If only the best is good enough for your dogs, then you need to know about OraVet Chews. Merial, the producers of Oravet Dental Hygiene Chews, launched these at the prestigious congress in 2015. So why do veterinary dental specialists recommend the OraVet dental hygiene chews for dogs? Does it make any difference to your dog’s dental health? And what do your dogs gets out of it?
OraVet chews improve canine dental health better than any other dog chew out there. And they have scientific proof to back this claim. Let’s find out more about OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews for dogs.
How Do OraVet Dental Chews Work?
OraVet dental hygiene chews work by disrupting the formation of plaque, so that it no longer sticks to the dogs’ teeth. This is an important action because if plaque is left in contact with the tooth surface for more than three days, it hardens into tartar.
It is the combination of bacteria-laden plaque and mineralized tartar, that inflames gums and causes bad breath. It eventually leads to gum recession and tooth loss in dogs.
Plaque is a bio-film. In other words, it’s a sticky substance made up of bacteria and organic slime. Dog plaque removal is particularly important because plaque acts as a shield for bacteria, protecting them from antibiotics and disinfectants. The delmopinol in OraVet dental hygiene chews disrupts plaque, reduces plaque formation and makes bacteria susceptible to attack.
Add this to the mechanical action of chewing on a mildly abrasive chew, and you get pretty close to the ideal action of brushing dogs’ teeth.
OraVet chews come in a variety of sizes, appropriate for different types of dog. To choose the right OraVet chew for your pet, go by their weight category.
Here are your options when you buy OraVet Chews on Amazon:
ORAVET Dental Chews for Extra Small Dogs, 3.5-9 lbs.
ORAVET Dental Chews for small to medium dog breeds between 10-24 lbs.
ORAVET Dental Chews for medium to large dog breeds between 25-50 lbs.
For even bigger dog breeds over 50 lbs.
Are OraVet Chews Safe?
The VOHC is an organization run by certified veterinary dental specialists. Their aim is to test which veterinary products work, and which don’t.
A seal of approval from the VOHC is your reassurance that the product is effective.
Bear in mind dry food has a much better cleaning effect on teeth than canned food!
Unlike many other dental chews, there is research data to compare the difference that OraVet dental hygiene chews make to your dog’s teeth, gums, and breath.
For this reason, OraVet can make a number of impressive claims about their dental chews, notably:
- They carry the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal of approval.
- OraVet dental hygiene chews are made by Merial. It is a drug company also famous for making , a truly effective flea spot-on.
- OraVet chews alone hold the veterinary patent to delmopinol, a substance proven effective in human mouthwashes.
To test the effectiveness of OraVet dental hygiene chews, the results were compared with dogs who were fed just dry food without tooth brushing.
The observations after giving one count of OraVet dental hygiene chews each day were:
- Plaque (the sludgy coating that is the precursor to tartar) formation on dog’s teeth was reduced by 50%.
- Tartar (the hard yellow-brown coating) formation was reduced by 50%.
Remember, these results were obtained with just one chew per day!
OraVet Chews Pros:
- The OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews carry VOHC seal of approval and are recommended by vets.
- Dogs love the flavor and texture of these chews. So these are an excellent choice for fussy dogs.
- Super effective in reducing bad dog breath, so very popular among dog owners.
- Great for routine dog dental care in between teeth cleaning sessions at the vet.
- Might be costly, but will surely help in minimizing dog teeth cleaning cost in the long-run.
OraVet Chews Cons:
- These chews won’t be effective if your dog just swallows them whole without chewing.
- OraVet chews can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs with sensitive stomach.
- Some buyers have reported that the size recommendations on the packaging are off.
- Have a shelf-life. Each individual chew must be fed immediately after opening the wrapper.
- These chews are expensive. You can find other cheaper options that are just as effective.
OraVet Dental Chews Ingredients
The effectiveness of OraVet Chews is in part due to the presence of , an ingredient present in the most sophisticated human mouthwashes.
To show just how good OraVet chews are, let’s digress a moment. Let’s look at the benefits of delmopinol to people, when comparing mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine vs. delmopinol.
In human trials [C] people had their teeth professionally cleaned and then instructed to stop brushing. For two weeks their only oral hygiene was a once daily swill with mouthwash.
Those using a mouthwash containing chlorhexidine had a rate of plaque recurrence of 88%, whilst those using delmopinol has just a 50% recurrence. Thus proving that delmopinol has a superior protective action over the next leading product (containing ) in people.
All of which shows that by choosing OraVet dental hygiene chews containing delmopinol, you can make a real and lasting contribution to promote better dental health for your dog.
How Often Should You Give OraVet Chews to Your Dog?
It’s best to consult your vet before giving these chews (or any other chews) to your dog. The usage instructions on the OraVet package suggest one chew each day.
You can also cut the chew into half or give it every other day to help your dog get used to it. But this is against the usage directions on the package!
Be careful not to overdose though! Feeding more chews than recommended is not going to get you faster results. It can cause health concerns.
If you follow the directions on the box properly, you’ll get the desired result.
OraVet Dental Chews Side Effects
OraVet dental chews seem to be well tolerated by most dogs. Some dog owners have reported that OraVet Chews caused their dogs to vomit. There is the odd dog that develops diarrhea. But this may be a case of not suiting that individual dog.
For some dogs there’s also the interesting outcome of producing green poop… but without any health concerns.
If your dog suffers from any of these OraVet dental chews side effects, try introducing them gradually. Start with one quantity of OraVet dental hygiene chews every week and increase the frequency over a period of time.
OraVet Chews Reviews
OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews will make a difference to your dogs oral health. But don’t take our word for it. Here are a couple of reviews from customers who bought OraVet dental hygiene chews for their dogs.
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Elaine: “A wonderful and beneficial product. Our Doberman loves it and it has become a ritual – following breakfast its “chewy time” and he enjoys it…” ()
Shirl: “… It has been about 6 months since he has starting getting these chews almost daily and his teeth are still looking good…” ()
Margaret Williams: “Expensive, but my dog loves them. Keeps his teeth healthy and breath fresh.” ()
Where Can You Buy OraVet Dental Chews?
You can easily buy OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews at your vet’s office. But buying them from your vet may be a bit costlier. You can also find these chews at some local pet stores.
But buying them online is the best option. You can avail discounts and rebates if you buy OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews online.
Online retailers like Amazon, Chewy and many others carry these chews. But most dog owners have been able to . You can also subscribe for monthly delivery and save even more on OraVet chews.
Top Alternatives to OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews
OraVet dental hygiene chews are an effective premium product and come with a price tag to match. So are they worth the extra cost and how to they stack up against other alternatives?
Let’s take a look at some of these OraVet alternatives that also have outstanding ratings from dog owners.
Greenies Original Dog Dental Treats
With over and a 5 star approval rating of 85%, dog chews have a proven track record.
One of the first dental chews to be vet approved, they also carry the VOHC’s seal of approval like OraVet.
Made from natural ingredients the ‘chewy’ texture offers a superior brushing action compared to other dental chews. They are also fully digestible and enriched with vitamins and minerals.
However, a word of caution. These are very tasty treats and a greedy dog that gulps them down whole will derive no benefit!
are a good choice for the pet parent who doesn’t want to splash out on OraVet dental hygiene chews. They help freshen breath and promote cleaner teeth. Satisfied pet parents repeatedly tell how their dogs love this treat so much, that they have to hide them.
Oravet Chews Vs. Greenies
Dogs hate brushing. Dental chews make it easy for you to ensure that your dog’s mouth is clean and free of bacteria and tartar build-up that causes plaque and bad breath.
Both Oravet and Greenies dog chews are equally popular among dog owners. Lets compare both these amazing dog oral care products with one another to understand what exactly each of them have to offer.
OraVet Dog Chews
- Each treat contains Delmopinol HCl as an active ingredient.
- Carry VOHC Seal of Acceptance.
- The chewing action dislodges plaque and tartar, while the chemical action protects against bacteria that cause plaque and tartar build up.
- Treats contain soy, wheat and corn which may be potential allergens.
- Ingredients and nutritional contents not listed on the packaging. (…at the time of writing this.)
- Contain parsley flakes, Chloraphyl and alfalfa, which may affect your dog’s stool. Reports of green stool with initial use.
- Can be fed on alternative days and still are just as effective.
- No more than one OraVet dog chew each day to your dog. Supervision necessary.
- Not for dogs under 6 months. can be used for dogs up to 10 lbs.
- Quite expensive. ()
Greenies Dog Chews
- Does not contain Delmopinol as an active ingredient in treats.
- Carry VOHC Seal of Acceptance.
- Greenies dog treats rely just on the mechanical action of chewing to scrape away the existing plaque and tartar buildup.
- Treats contain wheat, rice and oat fiber, which may not be suitable for dogs with gluten allergies.
- The packaging has all the information about ingredients and nutritional contents.
- These treats do not alter the dog’s digestive system. However, plenty of fresh drinking water should be given to avoid stomach upsets.
- Continued use of the product is necessary to keep off bad breath in dogs.
- No more than one Greenies dog chew each day to your dog. Supervision necessary.
- Not suitable for dogs less than 5 lbs or less than 6 months of age.
- Comparatively cheap. ()
Virbac CET VeggieDent Chews
Another highly recommended product to promote fresh breath and reduce tartar formation are these chews by . They are also approved by the VOHC so you can trust that they will have a beneficial effect.
These are a once-daily chew with a ‘Z’-shape which helps encourage the dog to chew on it effectively. this is a miracle chew, as it surpassed the performance of a rival top brands product and removed problematic tartar from her Cocker spaniels teeth.
On the minus side some pet parents may feel uncomfortable that CET chews are manufactured in Vietnam.
In addition, these are a relatively calorific chew, coming in at just over 100 calories each. This can represent a considerably proportion of a small , so be careful to balance giving this dental treat by slightly reducing your dog’s meal size.
Pedigree Dentastix
There can be few pet parents who aren’t aware of the name ‘’ and its long standing place in pet food manufacturing. Dentastix are their dental chew offering and are clinically proven to reduce tartar formation by up to 80%.
Dentastix are competitively priced and so even the most skeptical of pet parents can afford to give this treats a go. Dogs love them too, and the ‘X’ shape makes for a treat that dogs can hold between their paws to get a good grip for a satisfying chew.
With and a 5 star approval rating over 80% it seems the majority of consumers are happy to back up the claims made by Pedigree.
Indeed have many dedicated followers who have given their dog a daily Dentastix for years, with lovely fresh breath kisses and licks to show for it.
Again, as with any chew or food product, Dentastix can disagree with some dogs and cause diarrhea.
Regardless of which chew you give them, always be there to supervise the dog to prevent the risk of choking.
Milk Bone Brushing Dental Treats
And the last on our list are the . They also have a VOHC seal of approval. These tasty looking bones are a relatively lean 41 calories per chew, which measures up well against others.
The large pack size means Milk Bones are a competitive price per chew. They are a good starter for the pet parent prepared to give dental chews a trial, but who don’t want to spend big. Indeed, was happy to note that obvious tartar had disappeared after just one treat.
On a more cautious note, there is debate about the safety of Milk Bones for smaller breeds. This chew is designed to be 100% digestible.
But some owners have flagged concerns about pieces of lodging in the gut and not being digested after 3 months, needing endoscopy to remove them.
And finally, know that although OraVet dental hygiene chews are the best-of-the-best, there are good alternatives available. If the price tag attached to OraVet chews makes you hesitate, choose another option.
After all, the worst thing you can do is do nothing!