Dental disease is the most common health problem in companion rabbits and a major cause of chronic suffering. Understanding rabbit dental anatomy helps owners prevent and manage this welfare crisis.
Rabbit dental disease is a welfare crisis that is largely preventable through appropriate diet but continues to affect millions of animals due to owner ignorance. Pellet-heavy and fresh food-heavy diets without adequate hay fail to provide the lateral grinding motion that wears molars evenly. Molar spurs cause chronic pain that reduces eating, leading to gut stasis — a life-threatening condition. Annual dental checks under sedation are recommended for all rabbits. Lop breeds have compacted skull anatomy that predisposes them to dental problems regardless of diet. Consumer demand for lop rabbits is driving welfare problems through irresponsible selective breeding practices.