Short answer
Greenies Original holds a VOHC plaque and tartar claim and publishes calories for every size. OraVet holds a tartar claim and is built around delmopinol, but the manufacturer page we checked lists no calories or full ingredients. Choose Greenies if you count calories; OraVet suits dogs from 3.5 lb if your vet suggests it.
- Broader VOHC claim: Greenies Original, plaque and tartar (2007). OraVet is tartar only (2016).
- Calorie data: Greenies publishes kcal for four sizes; OraVet publishes none on the page we checked.
- Smallest dogs: OraVet starts at 3.5 lb; Greenies is not for dogs under 5 lb.
- Active ingredient: only OraVet names one, delmopinol hydrochloride (0.7%).
How we compared them
We compared published manufacturer data and the VOHC list. We did not test either product on dogs, and nothing here is veterinary advice. Greenies facts come from greenies.com. For OraVet we checked the Boehringer Ingelheim product page, which names the active ingredient, the age limit and the pack counts; the weight bands and the feeding details come from a retailer dosage chart that we cite as text without a link. Because OraVet is a different kind of product (built around one named active ingredient rather than a general recipe), some rows cannot be matched. Where a value was not published, the table says so instead of guessing. Amazon prices, ratings and reviews are not used.
What the VOHC list says about each
VOHC lists both products for a named claim. OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews has held a tartar claim since 2016; Greenies Original has held plaque and tartar since 2007. The VOHC list checked on October 13, 2026 includes OraVet.
OraVet vs Greenies: side by side
| Criterion | Greenies Original | OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| VOHC claim | Greenies Original (five sizes): Plaque, Tartar. Seal year 2007. Company on the list: Greenies-Mars PetCare. | OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews for Dogs: Tartar only. Seal year 2016. Company on the list: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. | VOHC list, Oct 13, 2026 |
| How it is meant to work | A chewy, dense edible chew. No named active ingredient in the data we compared. | Delmopinol hydrochloride, which the maker says forms a barrier against bacterial attachment; the shape is meant to clean down to the gumline. | greenies.com Boehringer Ingelheim page |
| Sizes and dog weight | Teenie 5–15 lb; Petite 15–25 lb; Regular 25–50 lb; Large 50–100 lb. | X-Small 3.5–9 lb; Small 10–24 lb; Medium 25–50 lb; Large 50 lb and up. | greenies.com retailer dosage chart (not linked) |
| Calories per chew | Teenie 25; Petite 52; Regular 88; Large 142 kcal. | Calories: not published on the manufacturer page we checked (2026-10-13). | greenies.com Boehringer Ingelheim page |
| Ingredients | First five: wheat flour, glycerin, wheat gluten, gelatin, water. | Only delmopinol hydrochloride (0.7% in every size, per the retailer chart) and a poultry flavor with vanilla aroma are named. Full ingredient list: not published on the manufacturer page we checked (2026-10-13). | retailer ingredient list (not linked) Boehringer Ingelheim page retailer dosage chart (not linked) |
| Minimum age | 6 months; not for dogs under 5 lb. | 6 months; the retailer chart adds 3.5 lb. Not for cats, or for pregnant or nursing dogs (retailer chart). | greenies.com Boehringer Ingelheim page retailer dosage chart (not linked) |
| Feeding guideline | 1 per day. | 1 whole chew per day, sized to the dog’s weight; supervise until eaten (retailer chart). | greenies.com retailer dosage chart (not linked) |
The sharpest difference is what each product tells you. Greenies publishes calories for every size and a visible ingredient order. OraVet publishes its active ingredient and its weight bands, but on the pages we checked it gives no calories and no complete ingredient list. If you count calories or manage an ingredient restriction, that gap matters more than the claim.
Calories and dog weight
| Dog weight | 10% of RER | Greenies Original size | OraVet size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb dog | 13 kcal | Teenie: 25 kcal (193% of that allowance) | X-Small: not published |
| 20 lb dog | 37 kcal | Petite: 52 kcal (142% of that allowance) | Small: not published |
| 35 lb dog | 56 kcal | Regular: 88 kcal (158% of that allowance) | Medium: not published |
| 70 lb dog | 94 kcal | Large: 142 kcal (152% of that allowance) | Large: not published |
The allowance column is a rough yardstick from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s guidance that treats stay under 10% of daily calories (WSAVA, Feeding treats to your dog, 2024). It uses resting energy, which understates what an active dog eats, so a real allowance is higher. Even so, every Greenies size at these weights is above 100% of the yardstick, which is why the Greenies label tells owners to cut the main meal by the chew’s calories. We cannot fill the OraVet column, and we will not copy figures from a review site; if you want its calories, ask the manufacturer or your veterinary clinic. The dental chew calorie calculator works out the budget for your dog.
Is delmopinol bad for dogs?
The Boehringer Ingelheim page describes delmopinol hydrochloride as an ingredient used in human oral care rinses and makes no safety claim beyond its usage limits: dogs 6 months or older, and not for cats. In our searches we found no independent safety review of delmopinol in dogs, so we cannot say it is safe or unsafe. The retailer chart adds practical rules: use the size that matches the dog’s weight, do not cut or under-dose, and watch the dog until the chew is eaten. A dog with a medical condition, or one taking medication, should get a veterinarian’s view first.
Was OraVet discontinued?
People ask this, and the honest answer is that we found no manufacturer statement about it. The Boehringer Ingelheim page checked on October 13, 2026 shows no discontinuation notice and still describes the chews in four sizes and two bag counts, and the VOHC list checked the same day still includes OraVet. Ask the manufacturer to confirm.
Choose OraVet if / choose Greenies if
Choose OraVet if
- Your veterinarian suggested a delmopinol-based chew and a tartar claim is the goal.
- Your dog is very small: the X-Small covers 3.5 to 9 lb, below the Greenies Teenie floor of 5 lb.
- You accept that calories and the full ingredient list are unpublished.
Choose Greenies Original if
- You want a plaque and tartar claim and a calorie figure for each size.
- You want the ingredient order visible before you buy.
- Your dog is 5 lb or heavier and you prefer a conventional chew without a single active ingredient.
Read the safety history of Greenies, including lawsuits owners ask about, in Are Greenies safe?
Which costs less?
We do not show prices. Use the dental chew cost calculator with your own price and the bag count to see a daily cost.
Related comparisons
See Milk-Bone Brushing Chews vs Greenies, Dentastix vs Greenies and Greenies vs Whimzees.
Where to look
These links open an Amazon search for the product name. We show no prices, ratings or availability.
OraVet Chews on Amazon Greenies Original on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Is OraVet better than Greenies?
Not on every measure. Greenies Original holds a VOHC plaque and tartar claim and publishes calories for each size; OraVet holds tartar only and publishes no calories on the manufacturer page we checked. OraVet covers dogs from 3.5 lb. Ask your veterinarian.
Is delmopinol bad for dogs?
The manufacturer page sets only usage limits: 6 months or older, not for cats. We found no independent safety review of delmopinol in dogs, so we make no safety claim. Ask your veterinarian, especially if your dog has a health condition.
Why was OraVet discontinued?
We found no manufacturer statement that it was. The Boehringer Ingelheim page checked on October 13, 2026 shows no discontinuation notice, and the VOHC list checked that day still includes OraVet. Store stock varies, so ask the manufacturer to confirm.
Is OraVet the best dental chew for dogs?
We do not name a best chew. OraVet is VOHC-accepted for tartar (2016). The right choice depends on your dog’s size, diet and your veterinarian’s advice.
Sources
- VOHC: Accepted products, accessed October 13, 2026. VOHC claims, seal years and the OraVet entry.
- Greenies: Original Regular product page, accessed October 13, 2026. Feeding, age, texture; sizes and calories on the four Original size pages at greenies.com.
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health: OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews, accessed October 13, 2026. Delmopinol, age limit, pack counts, flavor; no calories, ingredient list or discontinuation notice.
- Retailer dosage chart: OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews (weight bands, feeding, delmopinol 0.7%) (retailer product listing, not linked), accessed October 13, 2026.
- Retailer listing: Greenies Original ingredients (retailer product listing, not linked), accessed October 13, 2026.
- WSAVA: Feeding treats to your dog (2024), accessed October 13, 2026. Treats under 10% of daily calories.