Rabbit Dental Disease: Overgrown Teeth, Drooling and Weepy Eyes

Never clip or trim your rabbit's teeth at home. It can crack or split a tooth and let infection into the root. If you notice any problem with your rabbit's teeth or gums, contact a vet straight away [2][3].

A rabbit's teeth never stop growing. When they don't wear down evenly, they can overgrow, form sharp points and become painful [1][3]. Dental disease is a serious problem in pet rabbits, and good hay is the most important everyday step in preventing it [1][3].

What is dental disease in rabbits?

It's a group of related tooth problems [1][2][3]:

• Malocclusion: the upper and lower teeth don't line up properly [1][3].
• Overgrown teeth: front teeth (incisors) or back teeth (molars) grow too long [1][2].
• Molar spurs: sharp points on overgrown back teeth [1][3].
• Tooth-root abscesses: pockets of pus around an infected tooth root [1][2][3].

It isn't an infection, and it doesn't spread between rabbits [1][3].

Why do rabbit teeth keep growing?

All of a rabbit's teeth, front and back, keep growing throughout life [1][3]. Chewing is what wears them down. Hay has long fibre that needs side-to-side grinding, and that wears the back teeth evenly [3]. Pellets don't wear teeth down the way hay does [1].

What causes overgrown teeth in rabbits?

• Too little hay: a low-fibre diet is the main cause, and the one owners can most easily change. RWAF calls diet "by far the most important cause" [1][3][6].
• Genes: Merck calls malocclusion one of the most common inherited problems in rabbits [1].
• Face shape: round-faced rabbits often don't have enough room for their teeth [3].
• Chewing cage wire: young rabbits that bite wire can damage their teeth [1].
• Clipped teeth: clipping can split a tooth and let infection into the root [3].

Are lop-eared or dwarf rabbits more at risk?

Possibly. RWAF says lops and dwarf breeds in particular often have crowded, misaligned teeth [3]. A 2025 study of UK vet-practice records found Rex rabbits at significantly lower risk [5]. But breed was often missing from those records, so a higher risk for short-faced breeds could not be fully confirmed [5][6]. RWAF still takes a precautionary view that a short-faced shape harms rabbit health and welfare [6]. For every rabbit, diet remains the main cause [1][3][6].

What problems can it lead to?

• Cuts in the mouth: molar spurs dig into the cheeks and tongue each time the rabbit eats [1][3].
• Weepy eyes: the tear ducts sit very close to the teeth. Dental disease is by far the most common cause of blocked tear ducts in rabbits [4].
• Gut stasis: dental pain left untreated can lead to GI stasis, a digestive emergency [2].
• Serious outcomes: in the 2025 UK study, dental disease was the main cause of death in 16.8% of affected rabbits that died, and a contributing cause in another 34.4% [5]. These are UK primary-care figures, not global or Saudi data.

What signs mean "see a vet"?

PDSA advises contacting a vet straight away if you notice any problem with your rabbit's teeth or gums, and never waiting to see if it improves [2]. Watch for:

• Very long or uneven front teeth, or a crooked bite [1][2].
• Drooling, or trouble eating, drinking or closing the mouth [1][2].
• Eating less, or losing weight [1][2].
• Tooth grinding, a sign of pain [2].
• A bumpy or painful jawline [3].
• Weepy or runny eyes [3][4].
• Soft droppings, a dirty bottom, a runny nose or low energy [2].

In the UK study of 2,219 rabbits with dental disease, eating less was the most often recorded sign, in 25.1% of cases [5]. Eating less or passing fewer droppings is urgent on its own, because it can lead to gut stasis [2].

Can I trim my rabbit's teeth at home?

No. PDSA warns never to treat or trim a rabbit's teeth at home, because you could crack a root and cause severe, long-term pain [2]. RWAF says rabbit teeth should never be clipped [3]. Leave all tooth care to a licensed vet.

How can I prevent dental problems?

• Make hay the heart of the diet. RWAF says "hay is not optional for rabbit welfare" [3].
• Don't let pellets replace hay [1].
• Gently feel your rabbit's jawline regularly for bumps [3].
• Act early on drooling, weepy eyes or eating less; the sources advise contacting a vet straight away rather than waiting [1][2][3].
• Stop young rabbits from chewing cage wire [1].

FAQ

Why is my rabbit drooling?

Drooling is a common sign of dental problems in rabbits. See a licensed vet promptly [1][2].

Why does my rabbit have a weepy eye?

Dental disease is by far the most common cause of blocked tear ducts in rabbits, so a weepy eye can point to a tooth problem [3][4].

Does hay prevent dental problems?

Hay is the most important everyday step, because chewing it wears the teeth down evenly [1][3].

Is rabbit dental disease contagious?

No. It's a tooth-wear and tooth-shape problem, not an infection [1][3].