2 Best Dental Chews for Dogs with Sensitive Stomachs

Pitbulls are powerful chewers. Still, their large daggers can harbor plaque and tartar which can lead to a more serious dental condition. Aside from regular brushing and consultation with a veterinarian, the best dental chews for dogs with sensitive stomachs can help.

DENTAL CHEW	DENTAL CHEW BRAND	EXPERT RATING	CHECK PRICE
	Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews		Check Price
	Greenies Dog Dental Chews		Check Price

Here, I personally picked 2 of the best dental chews in the market with the help of my lovely furry babies. I also left a few pieces of advice below for safer chewing.

RUNNER-UP

Greenies Dog Dental Chews

If you’re not a fan of edible rawhide, I suggest that you consider Greenies Dog Dental Chews. These are made from natural ingredients that are easy to digest.

Each piece is shaped like a toothbrush and a bone which will allow your dog to dig its teeth into it. This is also VOHC approved which guarantees that it will work just as advertised.

The regular version contains 27 treats per box which are ideal for dogs within the 25-50-pound weight range. You can always purchase a different size as Greenies is also available in Teenie, Petite, and Large versions.

Aside from helping clean your dog’s teeth, this dental chew is also packed with chelated vitamins and minerals for bonus nourishment. My dog also likes the poultry flavor which also removes bad breath.

This is made in the U.S.A. and each box is pretty affordable considering its benefits. Also, I like that it’s tough enough to last long on average chewing of my Pitbull’s. Anyway, just like any edible treat, giving this once a day is enough.

If you have a dog with stained teeth, Greenies can help brush it away. A friend of mine had an old Collie who got stained teeth from its previous chew. After a few months, the stain is starting to wash off.

Benefits of dental chews

The best dental chews for dogs with sensitive stomachs aren’t just diversionary tactics that pet owners can use to keep their doggos occupied. These yummy chews serve a specific purpose in improving the health of your dog’s gums and teeth.

The following are just some of the benefits that my Pitties enjoy from gnawing dental chews:

-Help reduce plaque and tartar buildup

Pitbulls have large teeth an equally large appetite. This can result in tartar and plaque buildup over time. Also, food bits and improper brushing can lead to the accumulation of teeth dirt.

Dental chews can help scrape these off. These chews are designed to bury the daggers of your doggo to wipe it off of any tartar or plaque. Continuous use of dental chews will yield results in just a month.

Studies found that dental chew can actually reduce plaque by up to 70%. Product coating like polyphosphate also helps reduce tartar by up to 55%.

-Better gum health

Dogs that chew a lot will have less plaque. As you know, too much plaque can lead to gingivitis, a condition where the plaque is starting to dig into the gums of the dog.

Take note that for dental chews to achieve the approval of the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC), it should be able to reduce tartar or plaque by at least 10%.

Still, if your dog has bleeding gums, I suggest that you consult with a vet first before giving the pooch any kind of chews.

-Helps fix bad breath

Does your Pitbull have bad breath? In my experience, dental chews can help remove that unpleasant smell. If the cause of the bad smell is trapped food, dental chews can help remove those. If paired with regular brushing, the bad smell should go away.

However, if the bad smell lingers and there’s a metallic whiff to it, head straight to the vet clinic. Bad breath can also be a sign of kidney and liver problems.

-Eases the discomfort of teething

For Pitbull pups that are still teething, dental chews are helpful. It can help ease the discomfort of their falling or growing teeth. Just make sure that the stiffness of the chew is ideal for their life stage.

Opt for a softer chew where the little daggers of your pup can be buried. If you observe excessive bleeding, stop giving dental chews and consult with a vet right away.

Types of dental chews for dogs

There are three common types of dental chews. I personally tried giving each one to my Pitties. Here are my observations:

-Rawhide

A lot of dog owners like giving rawhide to their pets since it’s very chewy and it also comes with a nice flavor. Rawhide dental chews can also be wrapped with bacon and other meat strips.

The rawhide material can be made of hides of horses or cows. It really helps reduce tartar buildup, but remember that rawhides aren’t always edible. Your dog isn’t supposed to swallow any part of it if the manufacturer says so.

My main concern with rawhide is its choking hazard. Once the rawhide gets worn down, there’s a chance that the dog will swallow it, thus the possibility of choking.

If you and your dog prefer rawhide over other types of chews, always keep an eye on them while they chew.

-Biscuits

Some pet owners prefer purchasing dental chews that also doubles as a treat. Biscuits are edible and you can leave your dog alone while munching it.

Always look for VOHC approved biscuit chews for the safety of your pooch. I personally like biscuit chews for my dogs since it keeps pangs of hunger at bay in between meals.

-Food-grade flavored plastic bone

If you’re worried that your doggo will eat excess calories with biscuits, you can try getting a food-grade bone plastic. This is often made with nylon and packed with tasty meat flavors.

I like those from Nylabone since the plastic bones are durable and my doggos can’t get enough of the flavor. It lets them chew without the excess calories.

Just make sure that you check the material and ingredients used in flavoring the bone. You wouldn’t want any artificial add-ons since Pitties tend to have very sensitive tummies.

Dental chews aren’t substitutes for brushing

Calling all guilty pet owners! Dental chews aren’t substitutes for regular brushing. Just because you’re giving a dental chew doesn’t mean you can get away without brushing your dog’s teeth.

Remember, these chews only HELP reduce tartar buildup. To keep your dog’s dental condition healthy, you have to brush their teeth regularly using dog toothpaste and toothbrush.

I know that brushing a dog’s teeth isn’t an easy task. I know the struggle of having to brush those large daggers of a burly Pitbull. The key here is to start them young with brushing. This way, they won’t resist the practice as adult dogs.

First time to brush your Pitbull’s teeth? Here’s Grooming by Rudy as he demonstrates brushing with Coco the doggo:

How to choose the right dental chew for your dog

Choosing the right dental chew is crucial to ensure that it will serve its purpose. Here are some of the reminders I often give my fellow Pitbull owners.

-Check the ingredients

When looking for the best dental chews for dogs with sensitive stomachs, you have to be critical with the ingredients.

For biscuit and edible chews, practice the same diligence of choosing a dog food. Don’t purchase chews with GMO ingredients and those with too much artificial preservatives and flavors.

I remembered bringing home those colorful bones for my Pitties only to have them puking the next day. It turns out that the flavoring and colorants are artificial.

Also, avoid too much salt content and calories. You wouldn’t want your dog to consume too many calories before their actual meal.

-Get the right size

It’s always important to size up the treat to your dog. Medium breeds shouldn’t be given very small chews. On the other hand, very large chews will be difficult to gnaw, making it less effective in removing tartar.

Also, aggressive chewers like Pitbulls need something a bit tougher than what you’ll get for a Dachshund or lap dogs.

I always check the sizing chart of the seller before purchasing the treat.

-Ask the vet

If you’re in doubt, you can always ask the vet of your dog for recommendations. They can prescribe a specific chew tailored for your dog’s dental condition.

Also, you can phone the vet if you’re planning to purchase a specific chew but you have questions in mind.

I strongly recommend that you consult with a vet, especially if your dog has kidney problems. Some chews contain too much salt that it might do more harm than help.

Some things to keep in mind

Before you give that pooch its new chew, make sure that you keep the following in mind:

-Be careful with compressed chews

Pitbulls can easily gobble down a compressed chew. It can also cause choking and intestinal upset. Also, the likes of rawhide can be very lethal once your dog swallows a large chunk.

-Don’t indulge in edible chews too much

It’s easy to fall into the trap of giving your dog an edible chew as a bribe for good behavior. Although giving the chew frequently can speed up the positive benefits, it will also give more calories than what your dog is supposed to eat.

Remember, the smaller the dog is the fewer the treats should be. The same goes for edible dental chews.

-Match the chew to your dog

Always consider the size and chewing power of your dog. Also, it will save your dollars if you consider the personality of your pooch when choosing a dental chew. For example, my doggo that’s obsessed with treats won’t give a damn about chew bones.

Make sure that the dental chew will appeal to them or your money will be put to waste.

-Always supervise your dog

I always say this to all pet owners I meet. Regardless of how safe the chew looks like, supervision is imperative. Your dog can’t help itself when it chokes on rawhide or another chew.

Also, supervising your dog will let you know its chewing habits. You can even use the dental chew for training and dampening their aggression.

Conclusion

The best dental chews for dogs with sensitive stomachs will help reduce the tartar and plaque on your pooch’s teeth. Make sure that you purchase the right size to avoid any harm. What do you think of my two personal picks? Do you have a recommendation for dental chews? Let us know below and we’ll consider reviewing it next.