Vitamins (Choline Chloride, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate [Source of Vitamin C], d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement), Rice Flour, Wheat Starch, Glycerin, Gelatin, Gum Arabic, Calcium Carbonate, Natural Poultry Flavor, Powdered Cellulose, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Iodized Salt, Potassium Chloride, and Vitamins)
Canines benefit from Dentastix?
Dentastix are safe for dogs and are advised by veterinarians, therefore yes. It’s still a safe and practical solution for your dog to maintain their oral health, even though you might not be able to identify every item on their list.
Why is Dentastix flawed?
Potassium, E202 In the field of pet foods, sorbate’s main use is as a preservative; its chemical name is more widely known as E202. Although it slows down bacterial growth, it can cause irritation in dogs’ skin, eyes, and respiratory system (18). Studies have revealed that this E-number specifically affects people, has genotoxic (cancer-causing) properties, negatively affects immunity, and permanently damages blood cells (19,20).
STPP use in dog treats and detergents
The active ingredient in Dentastix that performs all of the tooth cleaning action is sodium tripolyphophate (STPP), also known as E451. However, it is also known for being a violator of big food companies’ “hidden ingredients” strategies. Dog food items contain STPP, an artificial preservative with the ability to thicken mixes chemically (15). E451 decreased the amount of iron in the bone, liver, and spleen as well as produced emesis (vomiting) in trials on dogs [16].
Additionally, STPP is present in water softeners, tanners, and household detergents (17).
The link between Smoke Flavour and cancer in pets
Spraying water on smoke from a fire creates this flavouring, which is then turned into a liquid (5,6). The associations between this chemical and the risk of cancer are concerning for pet owners. In 2011, 73% of the EFSA’s additional testing on smoke flavourings were assigned “safety concerns” (7,8,9). The scientific study panel could not exclude out genotoxicity in particular for the flavouring AM01 (7,8). Genotoxic, according to its definition, is “a drug known to trigger mutations that can lead to cancer” (10).
Although the carcinogenic component AM01 is included in the list of ingredients for Dentastix (see below), the candy business Mars, which is also in charge of Pedigree Oral Care, nonetheless advises us to give this to our household pets on a daily basis. Smoke Flavour also deprives a product of any nutritional value (7). Why do we need to include ingredients that are known to induce discomfort and suffering as “treats” for our household pets?
Iron Oxide is a known skin irritant
Lung inflammation is a known side effect of the skin and eye irritant iron oxide (11). On the Dentastix labelling, this red food colouring is very cunningly disguised as a “mineral supplement.” Recent worries have also been raised concerning the genotoxicity (cancer risk) posed by iron oxide in addition to smoke flavour (12). According to Pedigree, who manufactures Dentastix, each ingredient is “added for a specific purpose and provides a benefit to the dog” (13). Contradictory studies, however, indicate that iron oxide has no nutritional advantages for a dog’s digestive tract (12).
‘Natural Poultry Flavor’ = no real meat
Animal digest that has not yet undergone decomposition or rotting is used to create Natural Poultry Flavor. The final concentrated flavour found in Dentastix is produced chemically by heating, treating acids, and adding enzymes to the “digest.” You might discover that the finished product does not include any real or fresh meat at all if you read between the lines on the labels of your current pet food. Due to a cunning marketing ploy employed by large pet food producers, only a small amount of “chicken digest” is required to create a “chicken-flavored dog treat” (14). Pet food producers are not required to guarantee that Dental Chews contain a certain percentage of actual meat because they are a “complementary” product for your dog.
What does meat and Animal derivatives actually mean?
The Pet Food Manufacturing Association claims that “Meat and Animal Derivatives”—meat pieces that aren’t often offered in UK supermarkets—include items like lungs, claws, and heads (1). The label on your pet food may still be unclear despite being subject to EU regulation. Due to this, suppliers are able to alter the sorts of meat that are used to make your dog’s treats without informing you (e.g., beef, pork, shellfish, rabbit [2]). For owners of dogs with allergies, this can lead to a variety of issues.
One of the most typical dog allergies in the UK is to beef (3). However, the existing laws governing pet food labelling permit owners to be unaware of this crucial information.
If you don’t know what’s in your dog’s daily dental sticks in the first place, how can you tell if their runny poop or itching paws are connected? In contrast, the majority of well-known companies, like Mars (Pedigree), can only promise up to 4% meat in their dental sticks (4). We do not believe that this kind of conduct by organisations who identify themselves as nutritionists is appropriate for our pets or your children.
Can dogs receive Dentastix on a daily basis?
Dogs enjoy using their mouths to explore the world, so it’s crucial to take good care of their teeth.
An efficient dental care practise helps prevent plaque and tartar buildup on teeth.
When used daily, PEDIGREE Daily DentaStix, which have a distinctive X shape and a somewhat abrasive texture, have been shown in studies to help reduce tartar buildup by up to 80%.
Use delicious PEDIGREE Daily DentaStix every day to help maintain the strength and health of your dog’s teeth and gums.
What materials are used in dog dental sticks?
Companies who manufacture pet food and treats are not required by law to disclose all of the ingredients in their products in the UK. They might just list them by category as an alternative. As a result, many substances could be concealed, and you might not fully understand what you’re feeding your pet dog. Fortunately, we’ve clarified what each category means by breaking them down below.
Cereals
Several pet food manufacturers refer to all kinds of grains as “cereals.” It is impossible to know what kind of grains are in Dentastix or their quality using this general name. We advise sticking with foods that explicitly list all of the ingredients if you have a dog who has a sensitive stomach or any food intolerances because it can be difficult to pinpoint the problematic item when you don’t know what’s in the food.
Derivatives of vegetable origin
Again, the ambiguity of this phrase makes it impossible to tell what exactly is contained in each dog chew. Depending on the vegetable items that are now the most affordable, one batch may differ from another.
Meat & animal derivatives
Meat and animal byproducts don’t specify exactly which animal or portion is being used. Any animal component, including heads, brains, hair, and feathers, might make up the object. The problem with ambiguous descriptions is that you can’t tell whether the quality is good or bad, and once again, the sources of the meat in the recipe may vary from batch to batch, so avoid them if your dog has any food sensitivities.
Minerals including Sodium Tripolyphosphate
The active component in a Dentastix that keeps your dog’s teeth clean is sodium tripolyphosphate. According to clinical research, they can reduce tartar buildup by up to 80%.
Oils & fats
This includes all fats and oils derived from plants or animals, including healthy oils, superior animal fats, and highly processed, potentially hazardous oils. Simply by looking at the label, you can’t tell.
Do Dog Dental Treats Really Work?
Dogs can develop gum disease, just like people. This implies that it is your duty to make sure your dog’s mouth is as healthy as it can be. But even then, it could be challenging because dogs like to chew on just about anything they can get their teeth on.
While some dog owners choose to brush their dogs’ teeth, others choose Dog Healthcare products like dental treats or chews. To achieve optimum hygiene, they should be used along with regular veterinary checkups and a nutritious diet. They should not be used alone. This is so that you understand that having a healthy mouth involves more than just your teeth and gums.
It has been demonstrated that dogs who vigorously chew have reduced plaque buildup. For this to work, you must make sure that your dog is giving the dental treats a sufficient amount of time to chew. It’s not really working if they’re gorging on them. A staggering 70% of plaque and tartar buildup can be reduced by your dog’s mechanical chewing movement!
Are Dog Dental Chews Safe?
Dog dental chews are undoubtedly a secure method of dog healthcare. Dog dental chews and treats have a tonne of advantages, and these go far beyond just cleaning teeth.
The natural chewing behaviour of your dog may find a release with dental snacks. Additionally, it helps to soothe and comfort your dog. Anxious animals might benefit particularly from this. Importantly, if your dog tends to get into additional mischief, it’s a terrific distraction for them! Now you may take a break from your sofa cushions.
How Often Should You Give Your Dog Dental Chews?
The amount of dog dental chews you feed your puppy mostly depends on the chew. Some dental treats, like Pedigree Dentastix Large Dog Treats, are designed to be used on a regular basis; think of them as your dog’s toothbrush.
Other dental treats, like rawhide, are designed to be used on a monthly basis. Compared to chews like Pedigree Dentastix, these dog dental chews require much more chewing time. Your small dog can be chewing on it for days or even weeks. But that’s good because it means that plaque and tartar are being removed from their teeth when they chew more.
You should always ask your veterinarian about how frequently to feed your dog dental chews because they will always have the appropriate response and advise.
Canine toxicity from Dentastix?
We took our 5-year-old English cream retriever to the emergency room, where they did an X-ray and determined that she had bloat from eating too much food. Due to the fact that I am always around her, I knew she didn’t get into anything! After receiving treatment, she seemed OK two days later. I gave her a denta stick last night and the same thing occurred, so I made the connection that yes, the previous time this occurred, I had given her a denta stick. She kept us up all night licking, drooling, and panting; they need to be thrown away immediately!
have caused my pet to have violent diarrhoea and terrible vomiting; she is not a happy puppy today.
My dog enjoys them. Her teeth are gorgeous. had no issues using them ever when she was a puppy. but they’ve now altered the packaging; instead of getting 7 in a pack, you now only get 4, and the price is the same. I’m not sure why.
The dentastik was a hit with my fussy dog, who normally hides other treats since he doesn’t like them. He started having diarrhoea and then vomited up six hours after eating it yesterday. He is currently scratching at his inflamed gums. What sort of business would produce a product that would sicken our loved ones so badly? They ought to be summoned back! What individuals will do to earn a dollar is ridiculous.
Every time I try them, my dog becomes really ill and vomits for HOURS. If you love your dog, I would avoid these. INCREDIBLY HORRIBLE
After ingesting one Denta Stix, my dog developed horrible diarrhoea. I had assumed it would be a tasty treat, but it made her really ill.
The green Dentastix caused our boxer dog to become quite ill, and it was clear from the vomit that the medication was to blame. Nothing but standard dry non-allergy dog food is given to our dog. These Dentastix were bulk purchases that I have since thrown away. shockingly awful Don’t offer your dogs any.
I looked online to see whether my experience with Pedigree Dentistix was singular, but it was not.
The dog threw up the first time after two sticks and two episodes of extremely loose faeces. A warning to others who could experience the same and wish to pinpoint the issue, but only two stars because it might be our new rescue dog is a little oversensitive.
Do not risk their health by putting it on the line. While some dogs seem to be fine with these useless denture sticks, many dogs actually respond to them in a very negative and serious way.
Just half a stick later, my Jack Russell spent the next 12 hours throwing up. It seems like many other dog owners have encountered the same problem.
Our dog was also quite ill, as some other reviews had reported. She vomited for a whole twelve hours after I fed her only half a small dog stick. She lost a lot of water and grew very weak. She still isn’t eating or drinking adequately a few days later. These products need to be pulled off the market right away because some dogs are clearly having serious reactions to them.
Dentastix were just purchased as a treat for the dogs. They lost a lot of weight in just one day and experienced really awful diarrhoea, vomiting, and lethargicness. They needed to go to the vet, so we did! Will never purchase again!
On pedigree stix, one of my dogs has been pretty ill, as if he had eaten something that wasn’t agreeable. He started scratching, rolling about, and acting depressed. When I removed the stix from him, he began to perk up and stop scratching. My other dog simply ate it whole and came dangerously close to choking. So, no thanks; I won’t be purchasing them any longer. No chemicals, etc., a good marrow bone is better and healthier;
Due to consuming Dentastix, our dog nearly lost his life. We were unaware that Dentastix had altered its recipe, resulting in a stick that was tougher and less palatable at the time. The stick got stuck in our dog’s intestines (the vet identified it as a dentastix), producing a blockage that turned his stomach upside down. Unknown to most, an untreated twisted stomach can quickly prove fatal. Fortunately, she was fortunate. If your dog’s health is important to you, avoid purchasing dentastix.
She adored the dental chews I gave my Beagle every night before bed throughout the ten years I owned her. So I continued after getting Duggie the Beagle. He has been eating the new chews for two weeks, and for the past three days he has been sick and wants to be alone despite the fact that he is generally extremely friendly. He has diarrhoea and really stinks. I saw you altered the chews’ recipe, but I carried on because he enjoyed them. He had blood in his morning sickness, which makes me furious because he is my universe.
My dog’s preferred snacks. He will shortly be 2 years old and has no evidence of tooth tartar at this time. good value for the money
I almost always give my dog one of these treats, and she loves them. It is the ideal size for my dog’s weight and provides enjoyable entertainment at the same time. Recommend.
