Are Dental Chews Safe for Dogs? Risks and Safer Use

Short answer

No veterinary source we found calls dental chews risk-free. The documented risks are choking and blockage, broken teeth from very hard items, and extra calories.^{6, 4, 3} Size the chew to the dog, watch it chew, count its calories, and ask your vet about any health condition. A VOHC seal is about plaque and tartar, not safety.

This page gathers veterinary sources on the risks of dental chews, on safer use, and on what to give instead. It tests nothing on dogs and ranks no chew for safety, because no source we found supports such a ranking. Data checked on October 13, 2026. For one brand’s record, see are Greenies safe.

What are the potential risks of dog dental chews?

Risks of dental chews and the veterinary source behind each. Sources are numbered and listed below.
Risk	What the sources say
Chew stuck in the esophagus	In a case series of 31 dogs, 26 (83.9%) were small dogs. Damage was moderate or severe in 86.7%, 6 of 25 dogs that survived the first stay in hospital developed a stricture, and overall mortality was 25.8%.⁶ Signs include drooling, gagging, trouble swallowing, regurgitation and repeated swallowing.⁷
Large pieces or a chew swallowed whole	ASPCA says compressed chews suit moderate to light chewers. Overly aggressive chewers may swallow large chunks, which can cause an intestinal obstruction that needs surgery, and a chew that is too small can be swallowed whole.⁸
Broken teeth	Cornell warns that hard objects, including bones, antlers, hooves, rawhide and hard manufactured toys, can wear or fracture teeth.⁴ WSAVA says to avoid excessively hard chews such as antlers and hooves.³ In a cadaver study, 24 maxillary fourth premolars fractured under a mean force of 1,281 N (SD 403 N).⁹
Extra calories	WSAVA lists obesity among the harms of the wrong treat.³ See how often to give dental chews for the numbers.
Raw or unprocessed animal chews	WSAVA flags unprocessed raw animal-based treats as a risk of pathogen transmission.³ Of 26 bully sticks tested in a 2013 study, one carried C. difficile, one MRSA and one a tetracycline-resistant E. coli.¹⁰
Allergy, upset stomach, medical conditions	Conventional treats may not suit a dog with a medical condition, dietary sensitivities or a prescription diet.³ See sensitive stomach and allergies.

How to give dental chews more safely

Use the size on the label. VOHC advises giving the right-sized product for the dog’s body weight,¹ and ASPCA says to follow label directions and choose a product made for the dog’s size and chewing habits.⁸
Watch the dog chew. VOHC says to limit treats to times when the owner can observe;¹ ASPCA says eating a compressed chew should be slow and deliberate, and rapid eating should not be allowed.⁸
Match the chew to the dog. ASPCA describes durable nylon chews as suited to aggressive chewers, but they wear down to thin sections that can break off and be swallowed, so they should be discarded before they wear down too far.⁸
Introduce one new chew at a time. VCA advises new treats slowly, one at a time, starting with a small piece, especially if the dog is prone to tummy upset.⁵
Store and handle it like food. FDA says to keep treats in the original container, which keeps the lot number and best-by date handy, and in a secure place so the dog cannot eat the whole supply at once.¹¹ Wash your hands before and after handling treats.¹²
Report problems. FDA counts a foreign object in the product, or a dog that gets sick after eating it, as problems to report to FDA and the maker. If the dog is unwell, stop feeding the product and call your vet.¹¹

What if a dental chew breaks into pieces or is too small?

A chew that breaks into large pieces, or a dog that gulps, can mean the chew does not suit the dog. ASPCA says to avoid products a dog can consume in significant pieces, and that a dog which swallows a chunk of chew should be seen by a vet right away.⁸ Ask your vet whether a different size or type would suit your dog better. Gagging, drooling, repeated swallowing or regurgitation after a chew calls for a vet visit.⁷ Most of the dogs in the esophageal case series were small, which is why size matching deserves extra care with small dogs.⁶

Which dogs should be extra careful?

Puppies. No source we found ranks chews for puppy teeth. Manufacturers set their own minimums: 6 months for Greenies Original (and not under 5 lb) and Milk-Bone Brushing Chews, 9 months for Whimzees Brushzees.^{13, 14, 15} Ask your vet before offering a chew to a younger puppy.
Small dogs and gulpers. They were most of the dogs in the esophageal blockage series.⁶
Hard chewers. Cornell links hard objects to worn and broken teeth,⁴ and ASPCA says overly aggressive chewers may swallow large chunks of compressed chews.⁸
Dogs with allergies, a medical condition or a prescription diet. Ask your vet first.^{3, 5}

Does the VOHC seal mean a chew is safe?

No. VOHC says its job is to review products against its standards for plaque and tartar control, and that it does not test products itself.¹ The seal tells you a plaque or tartar claim was reviewed, not how likely a chew is to choke or block a given dog. The VOHC-accepted dental chews page lists every chew with the seal and its claim.

What can I give my dog instead of dental chews?

Alternatives to edible dental chews and what the sources say about each. VOHC row counts are from the VOHC list, checked October 13, 2026.
Option	What the sources say
Daily brushing	Cornell calls it the most effective home method.⁴ See cleaning teeth without brushing for training steps.
Dental diets	Cornell lists them as an option.⁴ The VOHC list has 14 dental-diet rows, 7 of them sold through veterinarians only.²
Water additives, gels, sprays, powders	Cornell lists additives, gels and sprays.⁴ The VOHC list has 26 rows in its additive, gel, spray, toothpaste and powder category; see VOHC dental powders, water additives and wipes.²
Bones, antlers, hooves	WSAVA says bones can be very dangerous and excessively hard chews should be avoided.³ Cornell flags tooth wear and fracture.⁴
Rawhide	Cornell advises caution, and ASPCA says obstruction may be more likely in smaller dogs.^{4, 8} The VOHC list has one rawhide row (a Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dental Chewz product, Tartar, 2006).²
Bully sticks, pig’s ears	The bully sticks in the 2013 study averaged 15 kcal per inch, and a few of the 26 tested carried bacteria such as MRSA.¹⁰ WSAVA lists contaminated pig’s ears as a pathogen risk.³
Nylon and rubber chew toys	ASPCA: suited to aggressive chewers, but discard when worn thin.⁸ Cornell lists hard manufactured toys among the items that can fracture teeth.⁴

Frequently asked questions

What are the potential risks of dog dental chews?

The documented risks are choking and blockage of the esophagus or intestine, broken teeth from very hard items, and extra calories under WSAVA’s 10% limit. Size the chew to the dog, watch the dog chew, and ask your vet about any health condition.

What chews are safe for puppy teeth?

No source we found ranks puppy chews. Labels set minimum ages, such as 6 months for Greenies Original and 9 months for Whimzees Brushzees. Ask your vet before giving a chew to a younger puppy.

Are antlers and hard bones bad for dog teeth?

Cornell lists bones, antlers, hooves and hard toys as items that can wear or fracture teeth, and WSAVA advises avoiding excessively hard chews such as antlers and hooves.

Can rawhide dental chews cause blockage?

Yes, it can happen. ASPCA says a dog that consumes significant pieces of rawhide may get a choking or intestinal blockage, and smaller dogs may be at higher risk. Cornell also lists rawhide among items to offer with caution.

Are dental chews a choking hazard for small dogs?

They can be. In a case series of dental chew blockages in the esophagus, 26 of 31 dogs were small. Pick the size for your dog’s weight, watch it chew, and call your vet if it gags or drools afterwards.

How should I store dental chews?

Keep them in the original container so the lot number and best-by date stay with the product, and in a place the dog cannot reach, as FDA advises. Wash your hands before and after handling treats.

Sources

Veterinary Oral Health Council: VOHC home page, accessed October 13, 2026. Daily use, gold standard brushing, supervision, VOHC does not test products itself.
Veterinary Oral Health Council: Accepted products, accessed October 13, 2026. Claims and seal years in the VOHC snapshot of October 13, 2026.
World Small Animal Veterinary Association: Feeding treats to your dog, accessed October 13, 2026. 10% limit, daily treat calories by body weight, unsafe treats (Jun 2024).
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Dental disease and home dental care, accessed October 13, 2026. Brushing, other home options, hard chews, signs of dental disease.
VCA Animal Hospitals: Will my dog's diet be balanced with treats?, accessed October 13, 2026. 10% treat guidance, medical conditions, prescription diets, new treats.
J Am Vet Med Assoc 232(7):1021-1025, via Europe PMC: Leib MS, Sartor LL. Esophageal foreign body obstruction caused by a dental chew treat in 31 dogs (2000-2006), accessed October 13, 2026. Abstract only; the abstract names no brand.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Esophageal Foreign Bodies in Small Animals, accessed October 13, 2026. Dental chew treats as a cause; clinical signs.
ASPCA: Position Statement on Dog Chews/Treats, accessed October 13, 2026. Chew types, matching chews to chewing habits, label directions, worn nylon chews, what to do after a chunk is swallowed.
Front Vet Sci 2018, via Europe PMC: Soltero-Rivera M et al. Fracture limits of maxillary fourth premolar teeth in domestic dogs under applied forces, accessed October 13, 2026. Abstract only. Cadaver study of 24 teeth.
Can Vet J 2013;54(1):50-54, via Europe PMC: Freeman LM, Janecko N, Weese JS. Nutritional and microbial analysis of bully sticks and survey of opinions about pet treats, accessed October 13, 2026. Abstract only.
U.S. FDA: Proper Storage of Pet Food & Treats, accessed October 13, 2026. Original container, secure place, reporting a problem.
U.S. FDA: Tips for Safe Handling of Pet Food and Treats, accessed October 13, 2026. Hand washing before and after handling treats.
Greenies (Mars Petcare, manufacturer): Original Regular size, accessed October 13, 2026. Minimum age and weight.
Milk-Bone (manufacturer): Brushing Chews, Small/Medium, accessed October 13, 2026. Minimum age.
Wellness Pet (manufacturer): Whimzees Brushzees, accessed October 13, 2026. Minimum age.

Prepared by the DentalDogTreats editorial team from the sources above. This is not veterinary advice; ask your veterinarian about your dog's teeth, diet and health. See how we compare and the affiliate disclosure.