Dental disease is the most common condition in companion animals yet remains dramatically underdiagnosed and undertreated, requiring daily home care combined with professional veterinary assessment.
Chronic dental pain is among the most common yet most invisible welfare burdens affecting companion animals. Animals with severe dental disease rarely refuse food or vocalize pain, continuing to eat despite significant oral discomfort. The gradual onset of dental disease means owners often do not observe the behavioral changes that indicate declining quality of life. Veterinary examination annually or more frequently in predisposed individuals enables early intervention before disease becomes advanced and irreversible. The combination of consistent daily home care and professional veterinary dental cleaning provides the best protection. Owner investment in dental care prevents the much greater cost — financial and welfare — of treating advanced dental disease requiring multiple extractions and extended anaesthesia.