Dental disease is the most prevalent health condition in companion dogs, with over 80% of adults affected by age 3 — causing pain that significantly compromises quality of life when unrecognized.
Dental disease in dogs is a silent welfare crisis — tens of millions of dogs living with chronic oral pain that owners fail to recognize because the signs are behavioral rather than obvious. A dog that has stopped playing with toys, drops food, or chews on one side may be managing significant dental pain daily. Preventing this through daily brushing from puppyhood is far easier than treating established disease. Regular veterinary dental assessment allows early intervention before disease becomes severe. The welfare improvement from treating dental disease — including dramatic behavioral improvements after tooth extraction — demonstrates how much pain was present and hidden before treatment.