Companion Animal Dental Disease and Welfare

Dental disease is one of the most prevalent but underrecognised welfare problems in companion animals, causing chronic pain that significantly impairs quality of life.

Key Facts

An estimated 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over 3 years have some degree of dental disease
Periodontal disease causes pain, difficulty eating, and systemic infection risk
Many animals with severe dental disease continue to eat — hunger overrides pain
Professional dental cleaning under anaesthesia is the only effective treatment
Daily tooth brushing is the most effective preventive measure

Welfare Considerations

Dental disease causes chronic pain that animals typically conceal — the drive to eat is so strong that even severely painful mouths continue to function. This stoicism means owners and sometimes veterinarians underestimate the welfare impact. Research using pain scoring before and after dental treatment shows that animals with treated dental disease are typically more active, playful, and sociable post-treatment, revealing retrospectively how much discomfort they had been enduring. The welfare-conscious companion animal owner makes dental health a priority through regular veterinary checks, dental scoring, and preventive care including daily brushing where accepted.

What You Can Do

Have your pets teeth examined annually by a vet and acted on promptly
Begin tooth brushing as early in life as possible using pet-specific toothpaste
Provide dental chews and diets designed to reduce plaque where brushing is not accepted
Do not assume your pet is pain-free because it continues to eat normally
Budget for dental treatment — it is one of the most welfare-improving veterinary procedures available