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Offering your dog a daily dental chew can be a great way to promote oral health.
Dental sticks can not only remove plaque and tartar build up, they can freshen breath, and they are a great way to keep your pup occupied and mentally stimulated.
Let's face it, most dogs simply love to chew stuff and it's a totally natural behaviour for them. If you don't provide a natural outlet for this behaviour then they can often resort to chewing sofas, furniture, rugs and of course your favourite slippers.
Dental chews offer a safe and very satisfying outlet for your dog's chewing instinct.
Plus, if you struggle to clean your dog's teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste, dental chews offer a great back-up plan. Dental chews will never be as good as a toothbrush, but they can certainly help and are a valuable addition to your dog's oral care.
We've handpicked a selection of the most popular dog dental chews on the UK market for a side-by-side test and comparison.
We'll offer you information on the type of chew, size, ingredients, durability and the price band. You can then decide which you feel is the best dog dental chew for your dog.
APRIL 2024 : UPDATE After a new round of testing, we've added Pooch & Mutt Mini dental sticks designed for small breeds to our round-up |
IN THIS ARTICLE
Dog Dental Chew Buying Guide
Before you buy, here are a few things to look for to ensure you're getting the best dental stick for your dog :-
Size
Not wanting to state the obvious, but some chews are designed for small dogs, while others are designed for large dogs.
It is important to choose a chew that is the right size for your dog. You should also consider your dog's chewing style. If your dog is an aggressive chewer, maybe select a chew that is durable enough to withstand their chewing for a bit longer.
We include dental sticks designed specifically for small breeds too.
Ingredients
Let's talk transparency. Look for a brand of dog dental chews with a comprehensive list of ingredients.
Ideally opt for 100% natural ingredients and be aware that some are with grains and others offer a grain-free option which could be an important factor if you have a dog with a sensitive tummy.
Texture
The texture of the chew is an important factor in its effectiveness. A good dental chew should have a slightly rough texture that can help remove plaque and tartar buildup from a dog's teeth.
The texture should not be too hard, as this can damage a dog's teeth, nor should it be too soft, as this may not effectively clean the teeth.
Some dental chews have a unique pattern of ridges or nubs that can help scrape away plaque and tartar whilst massaging gums.
Your Budget
Dog dental chews can range in price from a few pence to a few pounds. It is important to choose a chew that fits your budget. We'll provide an indication of price and any money saving discount codes we can offer.
Age Suitability
If you've got a young dog, we've indicated the minimum age that each dog chew is suitable for. Be aware these vary for each brand.
Our Picks of the Best Dental Chews for Dogs
1. Best Dental Chew Range
Pooch & Mutt
Specifications :
Chew Size: 12.5cm x 2.5cm & MINIS 11.5cm x 1.3cm | Ingredients : All natural, grain free, plus vegan option | Texture : Rubbery | Pack Size : 7 sticks | Age : Suitable from 6 months | Price ££
Reasons to Buy :
🦷 Three variety options
🦷 Added functional ingredients
🦷 Peanut butter vegan option!
🦷 Two Sizes
Reasons to Avoid :
- Only available in a pack of 7
Pooch & Mutt offer a range of three vet approved daily dental sticks.
We love that each variety is formulated to not only promote oral hygiene but they also contain specific functional ingredients to help in other areas of health.
Their Calming dental sticks are formulated with lean chicken alongside hemp and sage. Known to naturally reduce stress and high in anti-oxidants to reduce the bacterial load so they make the best dental sticks for anxious dogs.
The Superfood dental sticks are formulated with chicken plus spirulina and mint, functional ingredients which offer additional support and help maintain optimal health and fresh breath.
And our favourite, their new Peanut Butter Dental Sticks. Totally plant powered, these vegan dental sticks are ideal for those dogs with sensitive tummies or poultry allergies.
All the varieties are supplemented with SHMP (sodium hexametaphosphate) which is used by human dentists to prevent tartar formation and staining.
The unique star shapes allow the teeth to grip easily and get into the smaller spaces between your dogs teeth.
We found the super chunky, star shaped chews were at the larger end of the scale, so you could simply break them in half for smaller breeds or take a look at their newly launched Dental Stick Minis aimed at small breeds.
Dog lovers with little dogs often get a raw deal when buying treats, so we love that these new Minis have been specifically designed for small breeds. Importantly, they're shorter in length and width so are perfect for smaller mouths nevertheless they they aren't star-shaped.
Our Verdict - All of the above adds up to mean that we think Pooch & Mutt's dental range is a great place to start if you're looking for a high quality yet affordable dental chew for your dog. We're big fans of Pooch & Mutt's health focused treats and their range of dental sticks are no exception. |
Buying Options
Save 20% OFF Pooch & Mutt
Enter SMARTBARK20 at checkout
2. Best Value Dental Chews
Forthglade
Specifications :
Chew Size: 14cm x 3cm | Ingredients : Plant based, grain free | Texture : Chewy | Pack Size : 5 Sticks | Age : Suitable from 1 year | Price £
Reasons to Buy :
🦷 Great value
🦷 Grain Free
🦷 Plant based option
🦷 Herbal scent
Reasons to Avoid :
- Only one variety/size
Forthglade's dental sticks won the 2023 Your Dog magazine's Best Health Product Award as voted for by dog lovers, so they are clearly a big hit.
These totally plant based dental sticks have been developed by vets.
Ultimately they are grain free so ideal for dogs with sensitive tummies and have added peppermint and eucalyptus to help freshen breath.
Each stick is 92 calories and they're available in resealable packs of 5.
One large size, they are designed to be broken into smaller pieces depending on the size of your dog.
The small pack size option offers a great opportunity to try the dental sticks before you commit to buying a lot.
We found that although they had a fairly rigid, slightly spongy texture, they were easy to break by hand before offering. In testing, the softer Forthglade dental sticks lasted well with a medium sized dog.
However, our larger Labrador tester devoured them much quicker than the firmer Pooch & Mutt and Whimzees dental sticks.
Smell wise, they were a welcome change to the more meaty smelling dental sticks on the market which can quite frankly pong a bit !
Our Verdict : In short, we think Forthglade dental sticks are an award winning, great value option for small to medium dogs. |
Buying Options
For 15% OFF
enter SMARTBARK15 at checkout
3. Best Dental Stick Bundle
Soopa
Specifications :
Chew Size: 12cm x 1.5cm | Ingredients : All natural, vegan | Texture : Chewy | Pack Size : 4 Sticks | Age : Suitable from 6 months | Price £££
Reasons to Buy :
🦷 100% natural ingredients
🦷 Hypoallergenic
🦷 Grain free
🦷 5 flavours included
Reasons to Avoid :
- Only one variety/size
Some dental sticks like the range from Soopa, are not only natural, healthy and delicious but low calorie too. So you can treat without the guilt!
The benefits don't stop there ! Offering plant-based dental sticks helps reduce your pup's carbon pawprint. So they're a great choice for your pup and the planet.
It's their range of recipes with superfood ingredients that make them stand out from the crowd -
🍌 Banana & Peanut Butter
🍎 Apple & Blueberry
🎃 Carrot & Pumpkin
🥬 Kale & Apple
🥥 Coconut & Chia Seed
🍠 Cranberry & Sweet Potato
Soopa also offer a dental stick aimed at young puppies and one formulated specifically for senior dogs.
In testing, we found these dental sticks are ideal for small to medium sized dogs. If you have a large breed dog we'd suggest taking a closer look at the Soopa Jumbo Dental Sticks which are available in a twin pack.
Much larger, they're designed for dogs over 25kg.
Whilst you can buy the dental stick packs individually, the Mixed Dental Stick Bundles work out better value for money. They're available in a 5 pack and a 10 pack bundle.
Our Verdict - We love that Soopa don't simply offer one dental stick solution. Their extensive range includes dental sticks suitable for adult dogs, Jumbo Sticks for large dogs, specific recipes for puppies and senior dogs. They also offer two great value Bundles. |
Buying Options
If you have an older dog, you may be interested in an article about how to best care for senior dogs written by vet Dr Lauren Davis BVSc MRCVS - Cherishing your Golden Years : Essential Tips for Senior Dog Care
4. Best Dental Chew Shapes
Whimzees
Specifications :
Chew Sizes: XS, S, M, L & XL | Ingredients : All natural, grain free, gluten free | Texture : Rigid | Pack Size : Multiple options | Age : Suitable from 9 months ( Puppy dental chews also available) | Price £££
Reasons to Buy :
🦷 Collection of shapes
🦷 Range of sizes
🦷 Long lasting
🦷 Not strong scent
🦷 Resealable packaging
Reasons to Avoid :
- At the pricier end of the scale
Whimzees are one of the best known dog dental chews.
Established way back in 2013 in the Netherlands, the company exclusively offer a comprehensive range of dog dental treats.
We love Whimzees as they are made with only 6 primary ingredients so you know exactly what you are giving your dog.
Their extensive range offers a selection of shapes and sizes to suit puppies through to extra large breed dogs.
For this side-by-side review we tested the more traditional Stix shapes, but previously we have tested and reviewed some of their more adorable shapes such as alligators, hedgehogs and toothbrushes.
The Stix were the most rigid texture of all the dental chews tested for this review and they also lasted the longest.
Their unique grooved shapes help work the chew into smaller spaces between your dogs’ teeth.
The only downside we found is that Whimzees are the most expensive dental chews tested hence they weren't awarded the top spot.
However they do offer a range of pack sizes from small to money-saving big variety packs, so you could try a small pack first.
Our Verdict - We'd recommend Whimzees particularly for extra large breed dogs who may simply inhale some of the other smaller, softer dental sticks available. They also offer a range designed specifically for puppies. |
Buying Options
5. Best Insect-Based Sticks
Grub Club
Specifications :
Chew Sizes: Small 9 x 1.5cm, Large 12cm x 2cm | Ingredients : Hemp, chamomile, peppermint, blueberries, apple & insect meal | Texture : Chewy | Pack Size : 7 | Age : Suitable from 9 months | Price £
Reasons to Buy :
🦷 Sizes for small & large breeds
🦷 Eco-friendly alternative
🦷 Contains ingredients with calming properties
Reasons to Avoid :
- Not the cheapest
NEW to the market and our review are Grub Club's dental sticks - Clean Teeth & Chill.
If you haven't heard of Grub Club, they are one of the next generation dog food companies using insect protein as an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to traditional proteins like meat and fish.
Opting for an insect-based product for your dog is a great way to lower your carbon pawprint.
Food, treats and dental sticks made with insect-protein are particularly suited to dogs with sensitive tummies and food allergies.
Hypoallergenic and grain free, essentially Grub Club's dental sticks are multi-purpose.
In addition to teeth cleaning, they contain additional ingredients such as hemp and chamomile with calming properties to help relax anxious dogs. Doubtless, they'll make the perfect distraction for anxious dogs in a thunderstorm or with those dreaded fireworks.
Available in two different sizes to suit every breed from Dachshunds to German Shepherds.
Each pack contains 7 star shaped sticks, designed to get into those hard to reach places in and around the teeth and gums.
Buying Options
6. Best Low Fat Dental Chews
Scrumbles
Specifications :
Chew Size: 8.5cm x 3cm | Ingredients : All natural, vegan | Texture : Crunchy | Pack Size : 7 Sticks | Age : Suitable from 9 weeks | Price ££
Reasons to Buy :
🦷 Baked for crunch
🦷 100% natural ingredients
🦷 Hypoallergenic
🦷 Herbal scent
Reasons to Avoid :
- Only one variety/size
Scrumbles Gnashers (we love the name), are an award-winning eco-friendly option.
They're a vegan dog dental chew wrapped in plastic free packaging, so you can look after your dog's teeth and the planet at the same time.
These grain free dental chews are formulated with slippery elm which is widely known for its powerful digestive properties.
Other ingredients including coconut oil and pumpkin seeds, add to the crunch of the Gnashers and help fight your dog's bad breath
They resemble biscuits rather than traditional dental sticks and are baked to deliver a crunch which will help naturally scrape away plaque.
We found that Scrumbles Gnashers lasted longer than most of the other dog dental dog chews tested.
At only 7 calories each, they are perfect for dogs with weight issues and you can be safe in the knowledge that you can offer a dental treat each day without significantly increasing your dog's calorie intake.
Buying Options
7. Best Budget Dental Chew
Dentastix
Specifications :
Chew Sizes: S,M & L ( M 14cm x 1.5cm) | Ingredients : Cereals, meat and animal derivatives | Texture : Rigid | Pack Size : 3, 5, 28, 56 | Age : Suitable from 4 months (Puppy Denta Tubo available) | Price £
Reasons to Buy :
🦷 Range of options
🦷 Range of sizes
🦷 Strong scent
Reasons to Avoid :
- Not grain free
- Vague ingredients list
A review of dog dental sticks wouldn't be complete without including Pedigree Dentastix.
Significantly cheaper than any of the other dog dental chews tested, they definitely deserve a place in this review.
In a cost of living crisis, price becomes even more of a deciding factor when buying food, treats and supplements for our four-legged friends.
Widely available in all large supermarkets, Dentastix are a hassle free addition to your weekly shop.
Nevertheless, for us, a good rule of thumb is that the more specific the label is, the better. It should be designed to be clear and easy to understand.
If a company is making a great product, it’s only natural to tell the customer exactly what's in it! We found the Dentastix labelling, well, very vague.
Chicken flavoured, cereals, derivatives of vegetable origin, meat and animal derivatives, to be honest, we are really none the wiser as to what Dentastix are made from.
On a positive note, they are very easy on the pocket, and are proven to reduce tartar build-up by up to 80%. Dentastix offer both daily and fresh daily options which have an active ingredient to help freshen your dogs breath.
Our Verdict - Pedigree Dentastix offer a low cost option for helping to keep your dog's teeth pearly white and their breath fresh |
Buying Options
Our Verdict
Ultimately dental chews can be a hugely beneficial addition to a dog's oral hygiene routine, but it's important to choose a high-quality product and if your dog has specific dietary needs, we'd recommend consulting your vet before introducing a new dental chew.
Undeniably Whimzees are a high quality option but unfortunately they also come with a matching price tag.
If you can't stretch to Whimzees then we would recommend taking a closer look at Pooch & Mutt, Forthglade, Scoopa or Grub Club, all four leading brands offer great tasting dental chews packed with natural ingredients.
FAQs
How often should I give my dog a dental chew?
Each of the brands featured in our review offers guidelines on their websites and packaging on how often to give your dog a dental chew. It's usually daily, with some of the brands suggesting that larger dogs should consume more than 1 a day.
What time of day should I give my dog a dental chew?
It's generally recommended to give your dog a dental chew after a meal. We tend to offer a dental chew after tea as we find that chewing the stick tends to calm Freddie at a time of day when we'd like him to relax with us.
Are dental chews enough for dogs?
Think of dog dental sticks more on a par with using a mouthwash. An effective addition to cleaning your teeth but you wouldn't replace brushing your own teeth with a mouthwash!
Dental Sticks are an excellent tool to keep your dogs teeth clean and breath fresh alongside regular brushing. They certainly don't claim to replace that all important teeth cleaning routine.
If you are looking to start a dental routine with your dog, why not take a look at our popular article - Best Plaque Removers for Dogs. We delve into the world of canine oral care and explore the best toothbrushes, toothpastes, water additives and powders that can help you get started on looking after those pearly whites.
What are the signs of dental problems in dogs ?
Dental problems can be a common issue for dogs, and it's important to recognise the signs so that you can address the problem before it becomes more serious.
🦷 Bad Breath
🦷 Difficulty Chewing
🦷 Swollen or Bleeding Gums
🦷 Loose or Missing Teeth
🦷 Excessive Drooling
🦷 Pawing at the Mouth
🦷 Changes in Behaviour
If you notice any of these signs in your dog, it's important to schedule an appointment with your vet for an oral examination and to discuss treatment options.
Almost all our products are sent to us by the companies involved and almost always as a result of our request. We only review the products we think are worth reviewing.
Thank you for dropping by and reading our review of the Best Dental Chews for Dogs.