Whimzees vs. Greenies (Best Dog Dental Treats)

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Why Should You Use Dental Dog Treats?

When it comes to taking care of your dog’s health, one aspect that is often overlooked by owners is dental care. Just like humans, dogs run the risk of having dental diseases such as bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, irritated gums, and tartar buildup. Without the proper care, these dental diseases will take over. That’s why dental care is just as important to your dog’s overall health as any other health concern or priority. Dental dog treats help prevent oral issues by encouraging chewing, which promotes greater saliva production in your dog’s mouth. The more saliva your dog produces, the harder it is for bad bacteria to settle on your dog’s teeth. The mechanical way that these treats work in your dog’s mouth is similar to how we brush our own teeth.

Aside from health reasons, every owner loves to receive those sweet, doggy kisses – but could definitely do without the not-so-sweet dog breath that comes along with it, right? In this case, dental treats serve as an efficient and easy way to keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy. Not only are they an essential part of your dog’s oral health, they are also great for your dog’s overall diet. These treats provide an easy alternative to brushing your dog’s teeth. They also allow you to keep your dog’s teeth healthy in between veterinarian appointments and professional cleanings. It doesn’t take long for your dog’s mouth to start producing a foul odor and bacteria, which is why freshening their breath with dental treats is a must! Dental dog treats promote fresh breath, prevent tartar, and help with your dog’s overall healthy diet. The bottom line is every owner wants to make sure their dog is their healthiest and happiest. To fully achieve this, taking care of their oral health is key!

Whimzees vs. Greenies (Best Dog Dental Treats)

What are Dental Dog Treats?

Think of dental dog treats as the chewing gum for dogs. These treats promote chewing and have boosted cleaning abilities. What distinguishes dental dog treats from other treats are the ingredients. Dental dog treats are going to be formulated specially for cleaning your dog’s teeth and maintaining oral health. For that reason, almost all dental treats will contain some sort of glycerin, plant extract, starch, powdered cellulose, yeast, or a form of calcium. In addition to that, most dental dog treats are produced in unique shapes that work to remove plaque and tartar. The shape alone does a great deal of mechanical cleaning that normal treats do not. Just like any other packaged dog food, dental dog treats are made in a factory and are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA ensures that every list of ingredients is accurate, and that the health claims each brand makes are truthful. Every brand must provide evidence for their products’ claims. You can rest easy knowing that these regulations and standards are put in place to ensure that what you see is what you get. Nevertheless, it is also very important to monitor what your dog eats and how they react to it, to ensure you are staying on top of their sensitivities and dietary needs.

How to Pick the Best Dental Dog Treat

Picking the best dental dog treat is similar to how we pick out a toothbrush and toothpaste. You want to be sure to weigh your options and choose the brand that is best suited for your dog. There are so many choices of dental dog treats, and it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which one will be the best for your dog. All of the treats are designed and proven to do the same thing – promote your dog’s oral health – but a few key factors will help distinguish the many brands from one another and help you make your decision.

There are many things to be aware of when looking for the best dental treats for dogs. To start, be sure to read the ingredients list very carefully to make sure there are no harmful ingredients that could irritate your dog or mess with their diet. This is especially important if your dog has food sensitivities or allergies. Next, you want to be sure that it is actually going to work. To know if it is going to do the job, it should meet the following criteria, at the very least: free of harmful ingredients, will not cause harm to your dog in any way, work efficiently to clean your dog’s teeth and gums, remove plaque and tartar buildup, and improve your dog’s breath. These are the bare minimum requirements that your dental dog treats should meet. In addition to these, you can also look at hardness, texture, shape, and the variety of choices that the brand offers. These will also determine the best brand for you and your dog. Along with looking for these requirements yourself, it may be beneficial to also consult authority dental dog treat reviews by the FDA or the Veterinarian Oral Health Council. By weighing these aspects and more, you can make a more educated decision on which brand will be best for your dog.

Different Options

Among the many options on the market for dental dog treats, we will be looking at the top four authority brands. These brands are Whimzees, Greenies, Pedigree Dentastix, and Merrick Fresh Kisses. For each of these brands we will weigh the pros and cons and perform an in-depth review of the product to help you understand each brand and make your decision.

Pedigree Dentastix ‘Fresh Bites’ Dental Treats

Pedigree is a widely known dog food and treat company that has upheld its reputation for decades. They are a top brand in the industry for delivering quality products that owners know they can trust. This highly reputable brand produces their Dentastix in a range of sizes for every type of dog breed or weight. Their product is produced in an x-shape that works to clean teeth, prevent plaque and tartar buildup, and freshen breath with their triple action design.

Why This Product?

Dentastix have a chewy texture, are mint flavored, and contain ingredients that are specifically formulated to fight against plaque and bacteria on your dog’s teeth and gums. Their triple action design covers the main bases for oral health and ensure that your dog’s teeth will be cleaned and left with fresher breath. They do not have any artificial colors or flavors and are low in calories if you are trying to watch your dog’s weight.

Facts About this Product

This product’s unique x-shape and triple action formula has proven to clean teeth, reduce plaque and tartar, and freshen breath. They also contain a good amount of vitamins, minerals, and protein to promote a healthy diet. They also have grain-free options for dogs with gluten allergies or food sensitivities.

What to Watch Out For

Dentastix can not claim to be all-natural. There have also been claims of some dogs having choking issues with these treats. These treats can cause diarrhea in some dogs, especially younger dogs, so be sure to watch for food allergies or sensitivities that could cause this.

Nutrition

Dentastix do have a rather long ingredients list. The first few ingredients listed on the packaging are as follows: rice flour, wheat starch, glycerin, gelatin, gum Arabic, calcium carbonate, natural poultry flavor, powdered cellulose, sodium tripolyphosphate, iodized salt, potassium chloride, and vitamins (more are listed on the package after this). While they can not claim to be all-natural, they still contain vitamins, minerals, and proteins that are great for promoting a healthy diet. A few important ingredients include green tea extract and folic acid, which help with promoting a healthy coat and nails. They are a lower calorie option and do not contain any artificial colors or flavors. Their grain-free option is also a great alternative if your dog is sensitive to gluten.

Sizes/Variety

Dentastix are all produced with the same x-shape design; however, they do come in a variety of sizes to cater to every dog size. They also come in various flavors, including original, fresh, beef, bacon, and chicken.

Manufacturing

Dentastix are manufactured in the United States and Canada.

Benefits and Features (Pros)

Unique triple action design
Works well to freshen dog’s breath
Quality ingredients that fight plaque and bacteria
Very easy to digest
Chewy texture helps get into crevices and clean teeth and gums
Great as a daily dental hygiene routine
Grain-free options for dogs with gluten allergies or food sensitivities
Very affordable
Many options for different types of treats and packaging sizes
Variety of flavors

Problems (Cons)

Has more artificial ingredients than other leading brands
Cannot claim to be all-natural
Only offers one shape of their treat
Some dogs have had choking issues with these treats
Can cause diarrhea in some dogs, especially puppies

Conclusion

Overall, Pedigree Dentastix are a highly reputable brand and approved widely by its consumers. While choking and diarrhea were reported in some dogs, that is likely to occur with any treat and is often a result of your dog’s food sensitivities and eating habits rather than just the treat itself. Be sure to monitor your dog no matter what they eat to make sure they are reacting well and intaking their treat properly. Dentastix are very affordable and offered in various flavors that dogs enjoy. They have earned their spot as an authority dental stick with their triple action formula that has proven to perform the top three objectives of dental dog treats: clean teeth, prevent plaque and tartar buildup, and freshen breath.

Where to Buy

Unlike the two previous brands, Dentastix has a variety of flavors that can be found on different sites. Amazon sells the original, fresh, beef, and variety pack options, while Chewy offers, in addition to those flavors, bacon, chicken, dual flavor, and grain free.

Merrick ‘Fresh Kisses’ All-Natural Double Brush Dental Treats

Merrick is the leading brand that started the movement towards all-natural ingredients with their dog treats. They perform innovative research that has shown what works best for dogs and gives them the healthiest diet possible. Merrick is a reputable brand and trusted by many pet owners. They are the healthiest dental chews for dogs with their unique formulation of all-natural ingredients.