When the answer to “What’s up, Doc?” is that your pet rabbit’s not eating normally, is dropping food, or is drooling, the problem defiitely requires a visit to the veterinarian — and may require some dental care, as was the case with this reader’s pet:

Q: My rabbit isn’t eating as much as normal, and he seems to be drooling a lot. I notice him picking up food and then dropping it. What can I do to improve his appetite and ability to eat?

A: Get your bunny to the veterinarian, stat! Dental disease is one of the most common problems we veterinarians see in rabbits (and large rodents such as chinchillas and guinea pigs).

The teeth of these animals grow continuously throughout their life, and the “cheek teeth” can become overgrown if they aren’t trimmed regularly. Overgrown teeth don’t line up properly or can grow up and out of the mouth. You can imagine how that would make it difficult for the animal to chew. Other possible dental problems are a broken tooth and infected tooth roots or gums.

These types of problems can occur if the rabbit isn’t eating a proper diet or if he spends a lot of time chewing on cage wires or other inappropriate materials. A tooth can break during a fight with another rabbit or as the result of a fall. Teeth can become infected if the rabbit has trouble chewing his food and it ends up stuck in his gums.

Depending on the problem, your rabbit may need antibiotics, trimming of the teeth under anesthesia or surgical extraction of the tooth. The best way to prevent dental problems in rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas is to make sure they have plenty of timothy hay to gnaw on. It should make up approximately 75 percent of their diet.

Signs of dental problems in pocket pets to be aware of include excessive drooling (known as “slobbers”) or a wet chin, lower incisors growing out of the mouth, upper incisors growing into the mouth, a preference for soft food and difficulty closing the mouth.

Read more, including about health problems of certain “extreme” dog and cat breeds, in this week’s Pet Connection!

High thyroid levels are fairly common in older cats, but the condition can be somewhat hard to recognize, especially in its early stages. A reader wrote asking me what I could tell her about the disease:

Q: My cat has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. My friend’s hyperthyroid cat had completely different symptoms, so I was surprised by the diagnosis. What can you tell me about this disease?

A: Hyperthyroidism — high levels of thyroid hormones circulating in the blood — is a common concern in cats 10 years and older. We see it in both males and females, and any breed or mix can be affected.

Depending on the individual cat, signs range from mild to severe, and they can be very different from cat to cat. Among the almost 30 signs that can indicate the presence of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, irritability, depression, vomiting, diarrhea and a ratty-looking coat. But some cats with hyperthyroidism are energetic and have a great appetite, so it doesn’t occur to their owners that there might be anything wrong with them. The reason the signs are so varied is because thyroid hormone affects every organ system in the body.

Fortunately, lab tests — a complete blood count, chemistry profile and urinalysis — can tell us if a cat has hyperthyroidism or rule out other diseases that cause similar signs.

Even if your cat’s signs are mild, it’s important to diagnose and treat hyperthyroidism. Cats with the disease are prone to hypertension (high blood pressure), which can lead to more serious problems, such as kidney failure or heart disease.

Hyperthyroidism has several possible treatments: surgical removal of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy), administration of radioactive iodine or antithyroid drugs given for the rest of the cat’s life. The treatment your veterinarian recommends depends on factors that include your cat’s age and general health, the presence of other diseases and your budget. Ask your veterinarian to go over all the options with you to make the best decision for yourself and your cat.

Read more, including about canine sports, in this week’s Pet Connection!