Age and Diet-Related Associations With Acquired Dental Disease in Pet 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.