Companion Animals

Companion Animal Welfare and Feline Dental Disease Prevention

Feline dental disease is preventable with home care and regular veterinary assessment, yet affects over 85% of cats by middle age.

Key Facts

Periodontal disease affects 85% of cats over 3 years old
Daily tooth brushing reduces plaque by 60% and is achievable with training
Dental treats and water additives provide partial but meaningful supplementary benefit
Resorptive lesions (FORLs) affect 30-70% of cats and require extraction
Annual veterinary dental examinations catch disease at treatable early stages

Welfare Considerations

Feline dental pain is chronic, silent, and preventable. Establishing tooth brushing and regular dental assessment from kittenhood eliminates most dental suffering.

What You Can Do

Begin tooth brushing training in kittens as early as possible
Book annual veterinary dental assessments for cats over 3
Use VOHC-approved dental products as supplementary home care