Dental disease affects the majority of companion dogs and cats over three years old, causing chronic pain and reducing quality of life throughout their lives.
Companion animal dental disease represents a massive source of preventable chronic pain that is largely invisible to owners. A dog or cat eating normally may be simultaneously experiencing significant oral pain because evolved prey-animal psychology suppresses obvious pain signals. Veterinary dental examinations regularly reveal advanced periodontal disease in animals whose owners had no awareness of a problem. Prevention through daily toothbrushing is highly effective but requires owner commitment and early habituation of the animal. Treatment through professional cleaning under anaesthesia provides significant welfare relief. The welfare community increasingly emphasises dental care as a core component of responsible companion animal ownership.