Dental problems in rabbits – prevention, recognition, and proper care
Dental problems are common in rabbits and often develop gradually without clear early symptoms. As rabbits are prey animals by nature, they instinctively try to hide pain for as long as possible. For this reason, dental issues are often only noticed once they have already progressed significantly.
A well-balanced diet, regular monitoring, and timely supportive care are key factors in preventing and managing dental problems in rabbits.
Continuously growing teeth
A rabbit’s dental system is highly specialised. Rabbits have a total of 28 teeth, and both their incisors and cheek teeth grow continuously throughout life – at a rate of approximately 2–4 millimetres per week.
Rabbits have two upper and two lower incisors, which they use to cut and bite food. Behind the upper incisors are two small secondary incisors, commonly referred to as peg teeth, which help maintain proper alignment of the bite. In addition, rabbits have 14 cheek teeth, which are usually not visible without specialised equipment and sedation. These cheek teeth are used to grind food with a lateral chewing motion before swallowing.
In a healthy rabbit, teeth wear down naturally when the diet contains sufficient fibre and requires prolonged chewing.
Bite alignment can change over time
In a normal bite, the upper incisors sit slightly in front of the lower incisors, and the lower incisors align with the peg teeth. Even if a rabbit’s bite appears normal at the time of purchase, it may change later in life.
Changes in bite alignment can be caused by trauma, tooth damage, chewing on cage bars, or infections of the tooth roots. Bite abnormalities present from a young age are often hereditary. Because rabbit teeth grow rapidly, even a minor misalignment can lead to visible problems in a short period of time.
The most common bite abnormalities are a level bite, where the upper and lower incisors meet directly, and an underbite, where the lower incisors grow in front of the upper incisors. Both conditions can interfere with eating and increase the risk of recurring dental problems.
Cheek teeth – an often hidden problem
Rabbit cheek teeth also grow continuously. Insufficient intake of coarse hay is a common cause of excessive cheek tooth growth and the formation of sharp dental spurs. These spurs can cause painful wounds on the tongue and the lining of the cheeks.
Problems with cheek teeth often present indirectly. A rabbit may eat less, drool, move its jaw abnormally while chewing, or lose weight. Eye or nasal discharge may be linked to irritation caused by the roots of overgrown cheek teeth. Examination and treatment of cheek teeth almost always require sedation, and dental spurs must always be removed by grinding performed by a veterinarian – never by cutting.
Dental spurs tend to recur unless the underlying cause, such as dietary deficiencies, is identified and corrected.
Dental problems affect the whole body
Dental issues are not limited to the mouth. Pain and difficulty eating can easily lead to reduced food intake, weight loss, and disturbances in gastrointestinal function. If left untreated, dental problems can significantly weaken a rabbit’s overall condition and may require long-term management.
For this reason, monitoring dental health is an essential part of basic rabbit care, alongside proper nutrition and a suitable living environment.
Proper diet is the cornerstone of dental care
Natural tooth wear in rabbits relies on prolonged chewing. High-quality, fibre-rich hay forms the foundation of a rabbit’s diet and is the single most important factor in maintaining good dental health. In addition to hay, rabbits should have access to other safe chewing materials, such as branches or purpose-made wooden chew items.
Energy-dense foods, sugary or starchy treats, and low-fibre diets increase the risk of dental problems and may worsen existing conditions.
Supporting rabbit dental health – CUNIPIC Vet Line Rabbit Dental
Rabbit dental health and the prevention of dental problems can be supported with a diet specifically designed for this purpose. CUNIPIC Vet Line Rabbit Dentalis a complete feed developed to support proper tooth wear and oral health as part of comprehensive care.
The food is based on high-quality meadow hay and natural medicinal plants with an abrasive texture that promotes tooth wear during chewing. Its formulation also supports the health of the oral and throat mucosa and may aid in the recovery of minor lesions.
CUNIPIC Vet Line Rabbit Dental is not a medication, but a supportive feed suitable for long-term use. It does not replace veterinary treatment, but works alongside it and may help reduce the recurrence of dental problems, especially in rabbits prone to dental challenges. The food is produced in the EU using European raw materials.
If you suspect dental problems, changes in eating behaviour, or a decline in your rabbit’s general condition, always consult a veterinarian first.
DELIVERY TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR FINNERO OY'S ONLINE SHOP
Valid as of 1.3.2023
General
The online shop’s products are sold by FINNERO Oy Ltd (VAT number FI27632665). Products are sold to consumer customers globally. In order to place an order through the online shop, the customer must be at least 18 years old and have a permanent delivery address. The customer must read and accept the valid delivery terms and conditions in order to place an order through the online shop. FINNERO Oy reserves the right to make changes to prices, delivery charges and delivery terms.
Note that depending on the applicable legislation that may vary depending on the country, customers may be entitled to further rights in addition to the rights defined in these terms and conditions.
If you need assistance or additional information, please contact us per e-mail at info@finnero.com or telephone at +358 40 623 9672.We accept calls Monday through Friday between 8 am and 4 pm Finnish time (UTC +2/+3).
Product descriptions and stock availability
FINNERO strives to ensure that the online shop’s product descriptions and stock availability details are up to date and correct. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the descriptions nor the availability of products. There is only a limited stock of all products.
If an order is placed and received successfully, but it subsequently becomes evident that stock availability details were inaccurate and the product has run out of stock, FINNERO will notify the customer immediately. In such cases, the customer may cancel or change their order.
FINNERO strives to present the colours and materials of the products as precisely and accurately as possible. Please note, that the screen settings of your computer, mobile or tablet may affect product images, whereby we cannot guarantee the accuracy of colours on all devices and with all settings.
Prices, costs and taxes
The published prices only apply to orders placed through FINNERO's online shop. Product prices include Finnish value-added tax (VAT) of 24 %. Order-specific delivery costs are displayed in the shopping cart. Delivery costs are added to orders in accordance with the ‘Delivery’ section below. For orders to be shipped outside the European Union, VAT will be deducted in the shopping cart in accordance with the section ‘Delivery’. The customer is responsible for all custom and tax fees for orders placed outside the EU and these fees are not included in the overall delivery price.
Placing an order and customer details
Products are ordered from the online store by adding the products to the shopping cart and making a payment on the "Checkout" page. It is not mandatory to register for placing an order, but registered customers can track the progress of their order on our website and check out their order history.
An order confirmation will be sent to the e-mail address provided upon ordering. We encourage you to carefully review your order. If you have any questions or for some reason have not received an order confirmation, please notify our customer service.
Customer protection
FINNERO handles customer details with confidentiality and is committed to not handing them over to third parties. Details will be provided to third parties only in accordance with these terms and conditions. According to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the customer has the right to access and verify all the personal data that we have collected concerning them and to request that their personal data is rectified or erased from our customer register.
In addition to these terms and conditions, the customer relationship between FINNERO and the consumer customer is subject to the consumer protection legislation. Whether the consumer customer is registered or not does affect consumer protection.
Payment methods
We use Paytrail as our payment service. The accepted payment methods are Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard). All our payment methods are fully secure. All personal information (such as payment information, email and address) and payment details are protected by encryption and by an additional authorization process.
Delivery
All orders are processed on business days, from Monday to Friday. We will deliver the order as soon as possible after the order has successfully been registered in our online shop. All orders are delivered from our warehouse in Tallinn, Estonia. Our normal order processing time is 1–3 business days. Please note that during high season, deliveries may take longer than normal. If the order processing requires more than seven days or we are unable to deliver the product, we will notify the customer per e-mail as soon as possible.
Deliveries in Finland
In Finland, FINNERO's orders are delivered by Posti or Matkahuolto. Delivery fees depend on the selected delivery method. For small-sized deliveries in Finland, it is possible to select Posti’s Small Parcel, which is delivered home together with regular day mail. Parcels are delivered to the selected service point or parcel locker. FINNERO reserves the right to send the order as a Small Parcel when the order meets the size and weight criteria, even if parcel has been selected as the order’s delivery method.
Delivery fees in Finland are as follows:
Small parcel (XXS) 5,90€ Pick up parcel 6,90€ Finnish Post home delivery 10,90€
Deliveries outside Finland
We deliver orders to almost all countries. Orders outside Finland are delivered mainly by GLS or DHL. The delivery costs start from €15.90. Exact delivery costs are calculated according to the size/weight of the shipment, the country of destination and the delivery method chosen. When you have added products to the shopping cart, you can check the delivery fees by entering your address/country details in their respective fields. Please note, the customer is responsible for all customs and tax fees for orders placed outside the EU which are not included in the shipping costs. Depending on the country of destination, delivery times outside Finland may take more than 14 days.
Exchange and return right
All FINNERO products have a 14-day right of return in accordance with the Finnish Consumer Protection Act. The customer is responsible for the delivery costs for returns. Make sure to keep the receipt until your product return has been processed. We process returns within five days upon receipt of the delivery. You will receive a confirmation by email, once we have processed your product return. When the return has been processed, the customer will be reimbursed through the original payment method. Please note that additional duties and/or taxes will not be refunded.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer direct exchanges. If you wish to order another size or model, please return the purchased item and place a new order for the exchanged product. We will refund the payment for the first purchase as soon as the parcel is received.
Please note that the returned products will be resold, so please treat them accordingly. Return rights apply only to unused products in salable condition. Please, check the fit of the product before removing any price tags or other labels. All labels and tags must be attached on all returned items. Returns should be made in accordance with FINNERO's return form’s directions. The return form is always delivered with the order. The form can also always be requested from FINNERO's customer service at info@finnero.com.
Return rights apply when the following conditions are met:
1. Exchange or returns have been made within 14 days upon the customer’s receipt of the order. 2. The exchange and return form filled in accordance with the directions or corresponding details have been sent to FINNERO. 3. The returned product is free of dog hair, all labels are attached to the product and the product is in unused and fully salable condition.
If we receive an exchange or return delivery that does not meet all of the exchange and return conditions above, we have the right to decline the exchange or return of the product. In such cases, FINNERO is not liable to refund or in other way compensate the product. The customer will bear the costs of a possible re-delivery. We will charge for the re-delivery according to the original postage fees.
Returns in Finland
The customer has the right to return their order fully or in part. Delivery costs for returns are always paid by the customer. If the customer returns the order in full, the delivery costs paid upon ordering will be reimbursed to the customer. The returns delivery can be sent to FINNERO through our customer returns contract number, which is stated in the exchange and returns form delivered with the order. When using the customer returns contract number, the customer will not pay anything upon handing over the delivery to Posti. But for orders or products returned through customer returns contract number, FINNERO will charge €5.90/delivery from the sum to be reimbursed to the customer. Remember to take and keep the receipt/voucher for the returns delivery, in case the parcel gets lost for some reason. Regrettably we can only provide a refund for a lost return once we have been provided with a proof of posting certificate.
Returns from outside Finland
The customer has the possibility to return their order fully or in part. Delivery costs for returns are always paid by the customer. If the customer returns the order in full, the delivery costs paid upon ordering will be reimbursed to the customer. FINNERO does not have a customer returns contract with service providers operating abroad, therefore the customer is fully responsible for sending returns from outside Finland. The customer must always notify FINNERO about the product return by email in order to receive more detailed instructions for the return. All returns are carried out through GLS or DHL. Once you have notified us of your product return, we will send you a printable GLS or DHL return label in a separate message. Delivery costs for the return are the same as the original shipping cost and will be deducted from your refund. A credit (excluding the shipping fee for the return) will be applied to your original method of payment after your product return has been processed. Remember to take and keep the receipt/voucher for the return delivery in case the parcel gets lost for some reason. Regrettably we can only provide a refund for a lost return once we have been provided with a proof of posting certificate.
Errors, defects and complaints
Upon receiving the delivered order, the customer must immediately verify that the delivery includes all ordered products. If the order is incorrect or the delivered product is defective, the customer must immediately notify FINNERO's customer service: info@finnero.com. FINNERO must be notified of an incorrect delivery or defective product within 14 days upon receipt of the order or product. If the parcel has been damaged during delivery, the customer must immediately file a complaint with the delivery company and notify FINNERO's customer service.
If the product has been purchased from other than FINNERO's online shop, the customer must always file a complaint with the place of purchase.
Rules and regulations
FINNERO's online shop and terms and conditions are subject to Finnish law. In case of dispute, Finnish legislation will apply.
