Rabbit Dental Disease and Welfare

Dental disease is the most common cause of veterinary consultation in pet rabbits, causing chronic pain, reduced food intake, and secondary health problems that profoundly affect welfare.

Key Facts

Rabbit teeth grow continuously throughout life - malocclusion causes sharp spurs that lacerate the tongue and cheeks
Molar malocclusion often develops secondary to inappropriate diet - rabbits need 80% of their diet as high-fibre hay
Signs of dental pain include reduced appetite, weight loss, wet chin from drooling, and preference for soft foods
Diagnosis requires examination under sedation and skull radiographs or CT scanning to assess tooth roots
Treatment involves periodic dental filing under general anesthesia, which carries risk in prey animals

Welfare Considerations

Rabbit dental disease is almost entirely preventable with appropriate diet. Rabbits fed primarily pellets and fresh vegetables rather than hay develop malocclusion because teeth do not wear evenly without sufficient fibrous material. The welfare consequences of established dental disease are severe - sharp molar spurs cause mouth sores that make eating painful, and the progressive nature of the condition means repeated anesthetic interventions throughout the rabbit's life. Prevention through hay-based diet is a welfare imperative.

What You Can Do

Feed rabbits primarily hay - at least 80% of the diet should be high quality grass hay
Provide unlimited timothy or meadow hay from an early age to establish appropriate tooth wear
Have your rabbit's teeth examined by a rabbit-specialist vet annually from 2 years of age
Seek veterinary attention if your rabbit stops eating or shows signs of mouth pain
Avoid high-pellet diets - pellets should be limited to a small daily portion supplementary to hay