Dental care of rabbits, by Dr. Laura Theobald

Dental Husbandry of Rabbits 

Dental care of rabbits is something that starts at home with a knowledgeable pet parent by knowing what to feed, how rabbits chew, and what to look for if there are problems.

Rabbit Teeth / Dental Model

Rabbit teeth grow continuously and are known as hypsodont, or open-rooted teeth and their adult teeth are fully erupted by three to five weeks of age. They have four upper and two lower incisors. The two smaller upper incisors are referred to as “peg” teeth. They grow at approximately 2 mm per week. The premolar and molar teeth are referred to as the “cheek” teeth. These are used for grinding of coarse material.

Rabbits need a high-fiber, herbivorous diet not only for appropriate dental care but for proper digestion. This type of diet should consist of 75-80% hay, generally western timothy, with the remaining portion consisting of high quality pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables. Chewing is characterized by up to 120 jaw movements per minute with a side-to-side motion, which helps keep the constantly growing teeth worn down to their proper levels.

A rabbit whose diet is deficient in fiber, such as a pellet only diet, will be unable to properly wear down its teeth and eventually develop malocclusion (improper tooth alignment). When this happens, the teeth become longer and longer and eventually develop sharp edges known as spurs and cause pressure against each other. These problems can lead to cuts in the tongue, soft tissue injuries and even tooth root abscesses/impactions. Once rabbits have these problems, they are more likely to have them throughout their lives and require frequent anesthetic procedures to trim the teeth and relieve abscesses.

A veterinarian that is familiar with rabbits can do a minimal exam while the pet is awake by inspecting the front incisors and by using a lighted cone to look at the cheek teeth. A full thorough oral exam requires anesthesia by someone who has experience with rabbits.

Written by Dr. Laura Theobald
Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice

Dr. Theobald works with Dr. Hawthorne helping families with In Home Hospice and Pet Euthanasia in the Charlotte North Carolina region. For more information, please see their profile page. http://www.lapoflove.com/North_Carolina_Charlotte 

That Coughing Cat, Part Two: Feline Heartworm Disease, by Dr. Laura Theobald

Heartworm disease is typically thought of as a disease affecting dogs, however cats can also be infected with heartworms. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and is reported in all of the continental United States.

Cats can show symptoms with as few as one to three adult heartworms living in the heart. These signs include coughing, difficulty breathing, vomiting, lethargy, anorexia (decreased appetite), and weight loss. There can also be acute episodes of shock and respiratory distress, as well as sudden death. On physical exam, there can sometimes be a heart murmur noted.

Diagnosis in cats is difficult when compared to dogs as the standard in-hospital testing (antigen test) that is used for dogs is not always accurate in cats. This is because cats tend to have only a few worms. A send-out test to the reference laboratory (antibody test) may be more useful, but a negative result still does not rule out heartworms. Other helpful diagnostics include radiographs (x-rays), echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart), complete blood count (CBC), internal organ function testing (chemistry), and fecal exam (to rule out parasites that can live in the lungs and cause coughing).

Prevention is the same as that used in dogs and includes monthly oral medications such as heartgard or trifexis, or topical solutions such as advantage multi or revolution. A six month injection called Proheart is available in dogs, but a similar product is not available in cats at this time.

Though dogs can undergo risky heartworm treatment (a series of two to three injections of a drug called immiticide to kill the heartworms in the span of a month or two), no such treatment is available in cats. Treatment is limited to monthly use of preventive medications to prevent further infestation and shorten the life of the heartworm. Supportive care includes bronchodilators to help pets breathe easier and steroids to reduce inflammation.

Written by Dr. Laura Theobald
Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice

Dr. Theobald works with Dr. Hawthorne helping families in the Charlotte North Carolina region. For more information - please see their profile page. http://www.lapoflove.com/North_Carolina_Charlotte 

That Coughing Cat, part 1: Feline Asthma, by Dr. Laura Theobald

Feline asthma, also known as feline bronchial disease, allergic bronchitis, allergic airway disease, or allergic asthma, is thought to be the result of an allergic reaction that causes spasms in the bronchi and prompts airway inflammation and swelling. This causes restricted airflow with subsequent respiratory distress. It is characterized by recurrent episodes of bronchoconstriction, cough, and possibly difficulty breathing.

 Affected cats are generally diagnosed between two and eight years of age, though can be at any age. Females are twice as likely to be diagnosed as males, and Siamese and Himalayan breeds seem to be far more commonly affected.

The most common symptom is coughing, which can sometimes be mistaken for gagging, hairballs, etc. by owners when it first starts. Other symptoms include labored breathing, increased respiratory rate, lethargy, and wheezing. Cats may suddenly require emergency treatment, even during their first noticed episode.

Diagnosis is confirmed with radiographs (x-rays) looking for lesions in the lungs consistent with inflammation of the airways. Other diagnostics that may be helpful include a complete blood count (CBC), internal organ function tests (chemistry), heartworm antibody testing, and fecal testing (to rule out parasites that can live in the lungs).

Cats that have been diagnosed with asthma need to live in an environment that helps to minimize triggers of episodes. This includes using dust-free litters such as newspaper, wheat or corn based litters (or consider toilet-training to be a good option to eliminate the need for litter entirely). Activities that produce smoke, such as cigarettes or wood-burning fireplaces, should be avoided. Stressful situations should be avoided if at all possible, including strenuous exercise. Obese cats would benefit from weight reduction. There is also some evidence that food allergies can be a trigger, as well as pollen, mold and mildew.

Medical treatment is limited to a few classes of drugs. The first are bronchodilators (drugs that increase the airways); these include terbutaline, theophylline, and albuterol orally or through inhalation. The second class is steroids, which can be given orally at home or via injection during an emergency. There are also steroid inhalers. Therapy is generally started with oral medications and eventually upgraded to inhalers if pets has breakthrough incidents with oral medications or begins to have chronic side effects from oral medications.

Prognosis can be good for long periods of time with medical therapy, however asthma does tend to be a progressive syndrome that is rarely cured. Episodes of acute bronchoconstriction can occur and may be life-threatening if not treated immediately.

Written by Dr. Laura Theobald
Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice

Dr. Theobald works with Dr. Hawthorne helping families in the Charlotte North Carolina region. For more information - please see their profile page. http://www.lapoflove.com/North_Carolina_Charlotte