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Pets ‘Go Nuts’ Over These Vet-Approved Dental Treats
Mar
The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.
Pets who don’t receive regular dental hygiene care are at greater risk of heart and kidney problems and periodontal disease. Yet it can be a real hurdle trying to convince your pet to tolerate tooth brushing. Thankfully, for pets who are too stressed by brushing, alternative tooth care methods can help, according to previous HuffPost reporting. One option that your pet will probably love even more than you do are Greenies dental treats, which are designed to reduce tartar accumulation by 60% and plaque by 32%, per the brand.
As a pet care nerd, I think the way these treats work is kind of ingenious. Greenies are made to be ultra-crunchy while still holding their shape, so as your pet bites into them, the treats clean down to the gumline instead of quickly breaking apart the way regular dry kibble does.
Greenies dental treats have also been given a seal of approval by the Veterinarian Oral Health Council (VOHC), a panel of veterinary dentists who assess pet products for tartar and plaque control.
And pets legitimately LOVE these treats.
My cat, Bee, nurses an out-of-body love for them. She comes running whenever she hears the rustling of a bag that even sounds like the Greenies one. Reviewers’ pets concur; one person, Courtney, writes that her dogs “wake me up at 5 o’clock every morning” to demand the treats. Another person jokes — audaciously! — that “[Krispy Kreme] doughnuts only wish they were this loved.”
“Tooth benefits aside, these are [our golden retriever’s] favorite treat,” said another reviewer, Steven.
I love watching Bee gobble them up knowing they’re secretly good for her. Given how intensely she resists my attempts at brushing her teeth, they’re like a win-win for both of us, and like the perfect sneakily-healthy treat. I even use them as a bribe.
Managing editor Marquaysa Battle also turned to Greenies treats for her dog, whose refusals to allow tooth brushing put them at an impasse. “[He] would always turn around and face a corner” when Battle would try to brush his teeth, she explained, and was such a large and strong dog that persuading him otherwise was simply not possible.
“He loved how [Greenies] tasted, [and] would actually take his time to chew and enjoy them instead of gobbling them up,” said Battle. “I definitely felt like they helped improve his breath, too!” (They’ve also improved Bee’s breath, as I always take note of whenever she abruptly yawns in my face.)
Greenies treats come in options for dogs and cats, with canine versions sorted by weight (there are Greenies treats for “teenie” 5-15 pound dogs, “petite” 15-25 pound dogs, “regular” 25-50 pound dogs and “large” 50-100 pound dogs). Between all the different styles, the treats have racked up tens of thousands of five-star reviews at Amazon.
“We have been buying these Greenies for about a year. Our two little pups look forward to these every morning after their walk. Their tails go crazy and the love kisses they give us are definitely a lot more pleasant then before we stated to give them these treats. We cannot recommend these enough. 5 Stars all the way” — Mojo Master
“Our cat is more attached to my wife than me. However, twice a day (after his breakfast and about 6 p.m.) he comes to me. Is it to show his love for me? Of course not. He comes to me to get his Greenies. You’d think he had never eaten by the way he eats these treats. He wolfs them down. And, he tries to con me into giving him more. The cat loves the taste and I love the fact that the treats help keep his teeth clean.” — David M. Ross
“My dog loves Greenies. He gets one every day after his pills. When I say the word ‘greenie’, he comes running.” — Shirley Hanson
“The vet says it’s good for the dog’s teeth. Our 2 dogs go crazy for this product, which we give them as a treat after they eat their dinner. They like it so much, we would give it to them even if it didn’t help their teeth.” — Bob Caputi
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