Canine dental hygiene is often overlooked in favor of dog joint supplements or collagen for dogs. But oral care is just as important, from preventing dog dental disease to keeping that notorious doggy breath at bay.
That’s why you should add dog dental chews to your pup’s regimen. Greenies made these famous, and they work wonders for removing plaque and tartar while freshening breath. Dogs love them, too.
So, why are more pawrents searching around for a healthy alternative to Greenies for dogs? The truth is, ingredients leave a bit to be desired. They’re pretty expensive, too. The good news is your search for a Greenies alternative ends here at Mighty Munch.
We’ve developed the best dental chews for dogs, featuring probiotics to improve oral health from the inside out. They’re made in a human-grade facility with top-tier ingredients. Vets, pet parents, and of course, dogs themselves love Mighty Munch. Spoil your pet today.
What Are Greenies Dog Dental Chews?
Greenies are among the most recognisable dog dental treats on the market because they were one of the first to bring this product to Australia.
The appeal is obvious, these treats serve a practical purpose. They freshen breath, reduce plaque, and support overall oral hygiene. But how do dog dental chews work?
Their signature chewy texture lets dogs gnaw through the stick slowly, scraping away tartar and helping clean teeth down to the gumline. The chews have been approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) so you can rest assured you’re giving your pet the care they need.
Variety is a huge selling point for Greenies, too. You can tailor the treat to your dog’s age and size, providing them with the exact formulation they need. Choose from a variety of flavours to please even the pickiest eaters.
All of this sounds great, but while Greenies does check quite a few boxes, they may not be right for every dog. Wait, are dental sticks bad for dogs? No - but they’re not perfect, either.
The ingredient list is fairly processed, and the truth is, there are better formulations on the market. Let’s take a closer look at the need for a Greenies substitute below.
Why Australian Pet Parents Are Searching for Greenies Alternatives
You only want the absolute best for your dog. They’re only here for so long, and the care you give them can dictate how long and happy their life is.
That said, is Greenies the best option for protecting or even improving your pet’s oral health? Or put differently, are these dental chews worth it? There are three things to consider: ingredients, sensitivities, and accessibility.
Concerns About Ingredients and Digestibility
Greenies are VOHC-approved and generally considered safe - yet, their ingredient list does raise some red flags. Wheat flour, glycerin, powdered cellulose, and wheat gluten don’t sit well in every dog’s stomach.
While these additives are important for creating that chewable texture dogs love (and for producing that scraping effect), they can be difficult to digest in order pets or those with sensitive stomachs.
Unfortunately, wheat and grain sensitivities are quite common in Australian dogs, particularly in breeds like Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bulldogs, and Border Collies.
There’s also some discussion among vets and pet parents about how “natural” the formulation truly is. Despite the added vitamins and minerals, there are still fillers and artificial flavouring agents that may lead you towards a better alternative to Greenies for dogs.
Don’t worry - we’ve come up with a Greenies alternative with zero issues for pets prone to skin irritation, gastrointestinal distress, or other allergy-related symptoms here at Mighty Munch.
Availability and Pricing in Australia
There’s no price tag you can put on your pet’s health and happiness. We strongly believe you should ever cut corners when it comes to the supplements you give your dog, and that you get what you pay for.
However, there are better alternatives to Greenies for dogs in terms of value for the money. You can expect to pay roughly $60 for just 36 treats - that’s pretty pricey.
What if we told you the best Greenies substitute was only $49 for roughly the same quantity? And, that you were giving your dog a better formula recommended by Australian veterinarians? It’s true. We’ll unveil the top Greenies alternatives below!
What is a Better Alternative to Greenies for Dogs?
There are quite a few great options if you’re looking for a better alternative to Greenies for dogs, and we want to be clear - if you’re feeding your dog dental chews, you’re already doing better than a lot of pet parents!
But the formulation does matte for pet parents who aren’t willing to settle for less than the best. Here are the top Greenies alternatives in Australia.
Mighty Munch
Mighty Munch dental sticks are a vet-recommended alternative to Greenies, and it all comes down to our stringent quality standards that exceed pet quality - we manufacture our dog supplements in a human-grade facility using only the finest ingredients available!
Speaking of ingredients, what are dog dental chews made of? They’re unlike anything else on the market in that we’ve infused live dog probiotics to actively support oral and gut health. Meanwhile, the strong texture and density helps reduce your pet’s plaque content, all while freshening up their breath!
Your order is backed by our 90-day money-back guarantee so you can wait and see the results for yourself. Expect better breath, cleanier teeth, and a happier pup when you start using our dental chews. See what others had to say:
“Our dog likes these dental sticks a lot more as opposed to the ones we used to previously buy.” - Peter
“Amazing results… we took our older dog to the vet and he straight away commented on how great her teeth are looking… she looks like she’s had cosmetic surgery haha. Fantastic.” - Sarah
“The first dental stick my GSP has had to really work on and the first I have seen an improvement on his teeth.” - Christine
Kirkland
Kirkland is among the most popular Greenies substitute - in fact, we have a side by side comparison of Greenies vs Kirkland dental chews since we’ve seen so many pet parents struggle to choose between the two!
These dental chews are readily available in the USA since it’s an American brand, but they’re a bit harder to come by here in Australia. We’ve found them at some pet retailers so if you’re willing to look hard enough you may encounter them too!
Kirkland’s chews features multilevel ridges and nubs that help mechanically reduce plaque from multiple angles. They include added vitamins and minerals for general wellness, too.
The formula itself is pretty basic. It consists of potato starch, soy protein isolate, and gelatin as key binders. They’re grain-free and free of artificial flavours and colours, which is a big plus!
However, Kirkland offers only one chew size and flavour, limiting flexibility for households with multiple dogs. They’re not VOHC-approved either. So there are some question marks. Still, they’re a decent choice for pet parents shopping on a budget since they’re so affordable.
Blue Buffalo
Blue Buffalo is another prominent, healthy alternative to Greenies for dogs. They’re made with real chicken and whole grains like brown rice and barley with a unique shape that cleans teeth as dogs chew.
Plus, your dog is getting 8% collagen to support gum and joint health! Blue also includes sunflower oil for omega fatty acids and dicalcium phosphate for bone health.
The ingredient profile deserves credit for what’s not in it, too, with no chicken by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives. It’s about as clean as you’ll find in a Greenies alternative.
The only issue is cellulose, a fibrous filler that could pose problems for some pets with sensitive stomachs. It’s also worth noting these don’t quite offer the same cleaning power as Greenies or Mighty Munch, so Blue Buffalo may not be enough for dogs with intensive plaque control needs.
Pedigree
Pedigree Dentastix are VOHC-approved and designed with a patented X-shape to help scrape plaque and tartar down to the gumline. This is a great, healthy alternative to Greenies for dogs.
You can find these in a wide array of flavours like mint, beef, and chicken. They even contain sodium tripolyphosphate, an effective anti-tartar ingredient. The formula features essential vitamins like B12, folic acid, and Vitamin E as well.
The problem is, you’ll also see wheat starch, rice flour, and preservatives such as potassium sorbate on the ingredients label, too. So even though Pedigree is widely available, they could be problematic for dogs with grain sensitivities or allergies.
Purina
Last but not least on our Greenies substitute list, we have another giant in the pet products industry: Purina’s DentaLife chews.
They have 8 ridges for deeper cleaning, and this feature is part of why they’re clinically proven to reduce tartar build-up by up to 57%. It also helps that they have a porous texture designed to reach back teeth where plaque tends to collect. You can choose from three size options to suit different breeds, too.
Ingredients include rice, glycerin, and chicken by-product meal, along with artificial preservatives like BHA and BHT. There are a few red flags there, which is ultimately why we put Purina at the bottom of our list.
Wrapping Up Our Greenies Alternative Guide
Greenies are great for helping control plaque and tartar while freshening breath. However, there are so many better alternatives to Greenies for dogs when you want to get better value for the money. We hope this Greenies substitute guide has helped you weigh your options!
From Kirkland to Purina, there are plenty of options, but Mighty Munch stands apart with vet-formulated, probiotic-infused chews designed to actually improve your dog’s health - not just mask bad breath.
You can join over 300,000 Aussie dogs thriving on Mighty Munch if you’re ready to give your dog something better, too. Try it risk-free with our 90-day money-back guarantee!
