Dental disease is the most common health problem in companion rabbits, causing chronic pain and often going undetected for months. Diet is the primary driver, and prevention is far more effective than treatment.
Rabbit dental disease is a welfare crisis largely created by inappropriate feeding. A rabbit eating primarily pellets or vegetables, with limited hay access, will develop malocclusion — often before 2-3 years of age. By the time obvious signs appear, dental disease may be severe and require repeated anaesthetic procedures to manage. Hay provides the lateral grinding motion that wears teeth evenly; without it, teeth overgrow in irregular patterns. Prevention through hay-first diet — 80-90% of intake — is dramatically more effective and humane than repeated dental treatments under anaesthesia. Veterinary dental check-ups under sedation are recommended annually for pet rabbits over 3 years old.