Evaluation of Dental Diseases in Suffer from Miscellaneous Disorders Domestic Rabbits via Radiographic Imaging and Clinical Examination: A Retrospective Study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v13i5.1117-1122.7437

Keywords:

Disorders, rabbits, radiography, tooth, eye disorders

Abstract

In this research, the interpretations of dental disease in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) suffering from miscellaneous disorders with the use of radiographic anatomical reference lines; additionally, clinical examinations of these cases were presented. The measurements were made on the images of rabbit cranium skull radiographs (n=25). In the examination of incisors, malocclusion (n=19), abnormal prolongation (n=11), penetration of the palatal bone cortex (n=10), and fractures (n=6) were detected. Retrograde elongation in maxillar cheek teeth (n=20), alveolar penetration in mandibular cortex (n=20), root resorption (n=9), and cheek teeth malocclusions (n=20) were detected in the examination of cheek teeth. The most common complaints assigned to the presented patients were diarrhea, mandibular swelling, abnormal elongation of teeth, epiphora, tooth breakage, and loss of appetite. All rabbits suffering from dental disease were also assessed for eye disorders, and tooth-related eye problems were determined in 9 cases. In two cases was more than one problem. Distribution of disease was determined as follows; epiphora (n=6), dacryocystitis (n=2), conjunctivitis (n=2) and exophthalmos (n=1). In addition to a detailed physical examination, radiographic evaluation is important for diagnosis of dental diseases in rabbits. The long mouth cavity with limited opening and similar characteristics of rabbit mouth make it difficult to examine and intervene; in this case, radiographic reference lines offer an important advantage.

References

Boehmer, E., & Crossley, D.A. (2009). Objective interpretation of dental disease in rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas. Tierärztliche Praxis K: Kleintiere/Heimtiere, 37, 250-260. DOI:10.1055/s-0038-1622802.

Buseth, M.E., Saunders, R. (2015) Rabbit Nutrition. In Rabbit Behaviour, Health and Care 117-137. CABI. Oxfordshire. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781780641904.0117

Capello, V. (2016). Diagnostic imaging of dental disease in pet rabbits and rodents. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice, 19(3), 757-782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvex.2016.05.001

Capello, V., & Cauduro, A. (2008). Clinical technique: application of computed tomography for diagnosis of dental disease in the rabbit, guinea pig, and chinchilla. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, 17(2), 93-101.https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2008.03.006

Crossley D. A. (2003). Oral biology and disorders of lagomorphs. The veterinary clinics of North America. Exotic animal practice, 6(3), 629–659. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1094-9194(03)00034-3

Donnelly, T. M., & Vella, D. (2016). Anatomy, Physiology and Non-dental Disorders of the Mouth of Pet Rabbits. The veterinary clinics of North America. Exotic animal practice, 19(3), 737–756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvex.2016.04.004

El-Gammal, A. A., Kamel, Z., Adeeb, Z., & Helmy, S. M. (1998). Biodegradation of lignocellulosic substances and production of sugars and lignin degradation intermediates by four selected microbial strains. Polymer degradation and stability, 61(3), 535-542. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0141-3910(97)00253-X

Harcourt-Brown F. M. (1996). Calcium deficiency, diet and dental disease in pet rabbits. The Veterinary record, 139(23), 567–571. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.139.23.567

Harcourt-Brown, F. (2009). Dental disease in pet rabbits. In Practice, 31: 370-379. https://doi.org/10.1136/inpract.31.8.370

Harcourt-Brown, F. M., & Baker, S. J. (2001). Parathyroid hormone, haematological and biochemical parameters in relation to dental disease and husbandry in rabbits. The Journal of small animal practice, 42(3), 130–136. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2001.tb02009.x

Harcourt-Brown, F.M. (1997). Diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of dental disease in pet rabbits. In Practice, 19, 407 - 427. https://doi.org/10.1136/inpract.19.8.407

Harcourt-Brown, F.M. (2007). The Progressive Syndrome of Acquired Dental Disease in Rabbits. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, 16, 146-157. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2007.06.003

Harvey, N. D., Oxley, J. A., Miguel-Pacheco, G., Gosling, E. M., & Farnworth, M. (2019). What Makes a Rabbit Cute? Preference for Rabbit Faces Differs according to Skull Morphology and Demographic Factors. Animals, 9(10), 728. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100728

Heer, F., Dobenecker, B., & Kienzle, E. (2017). Effect of cation-anion balance in feed on urine pH in rabbits in comparison with other species. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition, 101(6), 1324–1330. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.12653

Jekl, V., & Redrobe, S. (2013). Rabbit dental disease and calcium metabolism--the science behind divided opinions. The Journal of small animal practice, 54(9), 481–490. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12124

Legendre L. F. (2002). Malocclusions in guinea pigs, chinchillas and rabbits. The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne, 43(5), 385–390.

Mäkitaipale, J., Opsomer, H., Hatt, J. M., Riond, B., Clauss, M., & Liesegang, A. (2025). Rabbit teeth serve as a calcium source for rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). The Veterinary Journal, 309, 106268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106268

Meredith, A. L., Prebble, J. L., & Shaw, D. J. (2015). Impact of diet on incisor growth and attrition and the development of dental disease in pet rabbits. The Journal of small animal practice, 56(6), 377–382. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12346

Minich, D. J., Marrow, J. C., Sadar, M. J., & Borsdorf, M. C. (2024). High incidence of complications following intraoral extractions and treatment of periapical infections in the management of domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) dental disease (51 cases). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1(aop), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.07.0460

Oxley, J. A., Ellis, C. F., McBride, E. A., & McCormick, W. D. (2019). A Survey of Rabbit Handling Methods Within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Journal of applied animal welfare science: JAAWS, 22(3), 207–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2018.1459192

Palma-Medel, T., Marcone, D., & Alegría-Morán, R. (2023). Dental Disease in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Its Risk Factors-A Private Practice Study in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. Animals: an open access journal from MDPI, 13(4), 676. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040676

Pešić, A., Vejnović, B., Mitrović, M. J., & Vučićević, M. (2025). Age and Diet-Related Associations With Acquired Dental Disease in Pet Rabbits. Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, 08987564251322839.

Prebble, J. L., Shaw, D. J., & Meredith, A. L. (2015). Bodyweight and body condition score in rabbits on four different feeding regimes. The Journal of small animal practice, 56(3), 207–212. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12301

Tyrrell, K. L., Citron, D. M., Jenkins, J. R., & Goldstein, E. J. (2002). Periodontal bacteria in rabbit mandibular and maxillary abscesses. Journal of clinical microbiology, 40(3), 1044–1047. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.40.3.1044-1047.2002

Verstraete, F.J. (2003). Advances in diagnosis and treatment of small exotic mammal dental disease. Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, 12, 37-48. https://doi.org/10.1053/saep.2003.127877

Verstraete, F.J., & Osofsky, A.G. (2005). Dentistry in pet rabbits. Compendium on Continuing Education for The Practicing Veterinarian, 27, 671-684.

Watson, M.K., Stern, A.W., Labelle, A.L., Joslyn, S., Fan, T.M., et al. (2014). Evaluating the Clinical and Physiological Effects of Long-Term Ultraviolet B Radiation on Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus). PLOS ONE 9(12), e114413. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114413

Downloads

Published

21.05.2025

How to Cite

Gerbaga Ozsemir, K., & Karabağlı, M. (2025). Evaluation of Dental Diseases in Suffer from Miscellaneous Disorders Domestic Rabbits via Radiographic Imaging and Clinical Examination: A Retrospective Study. Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology, 13(5), 1117–1122. https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v13i5.1117-1122.7437

Issue

Section

Research Paper