Dental disease is the most common health and welfare problem in pet rabbits, and understanding its causes reveals preventable welfare failures in how rabbits are typically kept.
Rabbit dental disease represents a preventable welfare epidemic in companion animals. The root cause is a mismatch between the diet rabbits actually need - predominantly grass hay, which creates the lateral jaw movement necessary for normal tooth wear - and the diet most are fed: pellet-heavy rations supplemented with inappropriate treats. Rabbits silently endure chronic dental pain because they are prey species that conceal illness. By the time owners notice a problem, disease is often advanced. The welfare prescription is simple: unlimited hay, limited pellets, and regular veterinary dental checks.