Pet King Brands Zymox Water Additive Oral Solution, 4-Ounce Pump

Bad packaging
The product is works great but was very disappointed this time with the packaging. I should have known there was a problem with the bottle when it came all taped up with masking tape. Sure enough it leaks everywhere.

May improve efficacy of brushing
I was going to wait until I finished the bottle before reviewing the product, but honestly I did not expect to see any results whatsoever after 2 weeks of use. I should mention that I recently started brushing my dogs’ teeth at least 5 times a week, and ordered this product to supplement the brushing since my older dog has one very worn down molar that had developed some very bad gingivitis and tartar. When this bottle arrived in the mail, I was very disappointed that it came on a hot day and that the bottle was still hot to the touch from being in the delivery van. This is bad because heat can denature the enzymes and thus render the Zymox useless, so I did not have high hopes. I used it anyway because I was curious, and because the dogs didn’t mind the the additive in their water.Within 2 weeks there was a noticeable decrease in tartar. I will err on the side of skepticism and say that this is probably due to the combined effect of brushing supplemented with Zymox. The reason I believe the Zymox is making brushing more effective is because last year I brushed my older dog’s teeth every day for months and saw no noticeable decrease in tartar, though her teeth did not worsen. However, I do not believe Zymox can be effective without brushing. The enzymes in the additive help to dissolve the biofilm that bacteria form when they form plaque, but the mechanical action of brushing is needed in order to remove tartar. The older dog is going in for a dental cleaning next week, and I will continue to brush and use Zymox in order to keep her teeth in good condition. In a few years she will be in her senior chapter of life, and preventative care is extremely important since senior dogs are more susceptible to periodontal disease.As a final thought, to anyone with dogs that like to chew, please monitor their chewing habits closely. I falsely assumed when my older dog was younger that chewing could replace brushing. I gave her rawhide or pig skin every day, and she also sometimes got deer horn. If you do not limit their chewing, they can wear down their teeth, as my dog wore one molar side all the way to the gum line. I now only give her softer dental chews, and prefer brushing as her daily preventative care.I give this product 4 stars, minus 1 star because I’m still skeptical about how much Zymox is contributing to tartar reduction. I also want people to realize that they should STILL brush their dog’s teeth, at least every other day if not every day. You will save your dog a lot of pain later in life and a lot of money as well.Update (8/5/2016): Older dog went to vet today for dental cleaning. The vet had to extract 2 teeth that were cracked and worn. In many places, the enamel was also cracked. DO NOT GIVE YOUR DOG ANTLERS, BONES, OR OTHER ANIMAL PARTS. Otherwise, apparently the vet tech said her teeth looked “beautiful”. I am sure they probably see much worse cases than she had. I felt extremely guilty that I did not address her dental health sooner, so I did some research and found that the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry published a study that stated “Tooth-brushing every other day did not maintain clinically healthy gingiva in dogs. The daily addition of a dental hygiene chew to a regimen of tooth brushing every other day reduced the gingivitis scores and reduced the accumulation of dental deposits (plaque, calculus and stain). Daily tooth-brushing should be the recommendation to the dog owner irrespective of dietary regimen.” That’s right, folks. Brushing your dog’s teeth every day is THE key to dental health. Dr. Jan Bellows of the American Veterinary Dental College is quoted as saying “When a client asks me how long their puppy will live, I usually respond 15-17 years if you brush their teeth daily … 11-13 years if you don’t.” This is because the bacteria that cause periodontal disease release toxins that the dog absorbs through their blood stream, resulting in kidney, cardiac, and brain damage, and potentially fatal organ failure.Amazon sells Pedigree Dentastix for about 25 cents per large treat (better than Costco price of 50 cents per treat), which is about $91 a year for a daily treat. Additionally, a $6.50 tube of Virbac toothpaste (again, Amazon price) lasts about 2 months, adding up to $39 a year, plus 5 minutes of your time to brush the dog’s teeth. $130 total per year. Maybe I’m a nut, but my dog’s dental cleaning and tooth extraction was a $1000 bill. I would be willing to spend A LOT more than $130 a year to avoid life shortening periodontal disease, the loss of teeth, and a harrowing vet visit.

Love it
Gets rid of dog breath, so presumably also keeps teeth cleaner. The vet said the teeth looked pretty good, despite not having had a dental in a long time.

Not for use with fountains
A few reviews cautioned against using with pet water fountains. I did not think it could be that be. My pump was totally clogged. I cannot speak to dental health.