Patch Product Review: Dirty-Mouthed Dog Tries Greenies Dental Chews

My dog Zeke has a knack for finding gross things on our walks. If there's a mouse (dead or alive) within a 5-mile radius, he will track it down and attempt to eat it. There's one spot down the street where he somehow always finds a different ball of hair and starts faux flossing with it before I can stop him. Some days, he snaps up a still-lit cigarette. Others, he decides deer poop is a delicacy. Without fail, though, I notice a second too late, so prying dead animal parts and wads of who-knows-what out of Zekey's mouth has become a regular occurrence for me.

This isn't my favorite part of being a #DogMom, but it has tuned me in to Mr. Mouse Mouth's dental situation. Zeke is just more than 4 months old now, and even though the tooth fairy has given up on trying to keep track of his baby vs. grownup fangs, I have noticed that little table scrap stealer's smile shifting before my eyes.

Those pearly whites — which are all too frequently covered in dirt thanks to Zeke's latest moss-eating habit — need proper care just like ours. I asked our veterinarian when I should start brushing Zeke's little chompers, and she said — surprise surprise! — the earlier, the better. However, because my pup is so "orally fixated" (aka, dude likes to chew stuff), she suggested we wait for him to outgrow this phase before we start brushing.

So what's the next best thing to bacon-flavored toothpaste? Greenies, my friend — and they're Zekey approved! These doggy dental chews naturally help clean teeth, fight tartar buildup and plaque, and they freshen breath, to boot. They're also quite yummy, according to my taste tester, and easily digestible (which is very important for us because Zeke has a sensitive tummy).

I got Zeke a box of 17 large, grain-free Greenies ($28.99). According to the box, these are intended for dogs over 50 pounds — he's actually just shy of this weight wise, but at the rate he's growing it didn't make sense to buy medium chews and have them be too small for him in another week. These chews are also "not suitable" for dogs less than 6 months old, but again, Zeke's on the larger side for a pup his age, so we sized up and watched him closely. (If you plan to deviate from an edible product's guidelines, you should consult with your veterinarian first to make sure it's OK.)

In any case, the large Greenies seem to be a good fit for Zekey. He's a food-driven fella to begin with, but he seemed to take an extra liking to these toothbrush-shaped chews. I've heard of some dogs swallowing Greenies whole (which poses a choking hazard and defeats their teeth-cleaning purpose), but Zeke happily and steadily gnaws away at each chew I give him.

He's been having the recommended one Greenie per day for about two weeks now, and his "puppy breath" seems to have improved. I also like giving him a veterinarian-recommended treat that's good for his overall oral health.

(He likes that Greenies are yummy.)

I fully intend to brush Zeke's teeth (once I'm confident he won't eat the toothbrush), but I plan to keep Greenies in the mix, too. After all, I probably don't even know about half the stuff that's been in that dog's mouth, yet I still allow him to lick me on the face. And because I'm never going to turn away puppy kisses, I'm all about keeping his mouth clean in any and every way I can.

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