GREENIES Original TEENIE Dental Treats Review

Small dogs get a raw deal on teeth. Crowded mouths, genetics, and long lifespans mean toy and mini breeds top every chart for periodontal disease, and dachshunds show up early and often. So a daily chew that actually does something is worth taking seriously — and 'actually does something' is where GREENIES separate from the crowded field of green, vaguely toothbrush-shaped impostors. They carry the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal for both plaque and tartar control, which requires submitted trial evidence, not just a leafy logo. Mechanically it's simple: the chewy texture scrubs tooth surfaces as the dog works through it, and the dog considers this a treat rather than a hygiene procedure.

Sizing is by weight and worth following exactly. The TEENIE covers 5–15 lb, which puts a 10–12 lb mini dachshund square in the middle of the range; bigger dogs step up through Petite, Regular, and Large. Resist the temptation to feed a smaller size to a bigger dog for calorie reasons — a chew that's too small gets gulped, and gulping is the failure mode here. A dog who swallows big chunks gets little dental benefit and, rarely, digestive trouble; watch your dog's chewing style the first several times, and if you own a committed gulper, this may not be the product for you. GREENIES reformulated years ago specifically to be highly soluble and digestible when chewed normally, but 'chewed normally' is the operative phrase.

The calorie line is the one small-dog owners can't skip. At about 25 calories, a daily TEENIE eats most of a 10 lb dog's treat allowance on its own — fine, as long as you shave the difference off meals, and quietly fattening if you don't. The other honest caveat is scope: no chew reaches under the gumline, which is where the serious disease happens, so this is a supplement to brushing and periodic veterinary cleanings, not a replacement for either. Slot it into that supporting role — the after-dinner ritual, alongside a brushing habit — and it's the most evidence-backed dental treat you can toss to a small dog.