Breaking Teeth

Question
I have a dwarf lop neutered female about 10 months old. She lives with her chap in a large outbuilding with access to outside space all day. She broke one of her top teeth 4 months ago and since then the teeth are out of alignment and she has to go to the vet to have them trimmed. During the last 4 months she has broken teeth on a regular basis. Can I do anything to prevent the broken teeth? And is there any alternative to frequent vet visits as she gets stressed? I am an experienced rabbit owner and believe i feed a healthy diet (science selective pelletts, greens and fruit, hay)

Answer
Dear Jay,

The malocclusion is more likely the *cause* of her breaking teeth that the result.  It's likely she has a congenital malocclusion that will have to be addressed constantly unless you take the more permanent route of having the bad incisors permanently removed.

This actually isn't as horrible as it sounds, if done by an experienced, competent rabbit vet.  She'll be uncomfortable for a few days, but then will be happy and never have to have a broken tooth or filing again, except to check her molars occasionally.

Dwarf rabbits are especially prone to dental malocclusion because of their short faces, and this problem isn't going to go away on its own, or with a change of diet.  Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/dental.html

and find a good vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Hope this helps.

Dana