Become a chew expert

Dental Health

Practical, honest guides on natural chews — sizing, safety, and what actually keeps dogs busy.

A miniature schnauzer puppy sitting on a wooden bench beside a window while a person's hand rests gently on its shoulder

Retained Puppy Teeth in Small Breeds: What to Check at Six Months

A baby tooth still sitting beside its adult replacement at six months needs a vet, not another chew. Roughly one extra-small dog in seven has one.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

A german shepherd lying on a hardwood floor with its head flat on the boards and its teeth visible at rest

Can a Bully Stick Break a Tooth?

Yes, any hard chew can — and the tooth at risk is the big upper cheek tooth, not the fang. Veterinary sources disagree on where pizzle sits. What lowers the risk.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

A Yorkshire terrier standing on a folded white towel on a kitchen counter while a person's hands gently lift its lip to show its small front teeth

Small Dogs Get Dental Disease First: What That Means for Chew Choice

Extra-small breeds are diagnosed with periodontal disease up to five times more often than giant breeds. What that changes about chew choice, and what it doesn't.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

An elderly shih tzu with a grey muzzle sleeping on a cream living-room rug with a short twisted dried beef chew stick lying in front of its paws

Bully Sticks for a Senior Dog: Sizing Around Worn and Missing Teeth

A senior dog can still have a bully stick, but the mouth decides which one. How to check for worn or missing teeth, and why thin is not the same as soft.

Aug 27, 2026 6 min read

An elderly Bernese mountain dog with a greying muzzle lying on a wooden back porch with its chin on the boards, a plain dried chew stick untouched nearby

My Old Dog Lost Interest in His Chew: What Changed

A senior dog who stops chewing is usually reporting a problem, not changing his taste. Check the mouth first, then the joints, and change the chew last.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

A gloved hand gently lifting the lip of a cavalier king charles spaniel to show its teeth on a padded mat on a kitchen counter.

Do Any Natural Chews Clean a Dog's Teeth? What the VOHC List Shows

A VOHC seal means a chew beat dry food, not a toothbrush. No natural chew of any brand has run that trial — unmeasured, not failed. What chewing really does.

Aug 27, 2026 7 min read

A labrador staring intently at a closed kitchen cupboard door in daylight

My Dog Is Obsessed With Bully Sticks: Is That a Problem?

No, there is no veterinary diagnosis for bully stick addiction. Here's what vets do call compulsive, and why a skipped dinner is usually calories, not craving.

Aug 27, 2026 6 min read