Dental disease is the most common health problem in companion animals, affecting the majority of dogs and cats over age 3. The chronic pain it causes is frequently unrecognized, making dental welfare one of the most important quality-of-life issues in pet care.
Dental disease is a quiet epidemic of chronic pain in companion animals. Unlike humans who visit dentists regularly, animals receive dental care rarely if at all, and dental disease progresses silently for years. By the time clinical signs appear, severe disease is often present - painful gingivitis, loose teeth, and jaw bone loss. Animals continue eating because the hunger drive overrides pain, not because they feel no pain. Research using pain scales shows that animals post-dental treatment show significant behavioral improvements, revealing the chronic suffering that preceded treatment. Every dog or cat with untreated periodontal disease is experiencing preventable, ongoing pain. Annual dental assessment and appropriate treatment are welfare necessities, not luxuries.