Dental disease is the most common health problem in companion animals, affecting over 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over 3 years old, causing chronic pain that is frequently unrecognized by owners.
Dental disease in companion animals is a widespread welfare problem that receives far less attention than its prevalence warrants. Animals with painful periodontal disease, tooth root abscesses, and fractured teeth continue eating because the alternative — starvation — is worse, creating the false impression that they are unaffected. The behavioral change most owners notice after dental treatment is a dramatic improvement in energy, interaction, and apparent wellbeing — revealing the extent of the chronic pain that was present but concealed. Preventive dental care through regular professional cleaning and home brushing would eliminate enormous amounts of unnecessary suffering in companion animals.