Dental disease is the most common cause of serious welfare compromise in domestic rabbits, with prevention through appropriate diet far more effective than treatment of established disease.
Rabbit dental disease welfare is a condition where prevention and management diverge dramatically in effectiveness. A rabbit fed unlimited hay throughout its life has a dramatically lower dental disease risk than one fed primarily pellets. Established dental disease is difficult to treat, expensive to manage, requires repeated anesthesia with associated risks, and often cannot be fully corrected - only managed. The welfare imperative is to communicate clearly to rabbit owners that diet is health, not just nutrition - hay provision is dental health maintenance. Lop breed owners need particular awareness of their animals' anatomical predisposition.