Dental disease is the most prevalent health condition across companion animal species, and preventive care established early in life can dramatically reduce lifelong suffering from oral pain.
Dental disease is the silent welfare epidemic of companion animal medicine. The masking of oral pain across species — dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs all continue eating despite significant dental pathology — means that owners routinely underestimate or miss the chronic pain their animals are experiencing. Prevention through appropriate diet, early establishment of tooth brushing habits and regular veterinary dental assessment is achievable for most companion species. The systemic health consequences of untreated dental disease extend beyond the mouth to affect heart and kidney function, making dental care a whole-body welfare investment. Educating owners about dental disease prevalence, pain masking and prevention options is the most effective population-level welfare intervention available across companion animal species.