Dental disease is the most common and welfare-impactful health problem in pet rabbits, often going unrecognized until severely advanced.
Rabbit dental disease causes significant, often prolonged welfare harm. Affected rabbits may eat less due to mouth pain, lose weight progressively, and develop tooth root abscesses that cause facial pain and ocular complications. Because rabbits hide pain, owners frequently miss early signs until dental disease is advanced. The irony is that prevention is straightforward: a diet based on unlimited grass hay provides the necessary fiber for correct dental wear. Pellet-heavy or fruit-heavy diets do not provide adequate dental wear, promoting malocclusion. Lop breeds have anatomically compressed skulls that predispose them to dental problems regardless of diet — a welfare consequence of selective breeding for exaggerated physical features. Regular veterinary dental checks catch problems before they become severe welfare emergencies.