Dental care for Dalmatian and Pointer

Dental disease in dogs is extremely common and genuinely serious — it's not just bad breath, it's a source of chronic pain that most dogs quietly endure. The most effective home care combines the right toothbrush and toothpaste with dental chews for dogs who won't tolerate brushing. You've got two medium-to-large dogs here — a 5-year-old Dalmatian and a 7-year-old Pointer — and you're sensibly looking for VOHC-approved options that work for both. Has your vet raised any specific dental concerns with either dog, and will either of them tolerate any brushing at all?

That's really useful — so the Pointer already has some tartar accumulating, which means you want something working on that every day, not just occasionally. 30 seconds of brushing is actually worth doing for the Pointer; it's not perfect but it catches the front teeth where tartar tends to show first. For the Dalmatian, chews are going to be your main tool. Given both dogs are in the medium-large range and you want VOHC approval for both, what are they eating currently — kibble, wet, raw? And does either dog have any known sensitivities or dietary restrictions?

Perfect — similar sizes makes this straightforward. My clear recommendation for both dogs is Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Chews in the large dog size. They carry the VOHC seal specifically for reducing plaque and tartar, which is the gold standard you're after. The enzymatic action means they're doing active work on the Pointer's existing tartar buildup, not just scraping mechanically. At 25–27kg both dogs sit comfortably in the large size, so you're buying one product for both. Give one chew daily, ideally at the same time each day so it becomes routine. For the Pointer, I'd pair those chews with whatever brushing he'll tolerate — even 30 seconds on the outer surfaces of the back molars with Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste makes a real difference on top of the chews. The chews alone won't reverse established tartar — that needs a vet scale — but they'll slow progression significantly.

Good catch — Dalmatians do have a unique purine metabolism and are prone to urate stones, so high-purine ingredients can be a concern. Virbac C.E.T. chews use poultry-based protein which is relatively low in purines compared to organ meats or fish-based products. That said, Dalmatian-specific urate risk varies between individual dogs, and if your Dalmatian has a history of bladder stones or your vet has flagged it as a concern, I'd run the ingredient list past them before starting. For most Dalmatians with no history of urinary issues, C.E.T. chews are considered a reasonable choice, but your vet knows your dog's individual history and it's worth a quick check.

That's exactly the right approach. One last thing — if the vet confirms the Pointer's tartar has progressed beyond what home care can address, don't put off a professional scale and polish. Home care maintains a clean mouth brilliantly, but it can't remove tartar that's already mineralised. Once the Pointer has a clean baseline after a scale if needed, the daily chews and brushing will keep it that way much more effectively. Good luck with both of them.