Dental disease is the most common health problem in pet rabbits, causing chronic pain that is frequently unrecognised. Diet and housing choices critically influence dental health throughout a rabbit's life.
Dental disease in rabbits causes chronic pain that may persist undetected for months because rabbits hide illness as a survival instinct. The primary driver of dental disease is inadequate hay consumption, often because owners feed inappropriate muesli-style mixes that rabbits selectively eat for high-sugar components while avoiding hay. Breeding choices also matter: lop-eared rabbits and dwarf breeds have skeletal abnormalities that predispose them to lifelong dental problems. Diet, appropriate breed selection, and regular veterinary checks are the three most important interventions.