We are campaigning for all rabbit owners to keep their bunnies healthy by taking them for a FREE dental check-up this week, as part of our annual “Burgess National Rabbit Week”. 3 out of 4 rabbits seen by vets are diagnosed with dental problems, which cause pain and distress and can even prove fatal. This year, Burgess National Rabbit Week (21 to 27 January) is all about healthy teeth, and rabbit owners can take their bunnies along to their local vets for a free dental health check. Our friend and advisor, TV Vet Matt Brash said: “Poor dental health can cause all manner of problems for rabbits. Because there are no obvious symptoms in the early stages, many owners don’t realise that anything’s wrong. By the time the rabbit is taken to a vet, it’s often too late. However, with just a quick check-up, we can see what condition the teeth are in and advise on how to help the rabbit stay healthy and happy. I hope all rabbit-owners will take the time to bring their bunny along.” During the health check, rabbit-owners will also be given advice on how to avoid dental problems in the first place. “Prevention is better than cure, and most dental problems can be easily avoided simply by feeding the correct diet,” continues Matt Brash. “Rabbits’ teeth grow 2 – 3mm a week so their diet must include plenty of forage, which is hay and grass, as regular chewing helps keep the teeth ground down. We think that about 80 per cent of owners fail to provide enough forage, which can result in the teeth growing too long and pressing together when the mouth is closed. This then leads to the teeth growing backwards into the jaw which, if left untreated, can pierce through the skull. “As you can imagine, this process is incredibly painful, and once the problem is this bad, there is little that can be done for the rabbit.” Matt Brash has the following advice on how best to feed your rabbit and avoid painful dental problems: • Always feed your rabbit a high fibre food made up of nutritionally balanced nuggets, such as Burgess Excel. This helps to make sure that your rabbit is getting the correct amount of vitamins and minerals, and chewing the nuggets also helps keep the teeth ground down. • Plenty of forage (grass and hay) in the diet is crucial. Many owners think that hay is simply for sleeping on, but it should form the bulk of your rabbit’s diet. Put your rabbit out to grass whenever possible, but also feed plenty of forage bought from your vet or local pet store. Always make sure that the forage you buy is ‘dust extracted’, as dust can cause irritation to rabbits’ eyes and respiratory tract. Burgess offers two excellent varieties of forage – Supa Forage and Excel Herbage. • Follow the Excel Feeding Plan as a guide – it helps explain what foods your rabbit should be given: high fibre nuggets, forage (grass or hay), healthy high fibre snacks snacks, and occasional greens, along with a constant supply of clean, fresh water. Visit www.nationalrabbitweek.co.uk for more information and to find your nearest participating vets practice.