Best Dental Chews for Dogs in the UK
PawPicked is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from links on this page.
We chose these three by reading their Amazon.co.uk listings against four questions. Does the listing show a full ingredient list? Is the chew sized for a clear weight band? Is the pack big enough for a daily habit? And are the claims attributed to a maker, or left floating? None of them is a cleaning tool in the way a toothbrush is, and none of the picks below is a medical product, but they differ enough that one will suit a given dog better than another.
A word on seals before the picks. Some chews carry the mark of the Veterinary Oral Health Council, which is a US body, and you will see it on American packaging and in some imported listings. It is not a UK scheme, and none of the three listings below mention it. In the UK you are mostly weighing manufacturer claims, so we have kept each claim attributed to the company making it.
Pedigree DentaStix Daily (medium): the most information on the page
Best for: owners who want to check ingredients and sizes before buying, and a dog in the 10 to 25kg band. The Pedigree DentaStix Daily chews for medium dogs come as a 105-stick pack, and the listing shows 4.8 out of 5 from 1,514 ratings at the time of writing.
The listing says the sticks are proven to reduce tartar build-up by up to 80% when fed daily, and that they were developed with vets and nutritionists at the Waltham Centre. Those are the maker's claims, and "up to" is the operative phrase. Listed ingredients are cereals, derivatives of vegetable origin, minerals (including 2.8% sodium tripolyphosphate), meat and animal derivatives (including dried chicken liver and dried beef liver), and oils and fats.
Main drawback: it is a multi-ingredient treat with cereals, meat and unspecified derivatives, so it is a poor fit for a dog with a known sensitivity to any of those. The listing gives no calorie figure, so count the sticks towards the daily allowance.
Whimzees Variety Box (small): the long, hard chew without meat
Best for: small dogs that finish a soft stick in seconds, or owners who want a vegetarian option. The Whimzees Variety Box in size small holds 56 pieces in mixed shapes, and the listing mentions crocodiles, sticks and toothbrush shapes. It shows 4.6 out of 5 from 19,729 ratings at the time of writing.
The ingredients listed are potato starch, glycerin, powdered cellulose, lecithin, yeast, malt extract, lupine, annatto extract colour and alfalfa extract. There is no meat on that list, and the listing describes the range as vegetarian and wheat free. It also claims the chews allow three times longer chewing time than competitors and clean plaque up to 80% better than other leading dental treats. Those comparisons come from the maker and the listing does not say what they were measured against.
Main drawback: these are firm chews, and lupine and malt extract are on the ingredient list, so a dog with sensitivities should be checked against it. The box is also the small size only, so check the maker's weight guidance, as the listing gives no weight band. If you have a dog who gulps chews, read our dental chew safety guide first.
Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Chews (medium): the vet-company option with the thinnest listing
Best for: owners who want a veterinary-company brand and are willing to read the pack for details. The Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews are listed for medium breeds, all life stages, in a 30-count carton, with 4.4 out of 5 from 2,042 ratings at the time of writing.
The listing is short: its one bullet says "enzymatic oral hygiene action". Enzymatic chews are generally described as using enzymes against the bacteria in plaque as well as the abrasion from chewing, but the page doesn't explain how this one works.
Main drawback: there is no ingredient list, no calorie figure, no feeding guidance and no measured claim on the listing. A 30-count carton also runs out sooner than the big DentaStix pack if you want a daily chew. Cost per day is the pack price divided by the days it lasts, and you should check the current price on Amazon before working it out.
How we would choose between them
Start with your dog's size and chewing style, not the brand. A medium dog is the natural match for DentaStix, since the listing gives a clear 10 to 25kg band. A small dog that you want occupied for longer is the obvious candidate for the Whimzees box, which the listing describes as hard chewing sticks with a solid structure. Virbac suits the owner who has been told by a vet to look for an enzymatic product.
Pack format matters too. A daily chew needs a pack that lasts, and the three differ: 105 sticks, 56 pieces and 30 chews. The Whimzees box is a variety pack, so the shapes vary, and some dogs will take to one shape more than another. None of the listings state how many chews a day are right for a dog of a given weight, so follow the pack and count each chew as a treat in the day's food.
Then check the ingredient list against anything your dog reacts to. This is the main reason the Virbac chews rank third: you cannot do the check from the listing. Our direct comparison of Virbac C.E.T. against DentaStix goes into that gap in more detail.
If nothing here matches your dog
Chews are the side dish, not the main course. Most vets put daily brushing first, and our guide to brushing your dog's teeth covers how to get started. If your dog has bad breath that has changed suddenly, red or bleeding gums, or seems to avoid chewing on one side, skip the chews and book a vet check, because a chew will not fix a painful tooth. A dog with a medical reason to avoid treats, such as a restricted diet or a weight problem, should have any new chew approved by the vet first.
Products in this article
Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.