Science Digest: Is conformation in rabbits linked with a higher risk of dental abnormalities?

15 May 2025

Dental disease is one of the most common conditions in rabbits, affecting up to 18% of the UK pet rabbit population1. Rabbits with lop ears and brachycephalic conformations have long been suspected of being at higher risk of dental disease than those with erect ears and longer faces, but the evidence for this is currently inconsistent. To provide further evidence, new research carried out by the Royal Veterinary College and published in Animals has explored conformational risk factors for dental abnormalities in pedigree rabbits1.

Oral otoscopic examination and observation of external signs of dental disease were undertaken in 435 pedigree companion rabbits owned by British Rabbit Council members. Breed, sex, neuter status, age, weight, ear type (erect, lop) fur length (very shorthair, shorthair, medium hair, long or semi-longhair), and head shape (very brachycephalic to dolichocephalic), were noted.

The results found no substantial link between conformation and an increased risk of dental abnormalities, meaning lop-eared and brachycephalic rabbits did not have higher odds of dental abnormalities than erect-eared and dolichocephalic rabbits. Many rabbits had no dental abnormalities, but 29% showed incisor abnormalities and 32% had cheek teeth abnormalities.

Lop-eared rabbits were 4 times more likely to have ocular discharge and the clinical relevance of this is unclear. Dolichocephalic (longer-faced) rabbits had increased odds of cheek teeth step or wave mouth. With increasing age, there were increased odds of having any cheek teeth abnormality, ocular discharge, and cheek teeth step or wave mouth. Male rabbits were more than twice as likely to have an incisor abnormality or slanted or curved incisor occlusal surfaces, while females were more than twice as likely to have long first cheek teeth.

These findings reiterate the multifactorial nature of dental abnormalities, and support previous evidence that lop ears and a brachycephalic head shape appear less important in the development of dental problems. Therefore, the researchers suggest there’s little opportunity for improving rabbit dental health by generically recommending breeders should avoid breeding from rabbits with these conformations, and instead, direct veterinary assessment, including otoscope or radiography examinations, should be used to guide breeding decisions. Instead of focusing on the impact of conformations, diet (focusing on hay or grass, leafy vegetables, and small quantities of pellets supplemented with calcium and vitamin D), enriched environment and regular dental checks should be prioritised for dental health.

The applications of the study may be limited, as the study population comprised pedigree rabbits that were in good condition and may have been too young to develop dental abnormalities, and formal diagnosis of abnormalities was not included. The findings shouldn’t be generalised to companion rabbits, as husbandry, genetics and management practices will vary between pedigree rabbit and pet rabbit populations.

Take home message

Lop-eared and brachycephalic rabbits do not have an increased risk of dental abnormalities, and conformation appears less important than husbandry factors for preventing rabbit dental disease than previously suspected. Vets, owners and breeders all have an important role in the preventive care of rabbits’ dental health, including undertaking routine dental checks, providing a nutritional diet and an enriched environment.

Reference

1. Jackson MA, Betts M, Hedley J & Burn CC (2025) Rabbit Dental Abnormalities: Investigation of Conformational Risk Factors in a Pedigree Rabbit Population. Animals. 15(7), 980. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15070980