Dental disease is the most common health problem in dogs yet is dramatically undertreated. Chronic dental pain causes hidden suffering in millions of companion animals.
Dental disease is one of the most widespread causes of chronic pain in companion animals and simultaneously one of the most undertreated. Owners underestimate dental pain because dogs do not stop eating or vocalize pain the way humans would with equivalent dental disease. The dog's instinct to eat regardless of pain means severe dental disease can persist for years before being detected. Welfare-centered veterinary care includes dental assessment at every visit and proactive treatment rather than waiting for the dog to show obvious signs of suffering. Anesthetic aversion is a real but manageable concern that should not override the welfare case for dental treatment.