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It Took One Visit to the Dog Dentist to Know I Never Want to Go Back Again.
When I noticed my dog had a loose tooth, I thought it was no big deal. But further inspection revealed some, let’s say, funky chompers… that I knew had to be dealt with. I knew he was in pain, too, because he struggled to eat his food.
But when I took him to the vet, they quoted me $1,000+ for teeth cleaning with anesthesia, plus more for teeth removal. The worst part? The pet insurance my partner convinced us to subscribe to didn’t cover a single penny. When the vet informed me that untreated periodontal disease in dogs can lead to severe pain and even death, I knew I had to bite the bullet.
So I paid the bill and got my pup freshened up—but the experience made me vow to avoid a similar experience in the future at all costs. Since I hate (and am slightly afraid of) brushing my dog’s teeth, my vet recommended this dental chew + toothpaste combo that’s been turning heads as a simple and effective way to optimize dogs’ dental health.
And that’s how I was introduced to the game-changing BARK Bright Dental Kit. Now, I’m paying $26.25 instead of thousands in dental cleaning bills… and my dog loves it even more than I do. Let me explain…
BARK Bright: Saving Humans Money, Making Dogs Happy
If you’re into the doggo side of the internet like me, odds are you’ve already heard of the monthly themed toy + treat subscription, BarkBox. BARK was founded by 3 dog-obsessed entrepreneurs (one of whom is still CEO) in 2011… and they’ve since expanded to over 400 employees serving over 2 million dogs with 100,000+ 5-star reviews.
Their core mission is to “make dogs as happy as they make us,” which I love, and very much support. They clearly love their pups as much as I love mine (and potentially understand the pain of spending thousands on dental cleanings), because their BARK Bright Dental Kit harnesses the power of decades of research to support dog dental health from all angles: abrasion, plaque and tartar buildup, inflammation, breath freshness, and more.
BARK Bright takes the simple idea of combining a specifically formulated dog toothpaste with a ridged chew to create the optimal teeth cleaning routine (with little to no effort on the human’s part). TIME even named BARK Bright one of their Best Inventions in 2019, and Fast Company added it to their World-Changing Ideas list in 2020.
Dog Dental Problems Are Expensive. BARK Bright Prevents Them From Happening in the First Place.
When I first saw the 4-figure quote just to clean my dog’s teeth, I honestly thought I was being gypped. There’s no way it costs this much, I thought. But when I did my due diligence, I was surprised to find that I was actually getting a good deal for the cleaning.
Dogs need to be put under anesthesia, so the vet can get underneath the gum line (which dogs will not let you do while awake). Attempting a dental cleaning without anesthesia can even cause severe injury to a pup. And anesthesia, of course, is expensive.
But BARK Bright comes in before the need arises. My vet explained to me that as my dog chews, the abrasion from the treat scrubs off the plaque and tartar that have built up over time. It’s a hands-free approach, and the key is consistency. The result is a powerful one-two punch that guarantees fresher breath and cleaner teeth in one month.
It Sounds Almost Too Good to be True, So I Tested It Out…
The Bright Dental Kit comes in small (1-20lb dogs), medium (20-50lb dogs), and large (50+ lb dogs)–each for $35 as a one-time purchase, $28 when you subscribe for 6 months, or only $26.25 when you subscribe for 12 months. The small and medium kits come with 30 treats, while the large only comes with 15.
They also offer a Durable Kit option for $40 as a one-time purchase, $32 when you subscribe for 6 months, and $30 when you subscribe for 12 months. The standard toothpaste in each of these kits is made with real chicken (so it’s easy on digestion) but BARK has an allergy-friendly Berry Mint option, as well.
I went with the small-sized regular kit for my dog as a one-time purchase to give it a trial run. And right off the bat, I was impressed. My dog loved the treat (I had to stop him from stealing another), and it looked like the chew action was working perfectly for him. I noticed his breath was fresher right away, but I knew the long-term effects were what I was really looking for…
Fast Forward a Few Months, and My Pup’s Teeth Are *Glistening*
It was incredibly easy to stick with the BARK Bright dental routine, and the results were just as easy to spot. My dog’s teeth have stayed damn near perfect since the fateful day of the teeth cleaning at the vet, his breath is the freshest it’s ever been, and my vet even said she was impressed at his gum health when we went for our annual check-up.
I switched to the 12-month subscription and started saving 25% on my orders, so I’m paying $26.25 a month now for a happy, safe dog with clean teeth. At this rate, it’ll take me over 3 years to shell out what I had to pay in a single day for my dog’s dental health…
But the real win of this whole experience is the peace of mind I have knowing that I’m keeping my pup (and my wallet) safe, healthy, and protected for less than a dollar a day. Now I know why BARK Bright keeps winning all these awards.
Subscribing to BARK Bright Feels Like Subscribing to My Dog’s (And My) Happiness & Health
I have to admit the idea of a dog toothpaste + treat combo seemed a little farfetched to me at first, but after trying it out I can confirm with 100% certainty that BARK Bright is worth all the hype.
It’s worth mentioning that BARK offers free shipping on orders of $30+ and comes with a 100% happiness guarantee, so it can’t hurt to try it out if you’re on the fence. Worst case scenario, your pup doesn’t like the treats. Best case scenario, you find an effortless, affordable alternative to expensive, anxiety-inducing dental treatments. As a bonus, your dog might love you that much more for the daily treat.
