Whimzees are potato-starch dental chews shaped so that the dog has to work at them. They contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, and the Toothbrush and Brushzees shapes carry the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal of acceptance for reducing plaque and tartar — the only dental claim on any pack that has been tested against a published standard rather than asserted by the maker.
Choosing a shape
The shape is the mechanism, not decoration. Toothbrush and Stix have grooves and ridges that reach along the tooth surface, Alligator and Hedgehog take longer to get through, and Occupy Antlers are the ones to reach for with a determined chewer who finishes everything else in a minute. The Soft range suits puppies, seniors and dogs that have had dental work. Variety boxes are the sensible first purchase, because most dogs have a clear preference and there is no way to predict it.
Sizing
Size by the dog's weight and follow the pack, not your eye. A chew a dog can fit whole into its mouth is swallowed rather than chewed, which removes both the cleaning and the point. Whimzees are fed one a day as part of the daily food allowance — they are a meaningful number of calories, not a garnish.
What they will and will not do
Daily chewing slows plaque before it hardens. It does not remove tartar that is already there, and it is not a substitute for brushing, which remains the most effective thing you can do at home. Supervise a dog with any chew, and take the last small piece away rather than letting it be swallowed whole.
