Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Age and Diet-Related Associations With Acquired Dental Disease in Pet Rabbits.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary dentistry
- Year:
- 2026
- Authors:
- Pešić, Ana et al.
- Affiliation:
- University of Belgrade
- Species:
- rabbit
Plain-English summary
This study looked at dental disease in pet rabbits and how it relates to their age and diet. Researchers examined 62 rabbits, checking their overall health and taking X-rays of their skulls, as well as looking inside their mouths. They found that over 64% of the rabbits had some level of dental disease, and older rabbits tended to have more severe cases. The type of food the rabbits ate also seemed to influence the severity of their dental issues. Overall, the findings suggest that both age and diet can play a role in the development of dental disease in rabbits.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of acquired dental disease (ADD) in pet rabbits, as well as the association between disease development, age, and the feed type. Sixty-two rabbits were divided into 3 groups based on feed type and age. All rabbits underwent general clinical examination, followed by radiographic imaging of the skull and endoscopic examination of the oral cavity. Based on the degree of ADD, the rabbits were then classified into 5 groups, based on the grade of ADD. The results found that 64.52% of rabbits suffered from some degree of ADD. The group of rabbits classified as grade 4 ADD had the highest median age. A positive correlation was found between the grades of ADD and the age of the rabbits. Rabbits fed a different diet type showed various levels of significance when comparing grades 0, 1, and 2 ADD with grade 3 ADD. The data suggests that age and feed type may be a factor affecting the degree of ADD.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40007264/