Dental disease is the leading welfare problem in domestic rabbits, with complex molar and incisor issues causing chronic pain that owners frequently fail to recognize.
Rabbit dental disease is one of the most common sources of chronic pain in companion animals and one of the most frequently missed by owners. Unlike dog dental problems that produce obvious bad breath and gum disease, rabbit molar spurs develop invisibly and cause pain that manifests as slow appetite reduction. By the time a rabbit is noticeably ill, it has often been in chronic pain for months. The primary welfare solution is prevention through hay-based diet and regular veterinary dental assessment. Selective breeding for extreme skull shapes in lop and dwarf breeds has created populations with structural dental problems that cannot be fully corrected - supporting breeding reform and adopting breed-mixed rabbits reduces this inherited welfare burden.