Dental disease is one of the most common welfare problems in pet rabbits, often resulting from inadequate diet. Understanding the link between nutrition, dental anatomy, and welfare is essential for rabbit owners.
Rabbit dental disease is a welfare problem that is both common and largely preventable. The anatomy of rabbit teeth requires continuous fibrous chewing - hay provides this wear mechanism. When rabbits eat primarily pellets and vegetables, the cheek teeth are not worn adequately and develop sharp spurs that dig into the tongue and cheek with every chewing movement. The pain is constant and chronic, yet rabbits mask it well enough that owners may not notice until significant damage has occurred. Prevention through correct diet is vastly simpler than treating established dental disease. Hay is not optional - it is the foundation of rabbit dental health.