03/11/2026
FECAVA Monday Read | WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
What are the key recommendations for improving dental health and welfare in dogs and cats?
The 2026 WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines provide an updated, comprehensive overview of veterinary dentistry, covering oral anatomy, common dental and oral diseases, diagnostic approaches, treatment options, anaesthesia, pain management and preventive dental care.
The guidelines emphasise that dental disease is one of the most common medical conditions in companion animals and can have significant consequences for animal welfare. Untreated oral disease may result in chronic pain, persistent infection, inflammation and reduced quality of life, even when clinical signs are subtle or difficult for owners to recognise.
Particular attention is given to recognising behavioural changes associated with oral pain, including alterations in eating habits, grooming, sleeping patterns, play behaviour and social interactions. The authors stress that the absence of appetite loss does not exclude significant dental pain.
The guidelines also highlight the importance of comprehensive oral examinations under general anaesthesia, including dental radiography, to identify and assess subgingival disease. They strongly oppose anaesthesia-free dentistry, emphasising that it cannot provide adequate diagnosis or treatment and may compromise animal welfare.
Recommendations further address appropriate anaesthesia and multimodal pain management, gentle handling techniques, professional dental treatment and consistent homecare. The authors underline the importance of client education and the integration of preventive dental care into routine veterinary practice.
Overall, the guidelines reinforce that dental health is not simply a cosmetic concern, but an essential component of animal health, welfare and quality of life.
📖 Read more: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.70057
