.

 

So how do we prevent this? Wooden chews! Fortunately, we have a wide assortment of sizes, colors, and shapes. Some can even be stuffed with paper or hay to hide treats inside for extra fun. Just a few of our top chews:

 

 

 

 

 

The Treat-K-Bob is a cool accessory to your cage. Designed to fit any of the Ware chews, it’s also a great place to put their veggies or treats so they have to work for them. 

 

The fun Snak Shak by eCotrition 

One of our favorite recommendations is the Woodland Get-A-Way hut. It both provides a cozy place to relax and hide away while also helping keep their teeth trimmed when they chew on it.