VOHC-Approved Dental Products
Dental disease affects 70% of dogs 3 years and older. As concerned pet owners, we scour the earth looking for the best dental products for dogs. Boy was I schooled on dog dental products during my last veterinary dentist visit. Thank you Dr. Keith Stein, DVM, AVDC!
What is VOHC?
Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) was created by the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry and American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) with the sole purpose of creating standards of approval for products proven to control and remove plaque on your dog’s teeth. Many companies claim it, but does it really work? VOHC has preset criteria on testing chews, gels and water additives. Each category has specific criteria plus additional requirements.
Let’s look at chews. Not only is there a specific criteria set for trails, protocols, control diets and much more, but VOHC also requires chews to not “cause inflammation, ulceration or laceration anywhere in the oral cavity.” How many times have you noticed blood on chews? I know, so have I, so it’s not a good thing. Your dog is damaging his mouth.
Look for VOHC Seal of Approval
Dogs will chew on anything, but, if you’re shelling out hard-earned cash, choose products that clean teeth and gums while keeping dogs occupied. There’s a lot of claims out there on water additives and dental gels so choose VOHC for maximum benefits.
VOHC Recommended Products
Honestly, I’m not surprised at their product recommendations. Most are well known and really do work. Do note there are a few newcomers too! As a pet parent, it’s super nice to know these products have been proven under stringent testing protocols.
Products include:
- Prescription and Regular Foods (e.g. Science Diet Oral Care and TD).
- Chews and Treats: Greenies and Milk Bone.
- Toothbrush: ADA compliant soft bristle flat head toothbrush.
- Toothpaste: Petsmile by Supersmile toothpaste.
- Water Additives and Gels: Dog::Essential (We’ve been using their water additive at our home for a few weeks now and I’m totally impressed!) Take a peek at their trails.
You can find all VOHC recommended products here. Stella had a dental cleaning by Dr. Stein and her teeth are still sparkling white after several weeks. Sobek, my Rottweiler, had some minor accumulation on his back molars, which these products have certainly helped remove tartar and keep it away.
READ ALSO: 5 Reasons Why You Need a Dog Dentist
