Dental disease is one of the most common and welfare-significant health problems in domestic rabbits, causing chronic pain that is often unrecognized until severely advanced.
Dental disease in rabbits causes chronic, often severe pain that is frequently undetected by owners because rabbits conceal illness as a survival strategy. The chronic pain from molar spurs — sharp points from overgrown cheek teeth that lacerate the tongue and cheeks — causes reduced food intake and progressive deterioration. Regular veterinary dental examinations under anesthesia are necessary for diagnosis as cheek teeth cannot be adequately assessed in the conscious rabbit. Prevention through unlimited hay provision provides the essential fiber and abrasion for dental health. Lop and dwarf breeds have skull conformations that compress tooth roots, making them inherently susceptible regardless of diet — a welfare concern that warrants careful consideration before selecting these breeds.