Companion Animal Dental Disease and Welfare

Dental disease is the most common health condition in companion animals, yet it remains chronically undertreated — causing chronic pain that affects quality of life while remaining largely invisible to owners without veterinary assessment.

Key Facts

An estimated 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of periodontal disease by age three
Dental pain in animals is frequently subclinical — animals continue eating despite significant oral pain, masking the problem from owners
Professional dental cleaning under anaesthesia is the gold standard treatment but is often declined due to anaesthetic concerns or cost
Daily tooth brushing from puppyhood or kittenhood is the most effective preventive measure for periodontal disease
Untreated dental disease can cause systemic effects including bacterial seeding of the heart, kidneys, and liver

Welfare Considerations

Companion animal dental welfare is one of the most underserved areas in pet health — widespread, causing chronic pain, preventable, and treatable, yet systematically overlooked. The invisibility of dental pain in animals, combined with owner cost sensitivity and anaesthetic concerns, creates a perfect storm of neglect. Integrating dental assessment into every annual health check, normalising dental cleaning, and starting preventive care from puppyhood and kittenhood are the key welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Book a dental assessment for your companion animal at their next annual health check
Begin daily tooth brushing for puppies and kittens to prevent periodontal disease throughout their lives
Do not delay professional dental cleaning due to anaesthetic concerns — discuss risk management with your vet
Advocate for dental assessment to be included as a standard component of companion animal rescue and adoption welfare checks