Best enzymatic toothpaste for Shih Tzu

Your vet has done you a real favour flagging this at the dental check — and at 11, getting your Shih Tzu on the right paste now genuinely matters. Shih Tzus are one of the breeds most prone to severe dental disease; their teeth are crowded into a very short muzzle, which means tartar builds fast and gum disease can take hold quietly while causing real chronic pain. Dental disease is one of the most commonly missed sources of suffering in older small dogs, so following up on your vet's advice is exactly the right move. When your vet said enzymatic paste, did they mention a specific brand, or just the type? And does your Shih Tzu tolerate having their teeth touched — even a little?

That's a really solid foundation — a dog who already accepts brushing and had a professional clean recently is in a much better position than most. The issue with generic pastes is they clean mechanically but don't do anything between brushing sessions. Enzymatic pastes contain glucose oxidase and lactoperoxidase, which create an ongoing antibacterial action in the mouth even after you've put the brush away. For an 11-year-old with known dental vulnerability, that ongoing protection is the meaningful difference. Can I ask — are you brushing daily, or more like a few times a week? And what's her current paste — do you know if it has any active enzyme system, or is it more of a flavoured paste?

Right, so you're doing the hard part — she accepts brushing, you're consistent — you're just using a paste that isn't doing the biochemical work your vet wants it to do. The one I'd point you straight to is Virbac CET Enzymatic Toothpaste. It's the product vets most commonly mean when they say 'enzymatic paste' without naming a brand — it's the one that's been in veterinary dental practice longest and has the most evidence behind it. It uses the same dual-enzyme system I mentioned, and the poultry flavour is very well accepted by small breeds. At 11, you're not reversing anything, but you are meaningfully slowing the rate of further gum attachment loss between professional cleans. The 70g tube lasts well brushing three to four times a week. It's widely available on Amazon UK. Stick with your current frequency — that's genuinely good — and just swap the paste.

The paste is the core of what they were getting at, yes. If you wanted to add something low-effort on the days you don't brush, a water additive like Vet's Best Dental Water Additive can extend enzymatic action without requiring any cooperation from her — you just add it to her drinking bowl. But honestly, at this stage, nailing the Virbac CET consistently is the priority. The vet will be able to see the difference at her next check. One thing worth tracking: if you notice any change in her breath between now and that appointment, or she starts favouring one side when she eats, flag it early — those are signs the gum disease may be progressing faster than expected in an older dog.

Perfect — and well done for following this up properly. A lot of owners hear 'dental advice' at a check and file it away. At 11, her comfort over the next few years is genuinely tied to what's happening in her mouth, and you're clearly on top of it.