Dental chews are a part of my daily dog mom routine. Wynston, Khloee and McKenzie Rae all have nice teeth and I credit it to keeping them on a strict dental regiment. I admit I’m not the best at cleaning my dog’s teeth, but I do hand out “dentals” every single morning. Wynston is seven years old and he still doesn’t have periodontal disease. A whopping 80% of dogs and cats have the onset of periodontal disease by the time they are three years old. Wynston did have to have a few teeth removed due to a baby tooth that still existed and caused two teeth to grow in abnormally, but it wasn’t initiated by poor dental health. My secret is daily dental chew. Here are what I consider to be the best dental chews for small dogs.
Best Dental Chews for Small Dogs
*Please keep in mind that I am not a veterinarian. I am an experienced dog mom and I’ve seen success with the following products. Affiliate links are present.*
Pedigree Dentastix
I know, I know. You’re cringing at the sight of “Pedigree.” There’s a lot of negativity surrounding that brand name and while I wouldn’t feed my animals that food, I swear by Pedigree Dentastix. They are the favorite of Khloee, McKenzie Rae and Wynston, and they are scientifically proven to be one of the best dental chews on the market. They are inexpensive, soft and small. I’ve been giving Wynston a Dentastix everyday for almost six years, and his teeth are in great condition! I give my kids the toy/small size. I also like Dentastix because you can buy them almost anywhere – even grocery stores like Walmart and Fry’s.
Greenies
My second favorite dental chews are Greenies. I like to give them to my dogs every now and then just to switch it up, but I mostly stick to Dentastix. Greenies are a little more pricey, but they also come in several sizes and are veterinarian recommended. Khloee and McKenzie get the “petite” size and Wynston gets the “teenie” size.
Whimzees
Whimzees are another great option for dogs. They are an all natural, healthy, vegetable based and gluten free chew that helps remove plaque and tartar as your dog chews. My dogs don’t like them as much as Greenies and Dentastix, but they are a good third choice! I also like that they come in fun shapes. My dogs eat the extra small size. Wynston and I stopped by the Whimzees booth at SuperZoo 2018, where I even got to taste test my own Whimzee…but it was chocolate 😉
SmartBones
SmartBones aren’t necessarily a dental chew, but they offer a fantastic alternative to rawhide or plastic bones. I absolutely swear by SmartBones, as they are 100% rawhide-free and made with real chicken. They are completely edible, while giving your dog a fun task to take on. Chewing in general can help your dogs dental health, and SmartBones are the best option in my dog mom opinion. I buy the mini size for Wynston because he has a tiny mouth!
Do you give your dog dental chews? What brands do you prefer?
I have the greatest dog in the whole wide world and we adopted her 🙂 We may not have been 100% prepared for all that came with having a dog but we adjusted very quickly and she’s the happiest healthiest doggy! Great post and such important info for anyone considering getting a dog!
I always give my dogs dental chews. They love it and I think it’s a good compliment to their regular oral care. I have been using Dentastix for many years. I also really like the other ones you mentioned as well as Merrick Fresh Kisses. My only issue is that I have a small dog and a large dog so I have to always keep two sizes handy!
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them