Lop-eared and brachycephalic conformations have inconsistently been associated with dental abnormalities in pet and rescue rabbit populations.We Multi-Vehicle Mount investigated conformational risk factors for dental abnormalities in a pedigree population where conformation could be confirmed.Otoscopic oral examination was performed on breeder-volunteered pedigree rabbits at British Rabbit Council shows and studs.Multivariable models were used for risk factor analysis of 14 possible dental disease signs.In 435 rabbits examined, 68.
28% showed no incisor abnormalities and 55.40% showed no cheek teeth abnormalities.Lop-eared rabbits had higher odds than erect-eared rabbits for ocular discharge (odds ratio [OR]: 4.034, p = 0.007) but not for any dental abnormalities.
Erect-eared rabbits showed higher odds of reacting to incisor examination than lop-eared rabbits (OR: 1.666, p = 0.003).Brachycephaly showed no associations with dental abnormalities, whilst more dolichocephalic rabbits had increased odds of cheek Wall Unit teeth step or wave mouth (OR: 1.394, p = 0.
004).Other conformational and signalment-related risk factor results were mixed.Brachycephaly showed no significant predisposition to dental abnormalities, and the clinical relevance of predisposition to ocular discharge in lop-eared rabbits is unclear.Conformation appears less important than husbandry factors for preventing rabbit dental disease.Generalising the results to companion rabbits is not advised due to husbandry and population differences.