Dental disease including malocclusion is a significant welfare problem in commercial rabbit production, causing chronic pain that affects feeding behavior and requires both genetic management and appropriate diet provision.
Rabbit dental welfare in commercial production reflects both management and genetic factors that interact to determine dental health outcomes. High-fiber diets that include hay or other long fiber sources provide the lateral chewing motion that maintains normal molar occlusion through appropriate wear, while pellet-only diets fail to deliver this mechanical dental benefit. The prevalence of hereditary dental disease in some commercial rabbit lines reflects selection pressure for growth traits without adequate attention to dental health. Commercial rabbit producers who provide appropriate fiber and conduct regular dental monitoring identify and manage dental problems before they cause severe welfare deterioration. The integration of dental health screening into breeding programs and dental welfare into farm quality assurance schemes represents the most systematic approach to improving rabbit dental welfare at scale.