Dental disease is the most common health condition in dogs over three years old and causes significant chronic pain. Prevention through daily toothbrushing and regular veterinary dental care is highly effective.
Dental disease causes continuous, background chronic pain that most dogs endure without showing obvious signs. A dog who grooms differently, chews on one side, drops food, or is less enthusiastic about eating may be expressing dental pain rather than a change in preference. Owners who accept veterinary dental recommendations often report that their dogs seem years younger after dental treatment — retrospectively revealing how much the pain had affected daily quality of life. The welfare investment in daily toothbrushing takes minutes per day and prevents the need for more frequent, more invasive dental procedures under anaesthesia as the dog ages.