Best value dental care for older small dogs

Small breeds are disproportionately prone to dental disease — Norwich Terriers in particular pack a full set of teeth into a very compact jaw, which means tartar and gum disease build up faster than in bigger dogs. What's worrying is that dental disease is one of the most common causes of chronic, ongoing pain in dogs, and owners often miss it entirely because dogs hide discomfort so well. To point you toward the best value for money, can you tell me: how old is your Norwich Terrier, has your vet raised any dental concerns at recent check-ups, and will your dog sit still for tooth brushing?

That's really helpful — and honestly, a lot of small dog owners are in exactly the same position with brushing. The good news is that at eight, with early gum redness but no active disease, you have a real window to slow things down. Given she won't tolerate a toothbrush and you need the best cost-per-use, I'd steer you straight to Pedigree Dentastix Small. They're VOHC-accepted (that's the Veterinary Oral Health Council — a real independent standard), proven to reduce tartar buildup by up to 80% with daily use, and a 28-stick pack typically costs under £4 on Amazon UK. That works out to roughly 14p a day, which is the lowest per-day cost of anything that actually has clinical evidence behind it. Can I ask — does she currently have any chewing issues or loose teeth? That would affect whether a chew is the right format.

It genuinely can, even at eight. Dental disease is progressive, not fixed — so slowing the rate of new tartar formation matters right now because it reduces inflammation in the gums, which is where the pain and tooth loss risk come from. You won't reverse existing buildup with a chew, but you can meaningfully slow what comes next. The key with Dentastix is consistency: one every day, not a few times a week. The mechanical abrasion as she chews is doing most of the work, so she needs to actually gnaw through it rather than gulp it. If she's a fast eater, hold one end while she chews so it takes at least 30 seconds. Given her age and the vet's gum comment, I'd also mention to the vet at her next visit that you've started daily Dentastix — they may want to monitor the gum colour over the next six months to check it's having an effect.

Worth asking — and the honest answer is: be cautious. Several supermarket own-brand dental chews look similar but don't carry VOHC accreditation, which means there's no independent evidence they reduce tartar. Some contain more filler and less of the active textures that do the mechanical work. Given that Dentastix Small already costs under £4 for 28, an own-brand saving of 50p to £1 isn't worth the uncertainty, especially for a dog with existing gum redness. Stick with Dentastix — it's already the budget option among the products that actually work.