Periodontal disease affects over 80% of dogs over 3 years of age and causes chronic pain that is often overlooked; prevention through home care and professional cleaning significantly improves quality of life.
The chronicity of dental pain in dogs without overt behavioural signs means that millions of dogs live with preventable discomfort that their owners are unaware of. Dogs with severe periodontal disease often show improved behaviour and vitality after dental treatment — evidence of the significant welfare burden the disease was imposing. Prevention through daily toothbrushing and appropriate chew products is far more welfare-effective than treatment of established disease.