Zesty Paws OraStix Dog Calming Dental Sticks - Peppermint, 12 oz

I was skeptical at first about the product but it really worked fantastic for my very anxious 9 yo Brittany Spaniel. He gobbled it up so fast! He’s so scared of heavy rain, thunder/lightning, fireworks, etc. Within 30 minutes of eating this treat, he was calm & resting, not drugged up looking like trazadone does to him. I’m very pleased because now I have found an affordable option that is more natural & better for him. The treats are chewy & so far no digestion issues. Definitely will continue to buy these!

No need to bother with a photo review because what you see is what you get. Even if the calming effects don't work for your pup, the teeth cleaning seems to be very good! Given these to my dog 3 times so far and he hasn't had any adverse effects and hasn't gotten sick. Very cheap for a dentastix comparison plus calming effects too? Bargain! My unfixed male 3 year old dog doesn't calm down for anything, not even these treats, but it does seem to help him sleep longer once he does go to sleep. His breath smells minty fresh after so that freshening aspect works well. My dog is a mix between a chihuahua and a wiener dog and it's just the right size for him to much on for a few minutes with relative ease kind of a mix between a soft and a hard treat. Medium and large dogs would chew these up in half a second.

If you have a dog who gets incredibly stressed out by storms, vet visits, or fireworks, but also turns their nose up at standard pills or liquid supplements, the Zesty Paws Calming OraStix are a fantastic, innovative solution. Combining a powerful blend of natural relaxing agents with a dental chew design, they allow your dog to literally "chomp their stress away." It is an excellent product that delivers on its promises, with just one practical drawback. The Good: Highly Effective Calming Blend and Fresh Peppermint Breath The ingredient formulation in these sticks is top-tier. Zesty Paws didn't cut corners here; they packed each stick with Suntheanine (a premium, clinically studied form of L-Theanine), hemp seed powder, valerian root, and chamomile. It also includes a touch of melatonin, which works beautifully to induce a gentle, restful calm without making your dog look heavily drugged or sluggish. If you give one to your pup about 30 to 45 minutes before a known trigger—like a looming thunderstorm or a grooming appointment—you will see a noticeable drop in their panting, pacing, and whining. The "OraStix" part of the design is equally brilliant. The sticks feature a proprietary Healthy Teeth & Gum Complex infused with kelp, rosemary extract, and peppermint oil. As your dog chews, the ridged texture helps scrape away soft plaque and tartar buildup along the gumline, while the peppermint oil completely neutralizes foul "dog breath," leaving their mouth smelling incredibly clean and fresh. Why It’s 4 Stars instead of 5: They disappear in Seconds! The reason this product gets a 4-star review instead of a perfect 5 comes down to the longevity of the chew. Because these are marketed as "dental sticks," many pet owners buy them expecting something long-lasting like a classic rawhide alternative or a dense nylon chew. However, these sticks are relatively soft and highly palatable. If you have a medium-to-large dog, or a breed with a powerful jaw (like a Lab, Pitbull, or German Shepherd), they will absolutely inhale this stick in 30 seconds flat. While the ingredients still work perfectly once digested, the fast consumption means your dog misses out on the therapeutic, mechanical benefits of prolonged chewing, which is naturally calming for a dog's nervous system. Final Verdict Zesty Paws has built a fantastic dual-purpose supplement that makes managing occasional anxiety incredibly easy. Your dog gets a delicious, peppermint-flavored treat that calms their nerves and cleanses their teeth all in one go. If you have a powerful chewer, do not expect this to keep them occupied for an hour—but if you are looking for a highly effective, stress-relieving supplement wrapped in a dental-friendly treat, this bag is a wonderful addition to your pet pantry!

My dog seems to love these. He’s very anxious so we’re always looking for new ways to keep him calm. I like that they’re big so it takes him a while to chew them and keeps him occupied/distracted. I feel like they help both his anxiety and his teeth.

Why did you pick this product vs others?: This item was favorably reviewed and I wanted something to use for my dog on the 4th of July. Ease of use: It was easy to use and I found it to be mildly effective for calming. I would buy it again though because it cleans teeth and it has some calming effect.

Currently the favorite treat my dog gets, always eats it first. Calms him so he sleeps all night. He is an older dog with issues and these have helped.

Takes the edge off of the anxiety for puppers if we get them to her early: When the rain starts, not after the thunder has come; before the fireworks start, not once the booms begin. Unfortunately, they don't help calm her jealousy when the grandkids are getting the attention, but she loves these chews and the grandkids love giving her one when they're here.

My dog is a 25 pound Sheltie. He has been given these chews almost every night for about a year. Last night this all has changed. We had a serious close call last night. We give our boy a zesty paws treat every night before bed to help with dental cleaning. It also has a calming affect. Been doing it for a year, no problems. But last night he started choking on it and he wasn't breathing. He was thrashing around and I thought we were losing him. I tried reaching into his throat to see if I could remove it. Couldn't. Frantically I tried doing what could only be considered the Heimlich maneuver. Somehow eventually he dislodged it but it got stuck sideways between his teeth, but at least he was able to now breathe. My daughter the vet tech arrived and we all held him so she could reach in and pull it out. You could tell he was so relieved.... And so were we. Be careful of these hard chewable treats. Never had a problem before but now I'm scared to death to give him anymore unless I cut it into a much smaller piece. Anyways, Mika is still here and fine this morning ♥️. I doubt that I will ever give these to him again. ** So, since this unfortunate incident I've been breaking the treats into 1/4 pieces. Now give them this size to both of our Shelties. They do love the treats and they definitely help them stay relaxed and help the sleep. So glad that it did work out... Just be vigilant !