Dog Toothpaste Review

Are you looking to try some new toothpaste to step up your dog's dental care? As we come to the end of Pet Dental Health month, we test out a few different toothpaste products made for dogs. Our Dogkind team dogs follow up their reviews of dental chews and toothbrushes with this sampling of toothpastes. Keep reading to see which ones they preferred.

What Kinds Of Toothpastes Are Available For Dogs?  

There are quite a few toothpastes marketed for pets. When shopping, here are some things to keep in mind: 

•  You must use toothpaste made for pets-- toothpaste made for people may have substances that are toxic to dogs.
• Avoid any toothpaste with fluoride or artificial sweeteners.
• The texture will be similar to human toothpaste, but flavors range from mint to meat!

Should I Use Dog Toothpaste?

There can be both pros and cons to using pet toothpaste as part of your dog's toothbrushing routine.  These vary dog-to-dog, so you will probably need to try out some toothpastes to see if they're right for your dog. Keep in mind: 

• Good toothbrushing results can be achieved without using toothpaste.
• Some toothpastes might increase plaque removal
• There is only one Veterinary Oral Health Council approved toothpaste at this time- you'll see it featured in the video below. 
• Using toothpaste might help OR hinder the actual brushing process, depending on how your dog responds to toothpaste. 

What Products Did Our Dogs Review?

Our team dogs sampled and rated the following flavors (with some help from us of course). The best rated ones are featured on our recommended products page. 

• Petrodex (poultry flavor)
• Petrodex (peanut flavor)
• Arm and Hammer (vanilla ginger flavor)
• Virbac (beef flavor)

Our team dogs Billie and Coco found all of these flavors palatable, with the exception of the vanilla ginger flavor. Billie actively avoided that toothpaste. 

Testing Toothpaste with Brushing

Next, I tested three flavors of toothpaste that I had on hand with my own dogs. This time, I tried brushing with the toothpaste rather than just letting the dog sample flavors.

• Petrodex (poultry): Both dogs found this flavor palatable.
• Petsmile (London broil): Pancake seemed to find this flavor acceptable, but Jasper did not. This is the only VOHC-approved dog toothpaste.
• Vets Best (mystery flavor): Neither dog liked this toothpaste.

Did Toothpaste Help With Brushing? 

For my dogs, no.  Jasper kept trying to lick the toothpaste off of the brush, instead of staying still so I could brush his teeth. And Pancake seemed a bit put off by having paste included in toothbrushing.

This doesn't mean your dogs might not enjoy using pet toothpaste though! Try a pet-safe toothpaste out with your own dog and let them tell you what they think. 

Overall Verdicts

• Flavor Preferences: The dogs seemed to like poultry the best, but also enjoyed the beef flavor. They displayed a preference for meat-flavored toothpastes.
• Effect on brushing: It might help with brushing if your dog loves the flavor and won't try to lick the brush. Using a smaller amount seemed to help deter licking.

Note: If you have any concerns about dental discomfort, check in with your veterinarian to make sure your dental care routine and products are appropriate for your dog. 

If you would like to see a list of these toothpastes and other favorite items that we and our dogs have used, check out our list of recommended products or our Healthy Smiles webinar.

If you're looking for more one-on-one guidance with your fearful dog, check out our online training membership, the Reactive Dog Academy. For a more personalized plan, sign up for private training. If you'd like more help with tooth brushing specifically, we'd love to see you in our toothbrushing class.

If you are getting started with dental care, we want to hear about your successes or struggles. Join our Facebook group and post your questions or comments there, or email us at [email protected].