Archive Case #56: Rabbit Dental Disease

Clinical Clues

1. A pet rabbit is brought in for drooling, dropping food, and slow weight loss.
2. The owner says the rabbit now avoids coarse hay and prefers softer foods.
3. The fur under the chin is wet and matted with saliva.
4. Oral examination reveals sharp cheek-tooth spurs and pain on mouth opening.
5. Imaging shows elongated tooth roots and chronic dental change.
6. Progressive malocclusion and cheek-tooth disease are common causes of oral pain and reduced food intake in rabbits.

Diagnosis

Rabbit Dental Disease

This case is most consistent with Rabbit Dental Disease because the rabbit has ptyalism, selective eating, painful molar pathology, and imaging changes affecting the teeth. The most important clues are the drooling, hay avoidance, and cheek-tooth abnormalities, which strongly support chronic dental disease.

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.