Matching Chews, VOHC Dental Treats & Puzzle Toys Safely

Never Guess on Chew Size — Match Your Dog's Weight & Chew Style, and Always Supervise!

Temperature & Humidity Zones

Two Ways That Work (100% Stocked Store Options)

1. How to Pick the Right Chew for Your Dog's Size & Chew Style

The wrong size chew for a gulper or power chewer is a choking or broken-tooth hazard:

• Match Size by Weight on the Package (And Size Up for Strong Chewers!): Whether choosing Bully Sticks, Collagen Chews, Rawhide-Free / No-Hide Chews, Yak Cheese Chews, or Recreational Bones, use the weight chart printed on the package—and always supervise and take the chew away when it gets small enough to swallow whole!
• Rawhide-Free / No-Hide Chews vs. Raw Recreational Freezer Bones: Want a highly digestible alternative to traditional rawhide? Check our Rawhide-Free & No-Hide Chews and Collagen Chews shelves (verify the package says no-hide/rawhide-free). For frozen raw marrow/knuckle bones, thaw in the fridge only!

2. Bad Breath & Dental Care: What the VOHC Seal Actually Means

The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) reviews clinical trial data for plaque and tartar control:

• VOHC's Own Rule: 'The Gold Standard Is Brushing' + Daily Sealed Chews: A chew with the VOHC Seal of Acceptance (for plaque, tartar, or both) is a great daily habit alongside brushing with pet-safe enzymatic toothpaste (never use human toothpaste!). Follow the bag for daily count, weight size, and minimum age.
• Cat Dental Treats vs. When a Mouth Needs a Vet: For cats, check that the bag is labeled for cats, count out the daily serving, and trim meal calories to match. Broken teeth, bleeding gums, drooling, pawing at the mouth, or refusing food go straight to your vet, not the chew wall!

3. Stuffable Puzzle Toys, Lick Mats & The Xylitol Warning

Interactive puzzle boards, lick mats, and stuffable rubber toys (like Kongs) give thinkers a great mental workout:

• Supervised Play: Start at Level 1 & Count the Filling as Food: Puzzle boards and treat dispensers are supervised toys, not solo chew toys. Start at the easiest level, show your dog how it works, count the filling toward daily meal calories, and pick the toy up when empty.
• CRITICAL: Check Every Home Peanut Butter Jar for Xylitol!: Before stuffing a Kong or lick mat with peanut butter from your pantry, read the ingredient list for xylitol. Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs! If a dog ever eats xylitol, call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888-426-4435) immediately.

Chews, VOHC Dental Treats & Enrichment Shelves in Our Stores

Ask Our Crew to Help You Match Size, Chew Strength, and Single-Ingredient Options!

• Natural & Rawhide-Free Chews (Bully Sticks, Collagen, No-Hide & Yak Cheese): Single-ingredient beef pizzle bully sticks, digestible collagen sticks, Earth Animal No-Hide & rawhide-free rolls, Himalayan yak cheese chews, and frozen raw recreational bones.
• Dental Chews & Brushing Gear (VOHC-Sealed Chews + Dog & Cat Dental Care): Daily dental chews for dogs and cats (check the package for the VOHC Seal for plaque/tartar) plus enzymatic pet toothpastes, finger brushes, dental gels, and water additives.
• Interactive Toys & Training Treats (Puzzle Boards, Lick Mats, Stuffable Rubber & Soft Training Bits): Tough rubber stuffable toys (size up for power chewers!), slow-feeder lick mats, snuffle mats, puzzle games, and pea-sized freeze-dried or soft training treats.

4 Golden Safety Rules for Every Chew & Treat:

• Watch the First Chew: Always supervise your dog with any chew and remove small end-pieces before they can be gulped
• 10% Treat Calorie Rule: Treats, chews, and puzzle fillings should stay under ~10% of daily calories (trim meal scoop to match)
• Never Use People Paste: Human toothpaste and sugar-free peanut butter with xylitol are toxic—use pet-specific products
• Keep the Lot Code: Keep treats in their original bag (or snap a photo of the lot code) until finished

Keeper Note: Swallowed a Chew Whole or Broke a Tooth? If your pet ever swallows a large piece of a chew or toy whole, starts retching/vomiting, or has a broken tooth, bleeding gums, or facial swelling, call your veterinarian immediately.

Essential Keeper Rules & Pro Tips

• Use a Bully Stick Holder for Gulpers: If your dog tries to swallow the last 2 inches of a bully stick or collagen chew, clamp it into a safety holder or trade them a high-value treat to take the end away.
• Look for the VOHC Seal on the Bag: Not every treat with 'dental' in the name carries the VOHC seal—check the package for the circular VOHC Seal of Acceptance.
• Stuff With Wet Food or Broth: Instead of high-calorie peanut butter every time, stuff rubber toys and lick mats with your dog's own canned wet food, rehydrated freeze-dried food, or plain pumpkin and freeze overnight!
• Match Chews to Food Trials: If your pet is on a single-protein diet, remember that beef bully sticks and poultry dental chews count as proteins too!

Complete Store Setup Checklist

1. Size-Matched Chews (Pick by Weight & Style)

• Digestible Chews: Bully Sticks, Collagen Chews, or Rawhide-Free / No-Hide Rolls
• Check Package Weight Chart & Age Line (Size Up for Strong Chewers!)
• Bully Stick / Chew Safety Holder (Prevents Swallowing the Last End Piece)

2. Daily Dental Routine (Dog or Cat)

• Daily Dental Chews or Cat Dental Treats (Check for VOHC Seal on Package)
• Pet-Safe Enzymatic Toothpaste + Pet Toothbrush or Finger Brush
• Optional Dental Water Additive or Gel (From Dog/Cat Dental Care Section)

3. Enrichment & Training Rewards

• Stuffable Rubber Toy or Lick Mat + Wet Food / Pumpkin Filling (Zero Xylitol!)
• Interactive Puzzle Board or Snuffle Mat (Supervised Play)
• Small Single-Ingredient Freeze-Dried or Soft Training Treats

How We Help With Pet Nutrition at All 6 Oregon Stores

• We Flip the Bag Over Together (AAFCO Rules & the Maker's Own Label): At Wilsonville Pet Supply, Critter Cabana (Newberg), Gresham Pet Supply, Tigard Pet Supply, Salem Pet Supply, and South Salem Pet Supply, we never rely on front-of-bag marketing slogans or make medical promises. Bring a photo of your current food bag and we'll compare the Guaranteed Analysis, the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement, and the first five ingredients side by side.
• Frequent Buyer Program at Every Register: Just give your phone number at checkout at any of our 6 stores—buy 10 to 12 bags of most dog and cat food brands (Fromm, NutriSource, PureVita, Acana, Orijen, Nulo, Farmina N&D, FirstMate, Zignature, Open Farm, Stella & Chewy's, Primal, Northwest Naturals, and more) and your next bag of the same size is free! Because we track it by phone number in our POS, we can also look up the exact recipe your pet bought last time.
• Zero-Deposit Special Requests & Vet Referral Standard: Don't see the exact bag size or formula your pet eats on our shelf today? Ask at the counter and we'll log a special request in our Command Center with zero deposit. Remember: we carry over-the-counter and vet-formulated diets (not prescription diets), so always see your veterinarian first if your pet has signs of illness (vomiting, blood, not eating, or a cat straining in the litter box), a diagnosed medical condition, or takes medications.

Common Questions (FAQ)

How can I get help with Safe Chews, Puzzle Toys & Dental Care (VOHC Seal) at your stores in Oregon?

Stop by any of our 6 family-owned Oregon stores—Wilsonville Pet Supply, Critter Cabana (Newberg), Gresham Pet Supply, Tigard Pet Supply, Salem Pet Supply, or South Salem Pet Supply. Bring a photo of your pet's current food bag and our team will gladly walk the aisle with you and compare labels.

How does your Frequent Buyer Program work on dog and cat food?

Just give your phone number at the register at any of our 6 locations—there are no paper punch cards to keep track of. On most major kibble, raw, freeze-dried, and gently cooked brands, when you buy 10 to 12 bags of the same size, your next bag is free!

Do you sell veterinary prescription diets, or over-the-counter specialty diets?

We do not sell veterinary prescription diets (if your veterinarian has prescribed a therapeutic Rx diet for a diagnosed medical condition, follow your vet's instructions). We stock a deep selection of over-the-counter vet-formulated, limited-ingredient, novel-protein, wholesome-grain, grain-free, wet, freeze-dried, and frozen raw diets.

What if my dog or cat is a picky eater or has a sensitive stomach when switching foods?

Always follow the gradual transition schedule printed on the back of your new food bag—mixing a small amount of the new food into the old food over 7 to 10+ days—and never starve a cat to force a food switch. Ask our crew about single-ingredient toppers, bone broths, plain canned pumpkin, or fermented goat's milk to support a smooth transition.