Dental disease is the most common health problem in companion animals, affecting over 70% of dogs and cats over age 3. Yet dental care remains one of the most neglected welfare interventions in companion animal ownership.
Dental disease causes chronic low-grade pain that rarely produces obvious behavioral changes until severe, meaning most companion animals with dental disease are experiencing daily welfare compromise that their owners do not recognize. An animal who continues to eat is not necessarily free of dental pain — animals eat despite significant oral discomfort because hunger overrides pain avoidance. Welfare-centered dental care begins with recognizing this reality and committing to regular preventive care including tooth brushing and professional cleaning. The welfare return on dental care investment is high: animals treated for significant dental disease often show remarkable behavioral improvements — increased playfulness, better appetite, more social engagement — that reveal how much their dental pain had been suppressing their quality of life.