Thankless tusk: Skater the dwarf rabbit shows off her impressive fang before her visit to the vet. A misaligned jaw allows a tooth to grow without being worn downWhen you have what looks like a piano key growing out of your mouth, long-term relationships might be hard to come by.
But this dwarf rabbit will be on the dating scene in no time after a vet dealt with her serious dental dilemma.
The poor creature suffered from a severe case of malocclusion, which is a rather fancy name for buck teeth.
The fluffy animal, who is named Skater and is the pet of a family in Croydon, endured the nasty condition for years before being treated in South London.
While having misaligned teeth in humans may not be seen as a health problem, malocclusion in rabbits can affect the animal's ability to eat correctly.
Also referred to as wolf teeth, malocclusion can lead to starvation of a rabbit due to difficulties eating, jaw complications and sores caused by improper chewing.
When rabbit's teeth do not meet correctly, they are not worn down by the natural process of chewing, causing an overgrowth.
Malocclusion is a hereditary disease that is passed on to the young from adult rabbits that also have the disorder.
In news that might scupper Skater's plans tonight, vets advise that rabbits with malocclusion should not be allowed to breed - with spaying or neutering highly recommended.
source: dailymail
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