For whatever reason you may be looking for the best dog toothpaste reviews, whether that be because of stinky breath your dog has been emitting as of late, a desire you have to only brush your teeth with the most effective dog toothpaste out there on the market or any other reason, this list of the top 5 best dog toothpastes is all you need to see.
Before we get into a detailed list of our top 5 picks, though, let's see them all grouped together in a table in descending order, for convenience sake.
Our List Of The Top 5 Dog Toothpaste Options - (Updated List For 2019)
Top Pick: Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste
Pick #2: Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste
Pick #3: Ark Naturals Breath-Less Brushless Toothpaste
Pick #4: Petrodex Natural Toothpaste
Pick #5: Nutri-Vet Enzymatic Chicken Flavored Canine Toothpaste
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*Note: The links in the table above, as well as several links in the remainder of the article below, will take you to over to Chewy.com where you can find out more information about the products, such as current prices and customer reviews.
Best Dog Toothpaste Reviews - (TOP 5 Options)
Pick # 1 - Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste Dog Poultry Flavor
Most Effective Tartar Prevention: Out of all the other dog toothpastes being sold today, this dog toothpaste from Petrodex has stood the test of time and proven time and time again (or dog and dog again in our case) that it's by far the most effective and fastest dog toothpaste when it comes to preventing tartar build up in dogs.
Very Impressive Whitening Ability: Again, out of all the other dog toothpaste products available on the market today, customers have often reported that this specific toothpaste was able to help whiten their dog's yellowish teeth in less than 30 days, while other toothpastes were struggling to make a noticeable difference in months on end.
Most Popular Flavor: This dog toothpaste's flavor is what seems to be the most dog fan-favorite flavor of all time, and that's Poultry.
If you think about it, it isn't rocket science, there's actually a very simple philosophy behind this.
If poultry is one of the most dog-preferred flavors when it comes to dog food, and dogs are so used to eating it, why not stay within the same formula and brush their teeth with toothpaste that tastes just like what they're used to eating on a daily basis?
Dogs Actually Look Forward To It: Because it tastes so good to them and they love the flavor, when it's time to brush their dog's teeth, the majority of dog owners have actually found that their dogs look forward to and get very excited when the time comes for this (ideally) daily routine.
This is exactly what you want in a dog toothpaste, because it makes the process of brushing your dog's teeth way easier and much more fun than it can sometimes be.
Pick #2 - Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste
Wide Variety Of Different Flavors: For those of you who don't want to brush their dog's teeth with dog toothpaste that tastes like poultry for any reason, then this is the best dog toothpaste you can go with besides our #1 pick above that's only available in poultry flavor.
This dog toothpaste from Virbac comes in a wide variety of different flavors, such as Beef, Malt, Poultry, Seafood and, last but certainly not least in terms of popularity, Vanilla-Mint flavor.
This way you won't have to feel that you're stuck with just one flavor that your dog may not like very much, or if you feel like you want to spice things up and change flavors every once in a while to keep things fresh.
Foam Free: If you're brushing your dog's teeth with this toothpaste and they, for whatever reason, happen to swallow any of it, then you won't have to worry about your dog getting sick because this toothpaste contains absolutely no foaming agents as part of the ingredients list.
No Nasty Smell: One of the most annoying things you can ever come across in some of the toothpastes for dogs being sold on the market is the terrible smell they have to them.
This is actually a great disadvantage in toothpastes for dogs, since the same way you and I would resist getting anywhere close to something that smells very foul (think something like Limburger cheese, yikes!), dogs also greatly resist coming close to anything that smells bad, let alone have their teeth brushed with it.
This dog toothpaste has close to zero foul smell to it, so between that and some of the most tasty flavors your dog would ever dream about, you can't go wrong with the Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste.
Not Necessarily Requiring A Dog Toothbrush: Some dog owners have also reported that with this dog toothpaste they're able to perfectly brush their dog's teeth with a cat toothbrush or a toothbrush designed for children.
Although we aren't necessarily saying this will be the case if you try it out, but it's definitely a fun thought.
Long Lasting Fresh-Smelling Breath: Although this dog toothpaste falls a bit short behind our #1 and #2 picks above when it comes to the duration it's able to keep your dog's breath smelling fresh and clean, it nonetheless remains one of the best dog toothpastes on the market when it comes to this benefit.
Pick #4 - Sentry Petrodex Natural Toothpaste
Peanut Butter Flavor For Peanut Butter Lovers: We've all considered feeding our dogs some peanut butter at some point in time, whether that be because of health benefits peanut butter is able to offer dogs, feeding peanut butter to dogs being a hot trend during certain times and less of a trend during others, or whatever else reason, we've all been there and done that at least once.
However, one thing holds true, the majority of dogs absolutely LOVE the taste of peanut butter.
So, in case you or your dog haven't taken a liking to any of the flavors above, then Petrodex have come to your rescue with this peanut-butter tasting option.
100% Natural: While other dog toothpaste manufacturers out there don't put too much care into what ingredients go into their products, Petrodex have gone to considerable lengths to make sure that you're getting one of the most natural, chemical-free and additive-free dog toothpastes there is on the market today.
The Ever-Famous Chicken Flavor: What kind of list of the best toothpastes for dogs would this be had we not included a dog toothpaste that's flavored after chicken? An incomplete one I'd say!
If your dog gives you a terrible time eating any dog food that doesn't taste like chicken, then chances are they're going to give you a hard time brushing their teeth with anything that doesn't taste like chicken as well, in which case this toothpaste is definitely an option for you to consider.
Why Should I Invest In The Best Dog Toothpaste For My Pet?
No Human Toothpaste For Dogs
One of the most common questions we get asked by relatively new dog owners who don't have enough experience when it comes to taking proper care of dogs and grooming practices is "can't we brush out dog's teeth with human toothpaste?".
Even though we're just like everyone else who loves to save on a few costs here and there whenever they can and not have to buy unnecessary items, unfortunately the answer to this question is an outstanding NO - you can't brush your dog's teeth with toothpaste manufactured for human use, the only toothpaste you should ever be brushing your dog's teeth with is toothpaste specifically manufactured for dogs.
In the unfortunate case that you do brush your dog's teeth with toothpaste manufactured for human use and your dog swallows any of it, that could lead to serious (and sometimes life threatening) side effects your dog may suffer from as a result.
Human toothpaste includes many ingredients that should never be ingested by dogs no matter what, most importantly of which are the ever so common foaming agents included in 99% of the options available out there that we all use.
The best toothpaste for dogs that was specifically manufactured for canine use will always contain only ingredients that won't pose a health risk for your dog if they happen to swallow a certain amount of it by mistake, since we all know mistakes happen all the times when it comes to these hairy fellas.
Why Should I Brush My Dog's Teeth?
First thing's first, unfortunately many dog owners out there (especially first time dog owners with little to no experience when it comes to having a pet at home) don't even know that they should be brushing their dog's teeth on a regular basis.
For some reason it never occurred to them that dogs are just like us humans in the fact that they have teeth that need to be taken care of on a regular basis in order to maintain oral hygiene and proper functions.
You'd expect that there's a fair number of dog owners who are just a little bit careless when it comes to brushing their dog's teeth and do so way less frequently than they should be doing, but the number of dog owners who never brush their dog's teeth and later find out that disaster has been forming throughout all this time is just alarming.
Not all of them are careless, though, as many dog owners simply believe that dogs have mouths that can somehow clean themselves by themselves and don't need to be brushed the same way our mouths do.
Anyways, below is a list of the most important reasons as to why carefully brushing your dog's teeth on a regular basis is one of the most important tasks you have to do as a dog owner.
Stinky Dog Breath
If you were to ask any dog owner out there what their most favorite part of the day is, many will tell you that it's when they come back home to get the most heartwarming and love-showering of greetings from their dog.
Let's face it, we love nothing more than to be reassured (even if it's each and every day) by our dogs that they still love us as they did back in day 1 we brought them home.
However, and when we're being greeted by our dogs and showered with their hugs, licks and kisses, sometimes the awful problem of stinky dog breath is apparent, something which greatly ruins the magic in the moment.
One of the first reasons that comes to mind when talking about brushing dog's teeth is stinky dog breath, and trust me when I say that if this is something you've never experienced in a dog before, you never ever want to have to deal with this in your house.
Dog Health
Not only is brushing your dog's teeth on a regular basis extremely important in maintaining oral health and oral hygiene for Fido, but brushing their teeth is actually extremely important in ensuring they remain healthy in general and free from any illness.
Some of the most common dental problems that will arise if you fail to brush your dog's teeth on a regular basis and take care of them the way they should be taken care of are:
- Gum disease
- Teeth yellowing
- Buildup of tartar
- Tooth decay
- Plaque
- Gingivitis
However, it's not just your dog's oral health that will deteriorate real fast if you're not brushing their teeth the way you should be, their overall health is at great risk too since any oral infections they suffer may expand into other parts of their body and strike there just as equally.
Some of the most common health problems that dogs tend to experience because of dental problems/infections are the following.
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Fatal infections
How Often Should I Be Brushing My Dog's Teeth?
Even if you invest in any one of the best toothpastes for dogs mentioned in the list we've put together above, this alone will not suffice in solving your dog's dental problems and you will have to stick to a certain brushing schedule if you want to get the most out of all of this.
To be able to experience amazing results and see rapid and continuous progress in your dog's dental condition, it's best if you make a habit out of brushing your dog's teeth once a day.
Many dog owners will tell you that you can get by perfectly well with just brushing your dog's teeth something like two times a month, but this isn't optimal at all, and you might as well not invest in any one of the best toothpastes for dogs we've mentioned above if you're going to stick to such a laid back schedule, since there'd be no point in such an investment in the first place.
What Makes The Best Toothpaste For Dogs?
When it comes to determining the best toothpaste for dogs, this is a bit of a tricky subject since some factors can be relative and differ from one dog to the other.
However, we've done our best to compile a very useful list of criteria you have to be on the lookout for when buying toothpaste for your dog.
If you stick to this list and carefully look into each of the criteria before choosing a specific toothpaste for your dog, then you can be sure that you've chosen the best toothpaste for YOUR dog.
Desired Flavor
One of the most important factors in dog toothpaste is what flavor it tastes like, since getting a dog toothpaste flavor that your dog actually likes will make the process of brushing their teeth a much easier and smoother one than it would be if you're trying to brush their teeth with toothpaste that tastes like something they don't really admire.
Is your pooch known to go absolutely bonkers over a few pieces of strawberry whenever they manage to make their way to some of this fruit? Then choosing a dog toothpaste that tastes like strawberry is an excellent choice to go with.
The manufacturers of the best dog toothpastes will almost always have their products manufactured in many different flavors for you to choose from, such as Beef flavor, Poultry flavor, Seafood flavor, Vanilla flavor, and the list goes on ..
This way they're able to expand their market reach and accommodate to the desires and preferences of different dogs at the same time.
No Artificial Sweeteners
If you ever come across a toothpaste for dogs that has any sort of artificial sweeteners as part of the ingredients list, then make sure to never get that toothpaste anywhere near your dog, as artificial sweeteners should never make their way into our dogs' systems (especially Xylitol).
No Chemicals/Harmful Ingredients
Any chemicals or harmful ingredients such as those that cause foam are absolute NO-NO's when it comes to dog toothpaste.
A Quick Tip For Dogs And New Toothpaste
When you buy new toothpaste for your dog and want to brush their teeth with it, you ideally have them go through a break-in phase (just like almost everything else you do with your dog for the first time).
Attempting to completely brush your dog's teeth with the new toothpaste you got for them for the first time right off the bat is a bit risky, as there's always the possibility that your dog won't accept the toothpaste and will give you a very hard time in the process.
For this reason and many more, the initial break-in phase should happen before you start brushing your dog's teeth with whatever toothpaste you got for them, where you start to expose them to this toothpaste gradually and in an increasing demeanor.
For example, the first time around you could open the toothpaste tube and have your dog smell it in order to be familiar with its odor.
The second time around, you could put a little bit of the toothpaste on your hand and have your dog try licking some of it off (only a little, we don't want our dogs to get sick because they ingested too much toothpaste), as this way they'll slowly get exposed to how the toothpaste tastes like, and will show signs of whether or not they have a liking to it.
The third time around, you could attempt to complete a partial brushing for your dog's teeth with a small amount of this toothpaste, and so on, until your dog becomes completely comfortable with having their teeth brushed with this specific toothpaste that you plan on using for them.
