Dental health is an incredibly important and often overlooked part of any dog’s overall health and wellbeing. At first, excess plaque and tartar may lead to mildly unpleasant issues like bad breath. However, this buildup can also result in discomfort for your dog and expensive vet bills for you if the state of their oral health deteriorates into any form of dental disease.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to combat and prevent poor dental health, some of which your dog will actually enjoy. For example, natural chews can help reduce buildup and strengthen their jaw while also keeping them entertained and adding extra nutrients to their diet. This article covers some of the best natural chews for supporting canine dental health.
1. Beef Tails
Beef tails are very popular as they’re easy to digest and their flavour always gets tails wagging. As they’re quite tough and chewy, beef tails are ideal for scraping off plaque while strengthening the jaw. They’re long-lasting, which means they also provide plenty of entertainment for your pooch. Our beef tails come in standard and jumbo sizes to accommodate different breeds, sizes, and needs. If you’re looking for a high protein, nutritious, natural, low fat chew to help support your dog’s oral health, this could be the perfect option.
2. Ear Chews
Ear chews come in many varieties, from cow ears to pig ears to rabbit ears and beyond. The natural texture of ear chews allows them to gently clean your dog’s teeth and gums as they happily gnaw away. The type of ear chew that suits your dog depends on various factors, like their dietary needs/restrictions and general flavour and texture preferences, as well as any additional benefits you want the chew to offer. For example, rabbit ears with fur can aid digestion, while cow ears are very high in protein. If your dog prefers a specific type of ear chew, getting them a bag to work through is a great idea. However, if you don’t know what your dog prefers or would like to offer them some new options, our All Ears Chomper Box with eight different types of ear chews could be ideal.
3. Beef Tendon
Beef tendon is the firm favourite of one of our resident pooches, Peanut (as you can see in the featured image of this blog post). It’s the perfect balance between flexible and chewy, which works well for cleaning between teeth. Plus, beef tendon is very easy to digest, low in fat, and contains plenty of protein and collagen. As this type of chew is long lasting, it can keep your dog occupied and happy while providing important oral health benefits as they chew. Some pup parents prefer beef tendon chews to other options as they offer a wide range of benefits with little to no odour. So, if you're looking for an all natural dental chew that your pooch can enjoy without offending your nostrils, this could be the one.
4. Pizzles (Bully Sticks)
Pizzles, also known as bully sticks and pizzle sticks, are excellent for dental health due to their naturally firm texture that encourages extended chewing. This allows for deeper cleaning and increased oral health benefits. Pizzles are long lasting, low fat, very high in protein, contain beneficial amino acids, and appeal to even the fussiest of pooches, making them a great choice for any dog. Our pizzles come in three different sizes (standard 12cm, extra thick 12cm, and thick 20cm) so that dogs of every breed and size can enjoy a pizzle chew that’s right for them. So, if you have a dog that’s hard to please or needs a dental chew that’s equally delicious and long lasting, pizzles are calling your name.
5. Buffalo Horn
As far as durability goes, you’ll struggle to find a better chew than buffalo horns. Their tough texture is ideal for strong chewers, providing mental stimulation while scraping tartar as they work on it over time. Plus, buffalo horns are full of protein and low in fat. This is not a single sitting chew, and it can be used in multiple ways. For example, some people like to use buffalo horn chews as a natural kong by stuffing them with kibble, pate, or peanut butter for an extra enriching experience, while others find that their dogs prefer the horn on its own. It’s important to note that while this is an excellent dental health chew, its extra firm nature means that it’s not suitable for puppies without fully developed adult teeth, dogs with pre-existing teeth issues, or senior dogs. However, if you’ve got a mighty chewer at home who could use some extra entertainment while improving their dental health, you’ve just found their perfect match.
6. Antlers
Antlers make for a hardy, long lasting chew that provides excellent jaw exercise while helping to remove plaque. They’re also rich in collagen, lipids, glucosamine, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, and magnesium, helping to supplement your dog’s diet with extra nutrients and health benefits. Our antler chews come in two varieties (split and full), to cater to different preferences. Some dogs love full antler chews, while others prefer the split version as the tasty dried marrow centre is easier to access. Either way, antlers are ideal for persistent chewers, but like with all chews, they require supervision. They are meant to be chewed and gnawed away rather than bitten in an attempt to break them up, so be sure to look out for this. Due to their hard texture and density, antlers are recommended for dogs aged 12 months and up. So, if your adult pooch needs a serious chewing challenge, antlers might be the way to go.
7. Yak Chews
Did you know that yak chews were originally created for human consumption, and are still widely eaten by Himalayan people and their dogs? In the UK, they’re a very popular type of dog chew, usually made from the milk of yaks and cows. Some of the options on the market contain added nasties, but the yak chews available on our site contain only natural ingredients. We offer different sizes (small, medium, large, XL) to suit any dog’s needs, as well as convenient multipacks. Their texture is hardy, but they soften as your dog chews and gnaws them. This process helps strengthen the jaw while encouraging plaque removal from the teeth. So, if your dog is tired of conventional chews or you’re looking to switch up their routine, this could be an excellent new dental chew to add to their rotation.
Final thoughts
Supporting your dog’s dental health may feel daunting, but regularly offering healthy, natural dental chews will allow them to do some of the work for you. However, regular teeth brushing and routine vet visits to assess their dental health are always recommended as well. If you tick all three of these boxes, your dog’s oral hygiene should be excellent, helping to reduce the risk of uncomfortable and expensive dental diseases and procedures in the future.