Checkups Dental chews

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have started giving my dogs a half of these chews in the evening. They love them but I have no clue if they actually help their teeth and gums. I buy them at Costco, forgive me Karen. But I see nothing in the ingredients that is a problem. Since I have eliminated virtually all chews from their diet I wanted to try these. They are manufactured in Missouri.

Checkuptreats.com/#products

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm not sure that they are made in MO. That's where the company that owns the brand, Sugar Creek Pet Products LLC, is registered. But even if they are, there is a really poor history of recalls on virtually every treat sold at Costco, even the ones that are made in the USA. There is some chat in online dog forums about these Checkup treats being made in Vietnam. 

I looked at the ingredients, too, and there are a lot of similar products on the market from companies that I feel more comfortable with. 

What happened to the C.E.T. chews, I thought you were using those? 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Nope, I never used those. The FAQs say made in Missouri but you never know.

http://checkupstreats.com/frequently-asked-questions/

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Maybe it was a dental spray? 

At any rate, in the FAQs for the Checkups, there's this info, which leads me to believe that most any kind of dental chew would be just as good: 

"After many experimental formulations, the ideal combination of ingredients led to these treats. This recipe is soluble and highly digestible, making it safe for your dogs. This was an important priority, but the other priority was to make a pliable texture that would allow the teeth to sink in, effectively scraping the surfaces to remove plaque. When dogs chew the treat, they will remove existing plaque from the surface. This is important to prevent the build-up of tartar. Plaque turns into tartar when it is allowed to stay on the surface of the teeth by binding with minerals in the saliva. Mechanical action is the most important way these treats keep the teeth clean."

Whimzees is a recommended brand, and they make some good dental chews similar to these. Zuke's Z-bones are similar, too. I used to buy something similar for JD when he could have the wheat flour, etc., but I can't remember the name. 

 I do think that it's true that the mechanical action of scraping the surface of the teeth is what does the trick. JD's teeth have been tartar free since he's been getting antlers. (I know a lot of people are afraid of a dog breaking a tooth on antlers and other hard chew objects, but that's what's been most effective for us.) Let us know how these work for your dogs.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I used PetzLife Gel, not good enough. I doubt there is anything good enough for Calla. I do put various things on her teeth/gums nightly. the Whimsees are very big and hard and expensive. I thought we stopped recommending Zukes. Calla's incisors and Luca's canines are wearing down so I started avoiding anything really hard.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Whimzees has dental bones besides those big dinosaur thingees. Two different kinds, in fact.

We did stop recommending Zukes, but gun to my head, I'd still choose their chews over anything from Costco. I just don't trust their products. Of course, I don;t trust Purina either, so this makes no sense, I know.

Take a look at the C.E.T. dental chews, they have a few varieties and they contain chlorhexidine, too: http://www.virbacvet.com/products/detail/c.e.t.-veggiedent-tartar-c...

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do use chlorhexidine gel on Calla. I will take a look.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's a link to the Whimzees product line-up, they have toothbrush shaped chews, too: http://www.whimzees.com/products/

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks.

[Julie and Charlie]

All I want for Christmas is a chlorhexidine gluconate coated chew made in USA from reasonably sourced ingredients! 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Amen!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL, Julie!