Dental chews and toys can benefit dog welfare through oral health maintenance and enrichment, but some products cause dental fractures and gastrointestinal blockages.
Dental chews and toys provide genuine welfare benefits through oral health maintenance and the enrichment of extended chewing behavior. However, the welfare harms of dental fractures (causing acute pain, expensive treatment, and potential tooth loss) and gastrointestinal obstruction from swallowed pieces are significant and preventable. Owner ignorance about product safety - providing antlers or very hard bones believing they are beneficial - causes avoidable dental fractures that result in painful injuries and expensive treatment. Welfare-conscious selection of dental products uses VOHC-approved options that are safe and effective rather than the hardest available chews under the mistaken belief that harder means better for dental health.