Dental disease is the most common health problem in companion rabbits, causing chronic pain that is often missed by owners due to rabbits' tendency to mask illness.
Rabbit dental disease represents one of the most significant welfare problems in companion animal medicine, compounded by rabbits' natural tendency to hide signs of pain and illness. In the wild, rabbits spend much of the day grazing on tough grasses and plants that wear down their continuously growing teeth. Companion rabbits fed primarily pellets or soft vegetables do not wear down their teeth adequately, leading to malocclusion, painful molar spurs that lacerate tongue and cheeks, and eventually inability to eat. The chronic pain from dental disease may persist for months or years before diagnosis, particularly in prey animals that instinctively minimise behavioural signs of vulnerability. Lop and dwarf breeds have shortened skull anatomy that predisposes them to severe dental problems regardless of diet. Prevention through adequate hay provision (making up 80-90% of the diet) is highly effective in reducing disease incidence. Regular veterinary dental checks under sedation allow early identification of problems before they become severe, but access to rabbit-experienced vets with appropriate equipment is not universal.