Dental disease affects the majority of dogs over three years old, yet it is among the most underrecognised sources of chronic pain in companion animals. Regular dental care and appropriate diet are fundamental to canine welfare.
Dental disease causes chronic pain that profoundly affects quality of life but is frequently undetected by owners and even veterinarians conducting routine examinations. Dogs rarely stop eating even with severe oral pain, so the absence of appetite changes cannot be used to infer dental health. Signs that owners should watch for include bad breath, drooling, facial swelling, pawing at the mouth, and behavioural changes such as food guarding or reluctance to play with toys. The welfare implication of undertreated dental disease is significant: years of chronic pain from inflamed gums, mobile teeth, and abscessed roots are common in dogs whose owners are unaware of the problem. Prevention is far preferable to treatment — starting toothbrushing in puppyhood, providing appropriate chews, and scheduling regular veterinary dental examinations prevents the progression to painful disease that requires anaesthetic intervention.