Dental disease is the most common health problem in pet rabbits, causing chronic pain that is frequently unrecognised and untreated.
Rabbits with dental disease experience mouth pain that prevents normal eating. Because they cannot tell us they are in pain and conceal illness as prey animals, dental disease often advances for months before owners notice. Weight loss, reduced pellet intake, preference for softer foods, and facial swelling are key signs. Dental abscesses are extremely painful and difficult to treat. Prevention through unlimited hay provision and appropriate diet significantly reduces dental disease risk.