Domino Doggie

Apparently, February is not only Black History Month; it’s also Pet Dental Care Month, or so countless online pet retailers are announcing on their main pages. So I figure now is as good as any of a time to review my one foray into doggie dental care (beyond Greenies and other minty chewies, of course): the Easy Brush Bone, produced by Farnam.

I grabbed the Easy Brush Bone at a deep discount when my previous pet store employer was getting rid of overstock - for under $5, I couldn’t think of a reason NOT to try it, especially since the version I got came with a free tube of the Petrodex Poultry-Flavored Dog Toothpaste. I took my impulse buy home and prepared to spring it on my unsuspecting, yucky-breathed Boxer.

Preparation is easy enough: simply squeeze a small amount of the paste on one end of the “brush” bristles, rub it in a bit, and hand it to your pet for about 2-3 minutes of supervised (the brush is very flexible; keep a close eye on aggressive chewers to make sure they’re not chomping off sections of the brush itself) chewing.

My Boxer can be picky at times, so it was a relief when she immediately took to the Easy Brush Bone and gnawed away happily at the bristled end for her allotted 3 minutes. Apparently, it must’ve been a real hit with her, because once I removed the brush and began to rinse out the bristles in the sink, she sat at attention, begging for me to return it to her. I caught her a few times later in the night, nonchalantly moseying over towards the counter where the Easy Brush Bone was sitting, hoping to reclaim her new “chew toy”. So if you’re skeptical of whether or not a dog will actually use the bone properly and LIKE it, the answer seems to be a resounding yes.

We’ve since been using the Easy Brush Bone regularly (about 2-3 minutes every other day, on average), and the dogs have never tired of it yet. I’ve used only the poultry-flavored paste thus far; they also make a beef version which I intend to buy next. I’m about ready to replace the brush bone, as well - it’s certainly been well-loved, and after a few months, it shows. But it seems to be a worthy purchase if your dog’s dental hygiene is a concern: not only is it a recreational hit, both of my dogs have almost blinding white teeth after using this regularly. Color me impressed.

Best Price: $11.99 @ JB Pet Supplies