Dental disease is one of the most common and preventable welfare problems in companion animals, causing chronic pain that is often unrecognized by owners.
Companion animal dental disease is a hidden welfare epidemic. Animals experiencing tooth pain typically continue eating from necessity, masking their suffering from owners. Behavioral changes including reluctance to play, reduced activity, and irritability often resolve after dental treatment — revealing the chronic pain that preceded it. Prevention through regular brushing and veterinary dental assessment is far more effective and less costly than treatment.