Periodontal disease is the most common health problem in dogs affecting the majority of adults over three years, causing chronic oral pain that is frequently unrecognized and undertreated.
Periodontal disease causes chronic oral pain that dogs experience continuously without effective communication of their discomfort to their owners. The stoic nature of dogs and the gradual onset of dental disease mean that many dogs live with significant oral pain for extended periods before diagnosis and treatment. Veterinary dental examinations are frequently inadequate without dental radiography, meaning disease severity is underestimated. Effective prevention through daily tooth brushing dramatically reduces disease development and is one of the highest-impact preventive welfare interventions available to dog owners. Post-dental treatment improvements in demeanor, appetite, and activity often reveal how much the dog was suffering.