Dental disease affects the majority of dogs and cats over age three, causing chronic oral pain that is often unrecognized by owners and undertreated even when identified.
Companion animal dental disease represents a welfare problem of enormous scale. The majority of middle-aged and senior dogs and cats are living with some degree of chronic oral pain while their owners are unaware. The stoic pain-hiding behavior of companion animals — an evolutionary adaptation — means animals mask significant discomfort that affects their quality of life daily. Welfare-positive companion animal care treats dental health with the same seriousness as other health indicators. Regular professional dental assessment and appropriate treatment prevent the chronic pain that untreated dental disease causes.