Companion Animal Dental Disease Prevention

Dental disease affects over 80% of dogs and cats by age three and is a leading preventable source of chronic pain in companion animals.

Key Facts

Periodontal disease is the most common health problem in companion dogs and cats
Dental pain affects eating, behavior, and quality of life but is often invisible to owners since pets hide discomfort
Professional dental scaling under anesthesia is the gold standard treatment but is expensive and requires sedation
Daily tooth brushing reduces plaque accumulation by 70% when maintained consistently
Dental disease bacteria can spread to the heart, kidneys, and liver, causing systemic health damage

Welfare Considerations

Dental disease causes chronic oral pain in millions of companion animals whose owners do not recognize the condition. Animals eat despite significant dental pain because food-seeking motivation overrides pain suppression capacity. Prevention through daily brushing and regular professional cleaning prevents suffering that is otherwise pervasive but invisible.

What You Can Do

Begin tooth brushing with your companion animal using veterinary-approved toothpaste from an early age
Schedule annual dental examinations with your veterinarian and follow treatment recommendations
Advocate for pre-adoption guidance that includes dental care as a required component of companion animal husbandry education