Rabbit 101: Rabbits Grinding Teeth

In today's video, we are going to talk about What Your Rabbit Bruxing Its Teeth Tells You.


If you own a pet rabbit, then you may already know most of its common and weird behaviors. It’s a fact that it’s sometimes difficult to tell what a poker-faced bunny needs because you simply can’t tell. Rabbits don’t make any sound that dogs, cats, and birds use to communicate. Also, pet rabbits are mostly less active than other pets, and this makes it more difficult to understand what it needs. To find out what your pet rabbit needs, you need to carefully observe it. By careful observation, you will find out a huge deal about its common behaviors and its discrete form of communication. One of these is bruxing.

Bruxing is a term used to describe a rabbit’s way of chattering or how it rapidly moves its teeth. Some people call this endearing, while some are not too amused. And if you’ve seen your rabbit doing this, then it could be due to positive or negative behavior. Bruxing is equivalent to purring to a cat but may also be a sign of something worse. Just remember to check your rabbit’s needs ASAP in case it requires medical attention.


Contentment.

Like a cat, a rabbit purrs because of contentment. It chatters its teeth, a sound produced by moving teeth quickly while the rabbit keeps still. Experts say that when you hear a rabbit bruxing, then this could be a sign of total satisfaction. You can initiate bruxing by scratching your rabbit on his favorite spots or stroking and petting it. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if your rabbit is bruxing, so it’s best to hold it close to you so you can feel the purring.

Rabbits who have just eaten or are taking their post-lunch naps are likely to purr. This may simply mean that your rabbit is happy after eating something great, and it loves its nap. Older rabbits are more likely to purr because of satisfaction compared to smaller bunnies. Usually, smaller bunnies would prefer to run and play rather than sleep after lunch. Thus, are less likely to purr after a hearty meal or in satisfaction.


It is in pain.

On the other hand, bunnies may also bauxite due to pain or discomfort. Therefore, it is very important to distinguish the reason for bruxing so you can provide first aid right away. If the bruxing is very loud, then your pet may be calling you for help. But before wrapping it up and taking it to the vet, be aware of other symptoms that your rabbit is telling you. Check for

A crouched posture with ears pressed down,
A tight posture as if the rabbit is protecting its tummy or body,
Bulging eyes which could be a sign of severe pain,
Rapid and heavy breathing,
Weakness and loss of appetite,
and Increased bruxing when you hold your pet.

You must take your pet rabbit to the vet as soon as you notice bruxing with these symptoms. Take your pet to the vet when you notice these symptoms with or without bruxing.


Other possible causes.

Unknown to most people, rabbits are more prone to stress compared to other pets because these are very sensitive animals. Bruxing or teeth grinding is, therefore, not just due to physical discomfort but may also be due to emotional pain or distress. Your pet could be telling you that it’s stressed, nervous, or terrified of a situation. One of the most common signs that a rabbit is stressed or fearful is when it’s jutting out its head. This is a clear sign that there is something wrong. Your rabbit may be stressed because of the following reasons:

A new cage mate or a new rabbit inside its cage,
A new pet or animal that you may have at home,
You recently moved to a new home,
You moved its cage outdoors or indoors,
It’s afraid of anything nearby or anything that produces an unfamiliar smell or noise.

Rabbits are just like humans as they are not too happy with the change. Bruxing is a way for them to show their stress and to vent out their stress. So when you see or hear your pet rabbit chattering or grinding its teeth, you should just let it be. It’s just one way to release built-up stress.

Source: https://herebunny.com/care/rabbit-bru...
===========

Copyright Disclaimer:
We respect the copyright interests of the individual owners in the video and don't claim to own the original clips.

However, under Section 107 of Athe Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statutes that might otherwise be infringing. The recent amendments to the Copyright Act of 1976 pertain to music. "Fair use" remains in force for film and video.