What are the Best Dog Dental Chews? Top-Rated Dog Teeth Cleaning Sticks & Treats in 2020
Dental chews are important for your dog’s oral health, and most importantly, it can help them with things such as bad habits, train them to stop chewing on your shoes and other items. In this guide, we’ll look at some of the best dental chews for dogs, because your dog needs to chew. That’s what they do!
What does chewing do for a dog? Believe it or not, chewing is actually your dog’s way of brushing its teeth. No matter what they’re chewing on, it increases saliva production and helps them clean their teeth of debris, plaque, and helps them fight bacteria. While contrary to the popular myth that dogs’ mouths are completely clean, being able to chew is something that helps dogs have smaller numbers of bacteria in their mouths compared to us humans though.
Best Dental Chews for Dogs
What to Look for in Dental Chews
Ingredients are of course a very important thing to consider when you’re getting your dog a dental chew. Not only that, but if the chew can’t dissolve, or is too hard, then it can cause problems that may require your pooch to go to the animal hospital. We don’t want that to happen, so you need to try getting a chew for your dog that your dog can’t handle.
When you’re looking for chews, you may want to make sure their ingredients aren’t going to harm your dog’s tummies as well. Some chews contain ingredients that contain possible allergens if your dog has a food allergy, while others may just be full of things like potato starch, which is great for cleaning plaque, but you have to keep in mind that all calories that are eaten by a dental chew does add to your pup’s daily calories. Make special note that if you choose to also brush your dog’s teeth with a doggy toothbrush, these chews are also meant to help with dental hygiene and are not an alternative for actually brushing your dog’s teeth.
Are There Safety Hazards?
The answer to this question is yes. Dog chews should never be given to your dog unsupervised (to a certain extent), and you should always consider various factors. Dog chews come in various sizes, shapes, and what’s most important is so is your dog. If you choose one that’s too big but can be chewed off in large chunks, they can hurt your dog.
If you choose one that’s too small for a big dog and they try to eat it whole, this can also do the same. You have to think about what’s right for your canine companion and give him or her the options to have a good chew toy that fits them. Fortunately, dog chews come in numerous sizes as mentioned above for this very reason, as well as different consistencies based on your dog’s size, strength, breed, and need.
Best Dog Dental Chews
We’ve compiled a list of 10 treats that hit our top list on the best dog chews that you can give your dog. These treats are literally the best of the best to us, and they’re based on numerous factors. In this list, we’re going to give you some information about each item, as well as some pros and cons of choosing this treat for your pet.
① Bones & Chews All-Natural Dental Chew Sticks
Bones & Chews chew sticks are made from all natural ingredients, and while they do contain meat literally for flavor, they’re a great chew stick to give your dog. They have a six-pointed shape that is similar to what you may remember seeing from Playdoh sets, but they’re a little harder of course. The texture is chewy and they’re optimized to help remove plaque and tartar from your dog’s teach, as well as have a flavor that most dogs love. There are no added sugars in these, and all of the ingredients are designed to be fully digestible to literally most dogs. If you have a smaller dog, you can break these sticks into smaller pieces, which even further multiplies your 32 pack of treats that you buy for a good price. They’re also an All-American product, which means that even the ingredients they make the product from (not just the production) from right here in the U.S.A.
Pros
- Completely manufactured in the United States.
- Vet recommended and easily digested by dogs.
- Great for all breeds of dogs.
- Can be broken up for smaller adult dogs.
- No preservatives or added sugars.
Cons
- Contain Wheat ingredients.
- Some users complained it was too easy for pet to eat.
- Some dogs don’t like them.
② Greenies Regular Dental Dog Treats
Greenies dental dog treats may be a little on the higher price-range, but they’re designed to give your dog optimal tooth and gum health, as well as even help freshen breath. Many dentists have been known to recommend this uniquely bone and toothbrush shaped treat made of all-natural ingredients. They’re also packed with healthy vitamins and minerals that your dog needs in order to get a daily dose of added nutrition, and are extremely high in crude protein. Note that these do contain wheat gluten and wheat flower, so if your dog does have a gluten allergy, you may want to pick something different in order to treat your pet. These treats are perfect for medium to larger breeds, and you get to choose numerous options when it comes to the amount you want to purchase.
Pros
- Great treat for medium-sized dog breeds.
- Vet recommended.
- Made of high quality ingredients.
- Does not contain any meat by-products (other than gelatin).
- Contains many nutrients that aid your pet’s health.
Cons
- Not suitable for other sized breeds.
- Your dog may not like the flavor.
- Contains mint.
- Not gluten free.
③ SmartBones Skin & Coat Care Chicken Chews Dog Treats
SmartBones is a unique rawhide chew that can do more than just treat your dog’s dental health. It can also help your dog keep their skin and their fur coat as healthy as possible also, which is a great and important thing that your dog can benefit from. These chews are created from real food ingredients that most dogs can easily digest, and even though they are consistently processed with corn and chicken, they contain a plethora of vitamins and nutrients your dog can benefit from. With 4 percent crude protein, they’re a great addition to your dog treat arsenal, and are also available for a great low price. Not only that, but this is one of the treats on the list that is literally perfect for all breeds from small all the way to larger breeds. Since they’re made of rawhide, it may actually even last a little bit for your larger dog and you run less of a risk of them trying to swallow it whole.
Pros
- Made with real meat and vegetable ingredients.
- Rawhide chew lasts a long time which helps for heavy chewers.
- Loaded with vitamins your dog needs.
- Many users love this product (and dogs too).
- Affordable price for the volume you get.
Cons
- Primary ingredients are corn and chicken.
- Made in Vietnam and not the United States.
- Some dogs don’t like the texture.
④ Dr. Lyon’s Grain-Free Large Dental Dog Treats
This 24-count package is a great bone-shaped dog treat for your dog. They’re more of a firm consistency like the Greenie’s dog treats, but they are also a unique shape which has special edged designs to benefit your dog as much as possible. They’re grain-free, which is something that people are being more and more concerned about in recent years for their dogs. Not only that, but because they’re made with potato and pea protein, they are a great vegetarian treat for your pet, which makes them perfect for those who are wanting to feed vegetarian only products. They also contain peppermint oil (in a very small amount) so they can help to give your dog minty fresh breath that actually lasts, and are a great gift for large breed dogs. They are also manufactured in the U.S.A. even though some of the ingredients are imported.
Pros
- Dr. Lyon’s is actually veterinarian recommended.
- States to contain no actual chicken in the flavoring
- Product is manufactured in the United States.
- Does not contain any meat by-products (other than gelatin).
- Can be broken in half for smaller dogs.
Cons
- Contains peppermint oil.
- Is not enriched with extra vitamins.
- Some dogs won’t eat it. Not for picky eaters.
⑤ Pedigree Dentastix Large Original Dog Treats
Pedigree Dentastix have been around for a long time, which is one of the many reasons that they are on this list. But another big thing about them is that they are another vet-recommended product that has a special X-shape that helps your dog remove plaque along with their special texture, which helps to scrape that tartar off of your pet’s teeth and massage their gums properly. By being made by pedigree, you can rest assured that it is healthy in many cases. They are primarily made of rice flower, and even though they have natural poultry flavor, the only ingredient that can be considered to be made from animal protein is gelatin, making them a wonderful and healthy vegetarian chew for your dog that has the added benefit of numerous vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals your dog needs.
Pros
- Pedigree is a well-known and certified brand that people love.
- Soft and pliable, and can be broken into smaller pieces.
- Available in multiple sizes and package options.
- Completely American made.
Cons
- The treats are not grain free.
- Flavor is made of actual poultry (not for dogs with allergies).
- Not veterinarian approved.
- Not meant for smaller dogs.
⑥ DentaLife Daily Oral Care Small/Medium Dental Dog Treats
DentaLife is a Purina product that is great for smaller pooches, and even medium-sized dogs. They’re chicken flavored naturally with organic chicken meal, and they are designed with a unique cog-straw like shape that can help get your pet’s teeth and gums healthy while scrubbing away plaque and tartar that may furthermore hurt your dog’s dental hygiene. Because they’re made from natural ingredients, the combined chewing of these affordable treats are proven to help your dog freshen their breath so that they are perfectly kissable. It has even been known to help your dog regain the fresh breath that you once knew and loved (what dog lover doesn’t enjoy puppy breath and clean breath from their dog?) it is made in the U.S.A., and you get a 1.79-pound bag of the treat, which can actually last your dog a while.
Pros
- Great treat for small and medium dogs.
- Purina is an extremely popular trusted brand.
- Dental Life is similar to the Beneful formula many dogs loved.
- Veterinarian approved product.
Cons
- This treat is meant for small dogs, but other sizes are available.
- Some pets may have problems digesting them.
- These treats pose a choking hazard.
- Dog may have a hard time chewing it.
⑦ OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews for Dogs
OraVet provides a 30-day supply of these unique dental hygiene chews that uses a special ingredient that even humans use in small amounts called delmopinol that has a special antimicrobial effect, and even helps to remove plaque and tartar extensively. No other pet treat uses this, and it is instructed to only give your pet one of these a day. Every chew is made primarily of pork protein, wheat, and soy, so if your pet is allergic to gluten or soy, or has a meat allergy, you may want to pick an item earlier on this list. However, for many small breeds, this isn’t an issue, and is a perfect treat for them. The other ingredients they use for color are chlorophyll, parsley flakes, and alfalfa, and corn oil, so it’s important to keep an eye on your dog’s stools. When your pet takes this product, they may have to adjust in order to get through it, but once they do, you can assure your dog has the best oral hygiene it can get!
Pros
- Available in 14 or 30-day supply.
- Greatly removes plaque and tartar compared to most treats.
- Only pet product of its kind to use delmopinol.
- 100 percent American-made products.
- Highly rated by customers.
Cons
- A little more expensive than some treats.
- May cause diarrhea or digestive issues.
- Some pets won’t like these or eat them.
- Some users have reported products that went bad in the package.
⑧ Virbac C.E.T. VeggieDent Fr3sh Tartar Control Dog Chews
Virbac offers special dog chews with their Veggiedent treats that are perfectly optimized for your pooch with all natural ingredients. It is a great snack for dogs that are on a primarily vegan diet, as it contains no animal by-products at all, and has plenty of protein and fats that your dog needs. Your dog can enjoy chewing on their Z-shaped treat and one of the “scrubbing” ingredients in it are perfect, and your pet can chew on these for a while since they have the consistency of a rawhide treat. Another great factor is that since the company is headquartered in the U.S.A., these treats are manufactured in a US approved facility by the company in Vietnam, while other treats are in another factory in up to 10 different countries that Virbac is known for having worldwide.
Pros
- Excellent hard chews are meant to last longer than soft treats.
- Completely vegan product. Great for vegan dogs.
- This product is sugar free.
Cons
- Contains artificial sweeteners Sorbitol and Erythritol.
- Some dogs cannot digest it well.
- Corn starch and Soy protein are the main ingredients.
- Not meant for smaller dogs.
⑨ Milk-Bone Original Brushing Chews Daily Dental Dog Treats
Milk-Bone is one of the primary leaders and have been around for decades when it comes to dog treats. They’ve created their original brushing chews specifically for your pet’s dental hygiene in mind. These semi-chewy treats are approved by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council), and are designed with natural ingredients, and essential nutrients that your furry friend needs. The design of the Bone Treat is meant for larger dogs, and is actually patented to brush your pet’s gums and teeth with little round nubs on each end of the bone. This particular treat is available in sizes for all dog breeds and sizes as well for an affordable price.
Pros
- Milk Bones is a veteran dog treat brand.
- Enriched with vitamins and minerals to keep your dog healthy too.
- Helps fight plaque and is made of quality ingredients.
- Many dogs love this product and the flavor.
Cons
- Some dogs chew these too fast.
- Some dogs don’t like the flavor of these.
- Chewy. Can break into tiny pieces easily.
⑩ Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wild Bones Large Dental Chews Grain-Free Dog Treats
Number 10 on our list is Blue Buffalo Wilderness chews. These are optimized for larger dog breeds and comes in either a 10-oz package or a 27-oz package. These tasty dog treats are completely grain free, and made of tapioca starch, whey, vegetable glycerin, potatoes, pea protein and more. It’s also packed with Omega 3 Fatty acids your dog needs to have in its diet. You don’t want to use these bones for smaller dogs or puppies, and they should have drinking water available at all times. The shape of these treats is primarily designed to look like a regular bone, but the texture is perfect for your pet as it scrubs their plaque away while being easily digested by your pet.
Pros
- Great for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
- Soft treat is easy to chew for your dog.
- Completely vegetarian.
- Does not contain any gluten, soy, corn, or poultry by-products.
Cons
- Is not enriched with ingredients.
- Some dogs have issues digesting potatoes.
- Dried whey means they contain dairy.
Conclusion & What are the Best Dental Chews for Dogs
The best overall treat that we’ve found is Bones & Chews Natural Chews (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE). Many people (despite the directions and intentions of the product) actually break these into pieces for their smaller dogs and are just fine, not to mention the reviews are nearly all positive (and there are hundreds of them). That speaks volumes in that sense. Not only that, but we’ve tried a couple of these, and our dogs seem to love those more than most brands that don’t actually taste natural to them. Mind you, our dogs are not vegan, but these treats are definitely worth the number one spot to us.
