Everyone knows that their favorite pupper needs a proper dental cleaning once a year just like their human partners, along with having their teeth brushed at least two to three times each week.
One way to help maintain your pet’s oral health is dental treats.
“Dental treats are designed to help reduce plaque or tartar, helping to keep your dog’s mouth healthy,” cofounder and chief veterinary officer, Dr. Zay Satchu, at Bond Vet in Brooklyn, New York, told The Dodo. “And as an added bonus, dental treats can help freshen up your pup’s breath — which makes it much more pleasant to enjoy your dog’s kisses.”
And while all dental treats focus on the same areas of oral hygiene, some feature ingredients that clean teeth and freshen breath while others provide vitamins and nutrients to your doggo.
It is recommended that pets chew treats for over than two minutes as a general rule.
And as some dental chews can be high in fat, your dog’s physical health should also be taken into consideration when choosing a tasty treat.
“Search for quality ingredients and a low fat content that won’t interfere with your dog’s meal plan or dietary health,” Dr. Zay shared. “Plus, the treats are still an indulgence, so limit the number of treats you feed to your dog.”
Dr. Zay continued on, sharing how dental treats are no substitute for brushing your dog’s teeth — the most effective way to remove the plaque that can cause tooth decay and gum disease.
“Brushing your dog’s teeth is the gold standard of care,” Dr. Zay said.
And while the search for the perfect dental treats can be overwhelming, we have a few below that come veterinarian recommended to help maintain your sweet pup’s breath.
Greenies
Greenies feature a texture that cleans all the way down to the gumline, fighting plaque as well as tartar along with freshening breath. In addition, they come in a large range of sizes so you can quickly find a chew that your dog can consume safely.
“These are praised for their size variety and easily digestible ingredients,” Dr. Zay said.
You can purchase them from Amazon for $14.98+.
Carrots
Carrots surprisingly are very important for your dog’s oral health. With carrots being high in fiber and vitamins, they also clean the surface of your dog’s teeth as they chew on them.
“Carrots are all-natural, feature a single ingredient and can be frozen for a little extra toughness,” Dr. Zay said.
You can purchase them from Fresh Direct for $5.99.
OraVet
These OraVet treats are formulated with delmopinol which helps with loosening and dislodging plaque while your dog chews them.
“The chews are specifically designed to clean and protect from plaque-causing bacteria and they are Veterinary Oral Health Council [VOHC] approved,” Dr. Zay said. And even better, you can get them for just $11.59+.