Companion Rabbit Dental Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Dental disease is the most common health problem in pet rabbits, causing chronic pain and secondary illness, with prevention through appropriate diet central to welfare.

Key Facts

Rabbits have continuously growing teeth requiring constant wear through fibrous diet.
Dental disease affects an estimated 75% of pet rabbits during their lifetime.
Malocclusion causes sharp spurs that cut the tongue and cheeks, causing intense pain and difficulty eating.
The primary cause of dental disease in rabbits is insufficient dietary hay reducing tooth wear.
Lop-eared breeds are predisposed to dental problems due to skull conformation crowding teeth.

Welfare Considerations

Rabbit dental disease causes chronic, often severe pain that significantly reduces quality of life. The stoic nature of rabbits means severe dental disease is frequently advanced before owners recognise a problem. Prevention through provision of unlimited hay — which should comprise 80-90% of the diet — is the most important welfare intervention. Regular veterinary dental checks allow early identification of spurs and malocclusion before they cause serious injury. Lop breeds require particular vigilance given their inherent dental susceptibility.

What You Can Do

Provide unlimited quality hay as the primary diet component for all pet rabbits.
Schedule annual veterinary dental checks including examination under sedation for thorough assessment.
Watch for subtle dental pain signs: reduced appetite, favouring one side, wet chin from drooling.
Consider whether lop breed selection is appropriate given inherent dental welfare challenges.
Avoid muesli-style rabbit food mixes — they encourage selective eating and worsen dental problems.