Yes, dental chews can be safe and effective for dogs, but it depends on choosing high-quality, vet-approved products, ensuring they're the right size and texture for your dog, and always providing supervision to prevent choking or swallowing large chunks. Look for VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) approval and avoid hard bones, rawhide, or overly artificial chews that pose risks like broken teeth or intestinal blockages.
While dental chews don't replace professional cleanings, they help support daily care by controlling the accumulation of harmful bacteria. In addition to better oral hygiene, consistent use of dog dental chews can contribute to fresher breath and a more comfortable mouth for your pet.
Luckily, reducing your pet's risk for periodontal disease can be as simple as giving your dog a dental chew every day. Dental chews offer several benefits, including: Less Plaque. Dental chews offer an effective way to reduce plaque on teeth.
Recommendations for Dental Chews for Dogs that Benefit Oral Health:
Avoid dried pig ears and hard bones — in addition to high fat content (which could push some dogs into pancreatitis), hard chews, hard plastic bones, sterilized beef bones or cow hooves are likely to cause tooth fractures and other problems.
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The leading cause of death in dogs, especially older dogs, is cancer (neoplasia), affecting about 1 in 4 dogs, similar to humans, with specific breeds at higher risk. Other significant causes include old age, heart disease, digestive disorders (like bloat), infectious diseases (like Parvo), and trauma, with sterilization influencing risks for cancer and infections.
Dental chews, powders and chew bones
This is because the action of chewing helps stimulate a dog's gums and breaks down plaque that could be building up on the teeth. To continue the fight against tartar and plaque, we also have our Dental Powder for dogs.
Vets often advise caution with bully sticks due to risks like choking hazards, potential for digestive blockages, high calories/fat (risking obesity/pancreatitis), and potential bacterial contamination, especially from less regulated sources; however, many vets do recommend them in moderation with supervision, emphasizing size and quality.
Regularly brushing your pet's teeth is the single most effective thing you can do to keep their teeth healthy between dental cleanings, and may reduce the frequency or even eliminate the need for periodic dental cleaning by your veterinarian.
When your dog swallows a dental chew whole or in large chunks, you lose most of the dental benefits—and potentially create serious health risks. This behavior is especially dangerous with dental chews because large pieces can become choking hazards or cause intestinal blockages that may require emergency surgery.
How to Clean Your Dog's Teeth Without Brushing
The 90/10 rule for dogs means 90% of their daily calories should come from a complete, balanced dog food, while only 10% should come from treats, training rewards, and any extra human foods or toppers, preventing nutritional imbalances and obesity. This guideline ensures essential vitamins and minerals are met through their main diet, keeping treats as occasional indulgences rather than dietary staples.
The 2-2-2 rule in dentistry is a simple guideline for good oral hygiene: brush twice a day, for two minutes each time, and visit your dentist twice a year, helping to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems by establishing consistent habits for plaque removal and professional monitoring.
Dental wipes are effective in removing plaque and tartar from a dog's teeth. These wipes gently rub each tooth in a circular motion to remove calcium that hardens into plaque or tartar. Dental chews are dog dental products enriched with natural enzymes that aid in softening and removing tartar.
Raw carrots and broccoli stalks are excellent natural options for maintaining dental health. Their firm texture acts like a toothbrush, scrubbing away plaque as your pet chews. These vegetables are also packed with nutrients: Carrots: Rich in vitamin A for immune support and healthy vision.
The healthiest dog chews are often natural, single-ingredient options like bully sticks, collagen chews, trachea chews, kangaroo wings, or dried fish, offering protein and dental benefits, while dental chews (VOHC-approved) fight plaque; carrots, goat horns, or frozen Kongs are great alternatives, but always supervise chewing and avoid hard, cooked bones or antlers that can splinter.
Three toxic types of meat for dogs include fatty, processed meats (like bacon, sausage, ham) due to salt/fat causing pancreatitis and sodium issues; seasoned meats with onions/garlic (allium) that damage red blood cells; and cooked bones, which splinter and cause internal damage or blockages, potentially requiring surgery. Raw meats can also carry harmful bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli.
We do not recommend dogs be given antlers, hard bully sticks or Nylabones as these have the potential to fracture and break teeth resulting in the need for tooth extraction and/or root canal therapy.
The "3-3-3 dental rule" usually refers to two different things: a hygiene habit (brush 3x a day, 3 mins each, change brush every 3 months) or a temporary pain relief method for toothaches (3 ibuprofen tablets, 3 times a day, for 3 days). The hygiene rule promotes better cleaning, while the pain rule manages inflammation until a dentist can be seen, but the medication rule requires caution and should be discussed with a doctor.
Some of the short snout dog breeds at risk for dental disease in this category include Bulldogs, Dogue de Bordeaux, Bullmastiff, Chow Chow, Neapolitan Mastiff, Boxer, Boston Terrier, Shar-Pei, Shih Tzu, English Toy Spaniel, Brussels Griffon, and the Affenpinscher, to name a few.
Ways to Keep Your Dog's Teeth Clean
"Silent killer" in dogs usually refers to deadly diseases that progress with few early symptoms, primarily Heartworm, Hemangiosarcoma (a type of cancer), and sometimes Leptospirosis or Canine Parvovirus, all characterized by vague initial signs, rapid progression, and severe organ damage, making prevention and early detection crucial.
The sound your dog made might have been due to an involuntary reflex or a sudden surge of adrenaline or pain at the moment of passing. This can happen quite rapidly and is sometimes associated with underlying conditions like heart issues or a sudden seizure.
Sudden Bursts of Energy: It's not uncommon for dogs to have a sudden burst of energy before they pass away. This phenomenon, often called the “last bloom” or “rally,” can be confusing and misleading, giving pet owners false hope of recovery.