Greenies Teenie Original Natural Dental Dog Treats, Chicken, 22 Count

Why it's worth it

Greenies are chewy, ridged sticks that most dogs treat as the highlight of the evening. They carry Veterinary Oral Health Council acceptance for both plaque and tartar, they come in six size tiers, and the Teenie size is built for dogs in the five-to-fifteen-pound range.

The dual seal is the whole argument. Most accepted chews clear the bar for tartar only. Greenies clear it for plaque and tartar, and plaque is the part that turns into gum disease if you leave it alone. Mars publishes its own figures too — roughly 47 percent less tartar and 40 percent less plaque over a four-week routine, on data held at the company. Treat the seal as the independent number and the rest as the manufacturer's.

Six size tiers sounds like a marketing detail until you've watched a small dog try to work through a chew meant for a Lab. Size matters for safety, not just efficacy. A chew that's too big gets swallowed in chunks, and a chew that's too small disappears before it scrubs anything. Check your dog's weight against the bag, and go down a tier rather than up if you're between sizes.

From our review of 10 dog toothbrushes and dental chews, by James Bennett, Associate Editor

What we like

• +The dual seal is the whole argument
• +Six size tiers sounds like a marketing detail until you've watched a small dog try to work through a chew meant for a Lab
• +Palatability is the quiet reason this one wins
• +One thing to be clear about: this isn't a substitute for a brush

What to know

• –These are calorie-dense for their size
• –They contain grain, so they're off the table for dogs on an elimination diet or with a known sensitivity