Rabbit teeth serve as a calcium source for rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Nutrition
• Mineral Metabolism

Background:

• Rabbits possess hypselodont (ever-growing) teeth, necessitating constant replacement of dental tissue lost to wear.
• It is hypothesized that this continuous tooth growth requires high dietary mineral intake, particularly calcium.
• The potential for calcium recycling from ingested, worn dental tissues has not been previously investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the ability of rabbits to recycle calcium from ingested dental tissues.
• To compare the effects of a standard calcium source versus ground rabbit teeth on calcium metabolism in rabbits.

Main Methods:

• A crossover study design was employed with eight-month-old intact female rabbits.
• Rabbits were fed a pelleted diet with either a control calcium source (calcium carbonate/dicalcium phosphate) or ground rabbit teeth for 15 days.
• Calcium intake, urinary and fecal excretion, and blood mineral levels were measured.

Main Results:

• Calcium digestibility was significantly higher when rabbits consumed the tooth meal diet (33 ±6%) compared to the control (20 ±8%).
• Total calcium retention was also significantly greater in rabbits fed the tooth meal diet (0.33 ±0.10 g/d) versus the control (0.10 ±0.13 g/d).
• Few other significant differences were observed between the treatment groups.

Conclusions:

• Rabbits demonstrate a notable capacity for recycling calcium from their worn dental tissues.
• The findings challenge the assumption of exclusively high dietary calcium requirements for tooth growth in rabbits.
• This study highlights the importance of considering endogenous mineral recycling in understanding rabbit nutritional physiology.