How dental disease affects rabbit welfare, the dietary and husbandry factors that prevent dental problems, and the importance of early veterinary detection.
Rabbit dental disease is the most common cause of veterinary visits in companion rabbits and represents one of the most significant and preventable welfare problems in this species. Most dental disease is preventable through appropriate diet — unlimited hay that provides the abrasion necessary for correct tooth wear — yet commercial rabbit foods emphasise pellets and muesli mixes that fail to meet this need. By the time dental disease becomes clinically obvious, significant suffering has usually occurred. Regular veterinary dental checks enable earlier detection. Owner education about hay as the dietary foundation rather than a supplement is the single most impactful rabbit welfare intervention.