Dental disease is the most common serious health problem in companion rabbits, causing chronic pain that often goes unrecognized. Prevention through appropriate diet is far more effective than treatment.
Rabbit dental disease represents a major and largely preventable welfare crisis in companion animal medicine. The root cause in most cases is dietary: rabbits evolved to spend 6-8 hours daily grinding fibrous grasses and hay, which naturally wears teeth and maintains proper alignment. Pellet-based diets that are nutritionally concentrated but low in abrasive fibre fail to provide adequate tooth wear, leading to malocclusion, painful spurs, and abscesses. Because rabbits are prey animals, they suppress pain signals even when severely affected, meaning owners often do not recognize the problem until the animal is in severe distress. By the time clinical signs appear, disease is frequently advanced and treatment complex. Prevention through unlimited hay access — which should constitute 80-90% of the diet — is dramatically more effective and humane than treatment. Regular veterinary dental checks by a rabbit-experienced practitioner are also essential.