Dental disease affects the vast majority of dogs and causes chronic pain that significantly reduces quality of life. Prevention and treatment protect dog welfare in a highly impactful way.
Canine dental disease causes chronic, widespread pain that profoundly affects quality of life. The stoic nature of dogs means severe oral pain often goes unrecognized while dogs continue to eat and behave relatively normally. Establishing dental care as a routine part of dog ownership from puppyhood prevents the development of disease that requires extensive treatment. Annual veterinary examination of the mouth allows professional detection of early disease. When professional cleaning is recommended, the welfare benefit of pain relief and infection control significantly outweighs anesthetic risk in healthy patients. Post-dental-treatment behavioral improvements in dogs confirm that pre-treatment pain was significant.