Which Dog Dental Chews Are VOHC Accepted? (2026): Cost per Day
For a 30 lb dog, the cheapest chew VOHC accepts for both plaque and tartar is Greenies Original, at $1.03 a day. For small dogs Greenies Original costs less, and for big dogs Virbac C.E.T. VeggieDent FR3SH does. Most Dentastix are not on the list.
Our recommendation
Buy Greenies Original
VOHC accepts it for both plaque and tartar, and it comes in sizes from 5 to 100 lb. For a 30 lb dog that is the Regular size, $1.03 a day.
Buy on Amazon- Big dog (about 60 lb)? Virbac C.E.T. VeggieDent FR3SH is accepted for plaque and tartar, at $1.13 a day.
- No meat, or a sensitive stomach? WHIMZEES Brushzees and Virbac C.E.T. VeggieDent FR3SH are plant-based and accepted for plaque and tartar.
- Want the lowest cost? Purina DentaLife costs $0.31 a day for a 30 lb dog. VOHC accepts it for tartar only.
Which dog dental chews are VOHC accepted? (7)
These chew lines are on the VOHC list and sold on Amazon. Plaque is the soft film on teeth; tartar is plaque that has hardened. Cost is one chew a day in the size for each dog.
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Our pick
Greenies Original
Sizes for dogs 5 to 100 lb. 10 lb dog: $0.31 · 30 lb dog: $1.03 · 60 lb dog: $1.54 a day.
Calories a chew: 25 (10 lb size) · 88 (30 lb size) · 142 (60 lb size).
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Lowest cost for big dogs, plaque and tartar
Virbac C.E.T. VeggieDent FR3SH
Sizes for dogs of any weight. 10 lb dog: $0.88 · 30 lb dog: $1.13 · 60 lb dog: $1.13 a day.
Calories a chew: 24 (10 lb size) · 75 (30 lb size) · 75 (60 lb size).
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WHIMZEES Brushzees
Sizes for dogs 15 to 40 lb. 30 lb dog: $1.32 a day.
Calories a chew: 87 (30 lb size).
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Lowest cost, tartar only
Purina DentaLife
Sizes for dogs 5 lb and up. 10 lb dog: $0.19 · 30 lb dog: $0.31 · 60 lb dog: $0.60 a day.
Calories a chew: 25 (10 lb size) · 63 (30 lb size) · 100 (60 lb size).
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Milk-Bone Brushing Chews
Sizes for dogs 5 lb and up. 10 lb dog: $0.28 · 30 lb dog: $0.43 · 60 lb dog: $0.60 a day.
Calories a chew: 30 (10 lb size) · 65 (30 lb size) · 100 (60 lb size).
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Pedigree Dentastix Large Variety Pack
Sizes for dogs 40 lb and up. 60 lb dog: $0.47 a day.
Calories a chew: 78 (60 lb size).
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OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews
Sizes for dogs 3.5 lb and up. 10 lb dog: $1.27 · 60 lb dog: $1.92 a day.
Cost a day = the Amazon price on November 4, 2026 divided by the chews in the bag, one chew a day as every label says. The VOHC list is from August 5, 2026. We count a chew only when the VOHC list names that product line.
What is the cheapest VOHC-accepted dental chew?
It depends on your dog's size. For each size, here is the lowest cost a day, first among chews accepted for both plaque and tartar, then among all accepted chews.
| Dog | Plaque and tartar | Any accepted chew |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lb | Greenies Original, $0.31 | Purina DentaLife, $0.19 (tartar only) |
| 30 lb | Greenies Original, $1.03 | Purina DentaLife, $0.31 (tartar only) |
| 60 lb | Virbac C.E.T. VeggieDent FR3SH, $1.13 | Pedigree Dentastix Large Variety Pack, $0.47 (tartar only) |
How many calories is a dental chew?
More than most people think. A Greenies Original chew in the size for a 30 lb dog has 88 calories. Vets suggest treats stay under 10% of a dog's daily calories, which is about 79 calories for a 30 lb adult dog. So that one chew uses the whole treat budget.
| Dog | Treat budget | Our pick | Lowest-calorie accepted chew |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb | 35 calories | 25 calories (71%) | Virbac C.E.T. VeggieDent FR3SH, 24 calories (69%) |
| 30 lb | 79 calories | 88 calories (111%) | Purina DentaLife, 63 calories (80%) |
| 60 lb | 133 calories | 142 calories (107%) | Virbac C.E.T. VeggieDent FR3SH, 75 calories (56%) |
If your dog gets a dental chew every day, skip most other treats or feed a little less at meals. Greenies' own label says to cut the meal by the chew's calories.
Do dental chews actually work?
Yes, a little, if your dog chews them every day. In one 4-week trial, dogs given one dental chew a day had less plaque, tartar and gum redness than dogs fed the same food with no chew (Brown 2005). Trials like this are short and often paid for by the maker. A chew cannot clean below the gum line, so it helps between brushings. It does not replace brushing or a cleaning at the vet.
When should your dog see a vet about teeth?
Dental disease is common: 70% to 80% of dogs and cats show signs of it by age 3 (AAHA). Book a vet visit if you see any of these (AVMA):
- Bad breath that does not go away
- Broken or loose teeth, or teeth covered in tartar
- Bleeding from the mouth, or swelling around it
- Chewing oddly, or drooling
- Eating less, or signs that the mouth hurts
Is Dentastix VOHC approved?
Only some kinds. Leaving out its UK-only entries, the VOHC list names 3: Dentastix Advanced, the large Original, Beef and Fresh variety pack and Dentastix Light. The plain small and medium Dentastix most stores sell are not on it. The large variety pack is accepted for tartar and costs $0.47 a day.
What does VOHC accepted mean?
The Veterinary Oral Health Council does not test products itself. The company runs two trials of at least 28 days, and VOHC reviews the data. To get the seal, a chew must cut plaque or tartar by at least 15% against dogs not given it in each trial, and by 20% across the two. The seal says which one it was proven for: plaque, tartar, or both.
Check the seal, not the bag. OraVet's bag says it reduces plaque and tartar; VOHC accepted it for tartar.
The list now has 82 products for dogs, including 36 chews and treats, 15 dental diets, and 30 water additives, gels, toothpastes, brushes and wipes. See the full VOHC list.
Pick the right size
VOHC tells owners to check the package for the right weight range. A chew too small for your dog can be swallowed whole. Most labels are for dogs over 6 months old; Greenies sells a separate puppy chew.
Questions
Are Greenies VOHC approved?
Yes. Original Greenies in all five sizes are on the VOHC list for plaque and tartar, and so are the Puppy, Aging Care, Weight Management, Grain-Free and Hip and Joint Care chews.
Do dental chews replace brushing?
No. VOHC calls daily brushing the gold standard. A chew on its list cut plaque or tartar in two trials, so it helps between brushings.
Sources
- Veterinary Oral Health Council. VOHC Accepted Products for Dogs, updated August 5, 2026. vohc.org (PDF)
- Veterinary Oral Health Council. Trial protocol requirements (two trials, at least 28 days, 15% per trial and 20% mean reduction). vohc.org
- Each product's Amazon listing (weight range, count), read November 4, 2026. Calories a chew: each brand's own page; WHIMZEES from PetSmart's listing, which quotes the brand.
- Brown WY, McGenity P. Effective periodontal disease control using dental hygiene chews. J Vet Dent. 2005;22(1):16-19. PubMed 15909452
- AAHA. 2021 Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines (treats under 10% of daily calories). aaha.org Daily calories: Merck Veterinary Manual, 1.6 x resting energy (70 x kg0.75) for a neutered adult dog.
- AVMA. Pet dental care (signs of dental disease). avma.org (PDF) AAHA. Preventive healthcare for pets. aaha.org