Dental disease is the most common welfare problem in pet rabbits, causing chronic pain that is frequently unrecognised. Prevention and management are essential welfare responsibilities.
Rabbit dental disease causes chronic, severe pain that is almost universally underrecognised. Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits rarely show obvious pain signals — they continue eating even with significant dental pain, maintaining the instinct to hide weakness as prey animals. Root elongation, tooth spurs cutting the tongue and cheeks, and abscess formation cause intense suffering that develops slowly and insidiously. A hay-based diet is the single most effective preventive measure, providing the grinding action that maintains correct tooth wear. Regular sedated dental examination is the only way to reliably detect problems before they become severe.