According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have periodontal disease by the age of 3.

🦷 A Healthy Smile Means a Healthier, Happier Pet

At Manning Veterinary Clinic, we believe that caring for your pet means looking after their whole health — and that includes their teeth and gums. Preventing disease and identifying health concerns early gives us the best opportunity to help your pet enjoy a longer, healthier, and more comfortable life.

One of the most important areas of preventative care is dental health. Periodontal (dental) disease is one of the most common health concerns in pets, and unfortunately, it can often develop quietly without obvious signs.

That's why regular dental examinations are such an important part of your pet's overall healthcare. During your pet's routine visits, our team can assess their oral health and help you understand what you can do at home to keep their teeth and gums healthy. We're also happy to provide educational resources, helpful tips, and guidance for establishing a dental care routine at home.

❤️ Dental Disease Can Be Easy to Miss

One of the challenges with periodontal disease is that many of its early changes can go unnoticed. Your pet may continue to eat, chew, and behave normally even while an underlying dental problem is developing.

Over time, plaque and tartar can build up along the gum line, contributing to bad breath, inflamed or infected gums, pain, and other oral health problems. More advanced dental disease can have consequences beyond the mouth, which is why maintaining good dental health is an important part of caring for your pet's overall wellbeing.

Your pet may not be able to tell you that their mouth hurts — so regular dental examinations can make a meaningful difference.

🐾 Know the Signs

Early recognition is one of the best ways to protect your pet's dental health. Watch for signs such as:

• Bad breath — often one of the first noticeable signs of dental disease

• Yellow or brown tartar accumulating on the teeth, particularly near the gum line

• Red, swollen, or irritated gums

• Pain, sensitivity, or bleeding when eating or when the mouth is touched

• Decreased appetite or difficulty chewing

• Loose, damaged, or missing teeth

If you notice any of these changes, it's a good idea to have your pet's mouth checked by a veterinarian.

🪥 Prevention Starts at Home

Just like people, pets benefit from regular dental care. Preventative care can help reduce the development and progression of periodontal disease, gingivitis, and other painful oral health conditions.

Our team can help you understand your pet's individual dental needs and provide practical recommendations for maintaining their oral health at home. Even small, consistent steps can make a difference over time.

Most importantly, don't wait until your pet is showing obvious signs of discomfort. Pets are remarkably good at hiding pain, and dental problems can progress before they're easy to notice.

🩺 Give Your Pet Something to Smile About

A healthy mouth is an important part of a healthy pet. Regular dental examinations and appropriate treatment can help prevent unnecessary pain and discomfort while supporting your pet's overall quality of life.

If you think your pet may be due for a dental examination, or you've noticed changes in their teeth, gums, breath, appetite, or chewing habits, we'd be happy to help.

📞 Call us at 780-836-3770
📱 Text us at 1-866-709-3601

Our team at Manning Veterinary Clinic is here to help keep your furry family member's smile healthy — and help them stay happy, comfortable, and by your side for years to come. 🐶🐱❤️

🦷 Professional Dental Cleaning & Care - Our Process

At Manning Veterinary Clinic, our goal is to provide your pet with thorough, thoughtful dental care while keeping their comfort and safety at the forefront. We understand that dental procedures can sometimes feel concerning for pet owners, so our team will take the time to explain what we recommend, why it is needed, and what you can expect throughout the process.

🩺 Looking Beyond What We Can See

A healthy-looking tooth isn't always a healthy tooth.

Some dental problems can develop below the gum line or within the tooth itself, where they cannot be identified through a visual examination alone. That's why we take a comprehensive approach to your pet's dental health.

As part of our dental procedures, we take dental radiographs (X-rays) both before and after the dental cleaning and treatment. These dental X-rays allow us to look beneath the gum line and evaluate areas that aren't visible during a routine oral examination.

🔎 Pre-Dental Radiographs

Before dental treatment begins, dental radiographs help our veterinary team get a more complete picture of your pet's oral health.

They can help identify concerns such as:

• Disease or damage below the gum line

• Problems affecting tooth roots

• Bone loss associated with periodontal disease

• Damaged or compromised teeth

• Other abnormalities that may not be visible during a visual examination

This additional information helps our team determine which teeth are healthy and which may require further attention or treatment.

✨ Professional Dental Cleaning

During a professional dental cleaning, accumulated plaque and tartar are carefully removed from your pet's teeth. Particular attention is given to the areas around and below the gum line, where bacteria and inflammation can develop.

Once the teeth have been thoroughly cleaned, our veterinary team can more clearly assess the condition of the teeth and surrounding tissues.

The purpose of a professional dental isn't simply to make your pet's teeth look cleaner — it's about identifying disease, addressing problems, relieving discomfort, and helping protect your pet's long-term oral health.

🦷 Post-Dental Radiographs

Because we don't want anything to be overlooked.

After cleaning and any necessary dental treatment, post-dental radiographs are taken as well.

These additional X-rays provide another opportunity to carefully evaluate the teeth and surrounding structures after the mouth has been cleaned and treated. They help our team confirm that areas of concern have been appropriately assessed and that nothing important has been missed.

Taking radiographs both before and after dental treatment gives us a more complete understanding of your pet's oral health and allows us to provide a much more thorough level of dental care.

Our goal is simple: to look as carefully as possible, so your pet receives the care they need — not just the care we can see at first glance.

❤️ Comfort & Safety Come First

Professional dental cleanings and more involved dental procedures require anesthesia so that your pet can remain comfortable while allowing our veterinary team to perform a thorough examination, radiographic assessment, and cleaning.

Anesthesia allows us to carefully examine each tooth, clean around and below the gum line, obtain the necessary dental radiographs, and address dental concerns without causing unnecessary stress or discomfort for your pet.

Your pet's individual health, age, and medical history are considered when planning their procedure. Our team will discuss the recommended care with you and answer any questions you may have before your pet's dental appointment.

🐾 When a Tooth Needs Extra Attention

In some cases, dental radiographs and examination may reveal that a tooth is damaged, diseased, infected, or otherwise causing your pet discomfort.

When a tooth cannot be saved or is contributing to ongoing pain or disease, extraction may be recommended.

While the thought of having a tooth removed can understandably be difficult for a pet owner, removing a painful or diseased tooth can provide significant relief and allow your pet to return to eating and enjoying life more comfortably.

Our veterinary team will discuss any recommended treatment with you and explain what we've found and why a particular treatment may be in your pet's best interest.

🏡 Dental Care Continues at Home

Professional dental care is an important part of maintaining your pet's oral health, but ongoing care at home is equally valuable.

After your pet's dental procedure, our team can provide recommendations for maintaining their teeth and gums between veterinary visits. Depending on your pet's individual needs, this may include tooth brushing, dental products, appropriate diets, or other preventative strategies.

We want to help you establish a dental routine that is realistic for both you and your pet.

💙 Thorough Care. Healthier Smiles. Happier Pets.

Your pet may not be able to tell you when their mouth hurts, and dental disease can sometimes hide where you can't see it. That's why regular dental examinations — combined with pre- and post-dental radiographs — are such an important part of comprehensive veterinary dental care.

At Manning Veterinary Clinic, we take the time to look closely, investigate thoroughly, and address dental concerns with your pet's comfort and wellbeing in mind.

If you've noticed bad breath, tartar buildup, red or bleeding gums, difficulty chewing, changes in appetite, loose teeth, or other changes in your pet's mouth, don't wait for the problem to become painful.

📞 Call Manning Veterinary Clinic at 780-836-3770
📱 Text us at 1-866-709-3601

Because when it comes to your pet's health, we believe in looking a little closer — and making every effort to ensure nothing is missed. 🐶🐱🦷❤️