Dental disease affects the majority of cats over three years old and is among the most common causes of chronic pain in companion animals.
Feline dental disease represents an enormous amount of chronic, unrecognised pain in the companion cat population. Cats evolved as prey animals to mask signs of vulnerability, meaning that owners often interpret normal appetite and behaviour as evidence of no pain - even when the cat has severe oral disease. Regular dental examinations reveal the hidden scale of the problem. Post-extraction improvement in behaviour and activity is routinely reported by owners who were unaware their cat was in pain. Early home care prevention is far preferable to late-stage disease management.