Dental disease is the most common health problem in domestic rabbits. Understanding its causes and prevention significantly improves rabbit welfare.
Dental disease causes profound and often undetected suffering in rabbits. These prey animals mask illness, maintaining apparent normal behaviour despite significant pain. By the time owners notice reduced appetite or weight loss, severe dental malocclusion is usually well established. Prevention through hay-based diet is highly effective: rabbits eating primarily hay wear teeth appropriately through the grinding action of long-stemmed fibre. Pellets, vegetables and fruit should be supplements, not the primary diet. Early veterinary dental intervention before molar spurs lacerate the tongue prevents chronic suffering.