Dental disease is the most common health problem in domestic rabbits, causing chronic pain that owners often miss because rabbits hide illness.
Dental disease in rabbits is a major welfare concern because rabbits instinctively hide signs of illness, meaning pain often goes undetected for months. As teeth misalign and overgrow, they cut into soft tissue, prevent proper eating, and cause systemic infection. A hay-based diet is the single most important preventive measure, but genetic factors in some breeds make dental disease nearly unavoidable.