How dental disease causes chronic pain in dogs and why routine preventive dental care is one of the most important aspects of companion animal welfare.
Dental disease is one of the most prevalent and underrecognised welfare problems in companion dogs. The vast majority of dogs over middle age have periodontal disease causing chronic inflammation and pain, yet many owners have never had their dog's teeth professionally assessed or treated. Dogs with severe dental disease continue eating because the alternative is starvation, not because they are pain-free. The change in behaviour following professional dental treatment — the increased playfulness, appetite, and apparent relief — is often the moment owners first realise how much pain their dog had been enduring. Preventive care, professional treatment, and owner education are all essential to addressing this endemic welfare problem.