Dental problems occur with great regularity in wild animals. Studies on African Wild Dog skulls around 100 years old show that very similar numbers and types of dental problems occurred with the skull specimens as occur with pet dogs and cats. Keep in mind that these wild animals only lived to be a few years old, while many domestic dogs and cats are living well into their teens. The wild animals do not have as much of a chance to "outlive their teeth", while domestic pets, are now living long enough to show significant dental problems.