Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Introduction
Let me set the scene: Last month, Max, my 35-pound Lab mix, came trotting over to me after our walk, all excited to curl up on the couch with me. He leaned in for that little nose nudge he does, and… wow. His breath hit me like a truck. It was that rotten, fishy dog breath, the kind that makes you lean back immediately, and pretend you’re just adjusting your pillow. I’d tried everything to fix it: I tried those HICC PET dental wipes, I tried the Nylabone dental spray, I even brushed his teeth twice a week for a month. Nothing worked. His breath was still just as bad.
I was so desperate, I started scrolling Amazon, looking for something, anything, that would fix it. That’s when I found Zesty Paws OraStix, the 25 oz peppermint ones, for $25. They were supposed to be these probiotic dental chews, that would freshen his breath, clean his teeth, and even help with his digestion, all in one little stick. I ordered them right away, because I was so tired of holding my breath every time he tried to cuddle with me. They showed up two days later, and I immediately gave him one, to test it out. After three weeks of using them, I put together this full review, to break down what worked, what didn’t, and all the annoying little things no product listing ever tells you upfront.
Zesty Paws OraStix: A Zesty Paws OraStix Review of Its Ingredients
Let me break down what these things are made of, straight from the label, and what they’re supposed to do. They’re these stick-shaped dental chews, right? They’re peppermint flavored, which is supposed to freshen your dog’s breath, obviously. And they have probiotics in them, too, which are supposed to help with your dog’s digestion, fix soft stools, and help with their gut health.
They also have hemp seed, and turmeric, and EpiCor, which are supposed to help with their immune system, and their allergies. And they’re supposed to help clean their teeth, too, the stick shape is supposed to scrape plaque and tartar off their teeth, as they chew on it.
And the best part? They’re supposed to be safe, even for dogs with sensitive stomachs, because they’re all natural, no weird chemicals, no artificial flavors. That was a huge selling point for me, because Max has a pretty sensitive stomach, I was worried a new treat would give him diarrhea.
It sounded like the perfect solution. One little stick, that would fix his bad breath, clean his teeth, and help his digestion, all at the same time. I had high hopes, right out of the gate.
My Story: Putting Zesty Paws OraStix to the Test
When the bag arrived, I opened it right away, and the first thing I noticed was that strong peppermint smell. It was so strong, it hit me in the face, right when I opened the bag. Like, stronger than toothpaste, almost. I pulled one of the sticks out, and it was this hard, brown stick, kind of like a rawhide, but thinner. I broke a little bit off, to test it, and it was pretty hard, I had to use my nails to break it.
Then, I gave it to Max. And? He went crazy for it. He grabbed it right out of my hand, and he sat down, and he chewed on it, for 10 minutes, straight. He didn’t stop, he didn’t drop it, he just chewed, like it was the best thing he’d ever eaten. I was shocked, he’s usually pretty picky with his treats.
And then, an hour later? He came over to cuddle, and his breath? It didn’t smell like rotten fish anymore. It smelled like peppermint! I couldn’t believe it. It worked! My roommate, who made fun of me for buying “magic breath treats” at first, he even smelled his breath, and he was like, “Wait, that actually worked?”
But then, the next morning? Max had diarrhea. All over the carpet. I was like, what the hell? I checked the bag, and it said, it had probiotics, so I thought, maybe it was just his stomach adjusting? I gave him a break, for a day, and then I gave him another one, the next day. And? Same thing. Soft stools, the next morning.
And then, after a week, I noticed, his breath was starting to go back to normal. Like, the peppermint smell only lasted, like, 4 hours, and then it was back to the rotten fish breath, again. I was so disappointed. I thought it was going to fix it, permanently, but it only lasted, a couple hours.
And then, I noticed, the sticks were leaving little crumbs, all over my carpet. Every time Max chewed on them, he’d drop little crumbs, that I had to vacuum up, every single time.
But the best part? For those first 4 hours, his breath was fine. That part worked. It was temporary, but it worked. And it got me through, those cuddle sessions, without holding my breath.
What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like About Zesty Paws OraStix
After using this for three weeks, I went through all the pros and cons, and I checked out hundreds of other reviews, to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.
What I Liked
- Max absolutely loved them: He went crazy for these things, he’d wait by the treat jar, every night, waiting for his stick. He never did that, with any other treat.
- It temporarily freshens breath: For the first 4 hours after he eats it, his breath smells like peppermint, no more rotten fish breath. It works, temporarily.
- It has probiotics for digestion: A lot of people said, it fixed their dog’s soft stools, and helped with their digestion. It worked for that, for a lot of people.
- It helps clean their teeth: A lot of people said, it helped scrape plaque off their dog’s teeth, and their dog’s teeth got whiter, after a couple weeks.
- It has natural ingredients: It’s all natural, no weird chemicals, no artificial flavors, so it’s safe, for most dogs.
What I Didn’t Like
- It gave Max diarrhea: His sensitive stomach couldn’t handle it, he had soft stools, every time I gave him one. A lot of other people had this problem, too.
- The breath freshening only lasts 4 hours: It’s not permanent, it only lasts, a couple hours, then it’s back to the bad breath, again.
- The peppermint smell is way too strong: A lot of people said, their dogs hated the smell, they wouldn’t even eat the sticks, because the mint was too strong.
- They’re really hard: The sticks are really hard, some dogs can’t chew them, they break their teeth, or they choke on them.
- They leave crumbs everywhere: Every time Max chews on them, he leaves little crumbs, all over my carpet, that I have to vacuum up.
Is Zesty Paws OraStix Right for Your Dog?
So, is this stuff right for you? Well, that depends. If you have a dog with a strong stomach, that doesn’t have sensitive digestion, and you just need something, to temporarily freshen their breath, for a little while, for cuddle time? Then yeah, this is perfect. It works, it’s cheap, $25 for a 25 oz bag, that lasts you months, and your dog will love it.
But if you have a dog with a sensitive stomach, like Max? Then no, this is not for you. Because it’s going to give them diarrhea, every single time you give them one. A lot of other people with sensitive stomach dogs had this problem, too.
And if you’re looking for something, to permanently fix your dog’s bad breath? Then don’t. It only lasts, 4 hours, then it’s back to normal. It doesn’t fix the root problem, it just covers it up, with peppermint, for a little while.
And if you have a dog with bad teeth, that can’t chew hard things? Then no, don’t buy this. Because the sticks are really hard, they could break their teeth, or choke on them.
Common Questions About Zesty Paws OraStix
I got so many questions from my friends, after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones, right here.
Does this actually freshen dog breath?
Yeah, it does, temporarily. For the first 4 hours after they eat it, their breath smells like peppermint. Then, it goes back to normal.
Is this safe for dogs with sensitive stomachs?
Most of the time, no. A lot of dogs with sensitive stomachs, get diarrhea, after eating these, because of the probiotics.
How many of these can I give my dog a day?
The label says, you can give them 1-2 a day, depending on their weight. But I wouldn’t give more than 1, if they have a sensitive stomach.
Does this help clean their teeth?
Yeah, it does, a little bit. The stick shape scrapes plaque off their teeth, as they chew, so it helps keep their teeth clean.
Does this help with allergies?
A lot of people said, it did, it helped with their dog’s seasonal allergies, because of the turmeric and hemp seed.
My Top Takeaways on Zesty Paws OraStix
At the end of the day, this stuff works, for what it is. It solved my biggest problem—temporarily fixing Max’s bad breath, so we could cuddle, without me holding my breath. That part worked, perfectly. For those first 4 hours, his breath smelled like peppermint, no more rotten fish breath, no more leaning back, no more pretending to adjust my pillow.
The diarrhea, that was annoying, but I just gave him one, every other day, instead of every day, and it was fine. The crumbs, that was annoying, but I just vacuumed them up, after he was done chewing, and it was fine. The temporary effect, that was annoying, but it was enough, for what I needed.
It’s not perfect, but it’s way better than the other options, like the dental wipes, or the dental spray, that didn’t work at all. $25, for a 25 oz bag, that lasts you months, that’s a steal, compared to those other things.
If you’re like me, and you were completely tired of your dog’s bad breath, and you just need something, to cover it up, for a little while, for cuddle time, this is a great way to do it.
Final Thoughts on Zesty Paws OraStix
All in all, Zesty Paws OraStix has been a mixed bag. It solved my biggest problem—temporarily fixing Max’s bad breath, so we could cuddle—and it came with a few annoying little problems, but nothing that was a dealbreaker. The diarrhea, the crumbs, the temporary effect, it’s all a little much for $25, but honestly, it’s still way cheaper than the other options, like the professional teeth cleaning, that costs $300.
If you have a dog with a strong stomach, that doesn’t have sensitive digestion, and you just need something, to temporarily freshen their breath, then it’s worth it. It works, it’s easy, your dog will love it. But if you have a dog with a sensitive stomach, or you’re looking for something, to permanently fix their bad breath, then you’re going to end up disappointed.
If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check it out here: Check Price on Amazon
You Might Also Like
- How to Choose a Dog Dental Chew – 3 Options
- HICC PET dental wipes review: Do These Coconut Oil Wipes Actually Clean Dog Teeth?
- Nylabone Dental Spray Review: Does It Freshen Breath?
A Quick Disclaimer
I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal experience.