Understanding dental disease in rabbits and why it is one of the most welfare-significant conditions in this species.
Rabbit dental disease is one of the most common, painful, and underdiagnosed conditions in companion rabbit medicine. The silent progression of dental root elongation means many rabbits experience significant pain for months before owners detect any problem. By the time clinical signs are obvious, disease may be advanced and treatment options limited. The prevention through appropriate hay-dominant diet is simple in principle but requires owner understanding and commitment. Rabbits who receive the majority of their nutrition from hay throughout life have dramatically lower dental disease rates, making diet the most powerful welfare intervention available.