Dental disease is the most common health problem in companion rabbits, causing chronic pain and secondary conditions that are closely linked to inadequate hay consumption in the diet.
Rabbits with dental disease experience chronic oral pain from misaligned teeth cutting into soft tissue, jaw abscesses, and difficulty eating. The condition is progressive and causes significant long-term suffering if not detected and managed. The root cause in most pet rabbits is inadequate hay consumption — rabbits need unlimited timothy hay comprising at least 80% of their diet for the mechanical tooth wear that prevents malocclusion. Owner education about hay importance is the single most impactful welfare intervention for companion rabbit populations.