Myth: Dental Pain Doesn't Hurt Animals

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s Global Dental Guidelines address a number of myths and misconceptions about veterinary dentistry, says Brook A. Niemiec, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FAVD, chief of staff at Southern California Veterinary Dental Specialties & Oral Surgery in San Diego. One of the biggest myths among those, he says, is that dental pain doesn't hurt animals.

Dental pain is an area that in comparative species—like rodents or humans—is well-known to exist, says animal welfare author and speaker Kymberley Stewart, DVM. Animals do show pain, she says, but in ways we might not expect.