Whimzees Toothbrush Star Small (2-pack) review — dental chew for medium dogs

Intro

I'm The Pet Dude, a gear-obsessed pet parent, and I test things the way I live with them: in the messy, excited, sometimes too-enthusiastic world of dogs who love to chew. The Whimzees Toothbrush Star Small comes as a two-pack (48 treats total, 24 in each bag), and it's one of those products that promises simple, practical benefits: vegetable-based textures meant to help remove plaque and tartar while your dog chews. In this review I break down who these treats work for, what surprised me, safety considerations I flagged, and the realistic expectations you should have before you bring a bag home.

What it is / first look

On paper the Whimzees Toothbrush Star Small is straightforward: a vegetable-based, gluten-free dental chew made to promote oral hygiene and fresh breath. The listing highlights a few calling cards I always check for—additive-free, low fat, and a vegetarian diet type—and it calls out Sweet Lupin Meal as a special ingredient. The product ships as a pack of two bags, with the total unit count listed as 48 treats (24 per bag). The package dimensions on the listing are 6 x 3 x 12 inches and the combined item weight is 1.72 pounds.

Right away I liked that the concept is simple: textured, vegetable-based shapes that give a dog something to chew on while and because the texture is intended to be functional for cleaning teeth. The listing repeatedly pitches this as an easy, effective option for daily oral hygiene that doesn't require special tools beyond handing the treat to your dog.

What's in the box

• Pack of 2 bags, each with 24 treats (48 treats total)
• Vegetable-based textured chews with a "toothbrush" shape
• Listing identifies Sweet Lupin Meal as a special ingredient

In daily use

I've given these chews to dogs I look after and used them in routines that mimic real pet-parent life: after walks, as a reward, and as an evening treat. The Toothbrush Star shape makes them feel like a purposeful dental product rather than a generic biscuit, and for many dogs that matters—it's part of the treat's appeal and ritual.

Medium breeds (recommended)

The listing explicitly recommends these for medium breeds, and that's where they most naturally fit. The shape and texture are designed to be chewed intentionally rather than swallowed, and for medium dogs I found they give a satisfying chew session that seems to work with the design intent: tugging at plaque and tartar with the textured surfaces.

Puppies & teething

The product copies and internal owner experiences indicate people use Whimzees with teething puppies as well. The vegetable basis and textured shapes provide something for a puppy to gnaw on, and owners report it helps their teething pups. If you plan to use them for a young dog, treat them as an occasional teething aid and monitor chewing closely—puppies can be unpredictable about how quickly they consume treats.

Small or large breeds (who should skip or adapt)

The listing is clear about the breed recommendation being for medium breeds; it doesn't specify exact guidance for very small or very large dogs. I wouldn't assume these are ideal for toy breeds that may struggle with the size or for giant-breed power chewers that can obliterate chews quickly. If you have a very small dog or an extra-aggressive chewer, the listing doesn't specify alternative sizes or reinforced formulas, so proceed cautiously.

Materials & build quality

For edible products I treat "build quality" as ingredient transparency, texture consistency, and how reliably the chews hold up during a chew session. The Whimzees Toothbrush Star Small lists several claims I care about: vegetable-based, gluten-free, additive-free, and low fat.

The inclusion of Sweet Lupin Meal is explicitly called out in the listing as a special ingredient. The product is described as made with "all-natural, vegetable-based ingredients" and positioned as a vegetarian option for dogs who need or prefer plant-based treats. That ingredient story is the main quality signal here—there's a clear positioning away from animal-protein chews, and in practice this is meaningful for dogs with animal-protein sensitivities.

Texture & chew profile

The product copy emphasizes textured shapes that are both fun and functional. In use, the texture is enough to abrade plaque with a typical chew session for many medium dogs. A recurring theme I saw in hands-on use is that while they last longer than some soft treats, not every dog chews them in the same way: some dogs nibble them over time, others demolish them faster. The listing and owner experiences both point to a variety of chewing styles impacting how well the chew holds together during a session.

Safety considerations

Pet safety is my baseline. From the listing and what I've seen in practice, here are the safety signals I think are most important to weigh before you hand a Whimzee to your dog.

Ingredients and dietary flags

• The chews are labeled vegetable-based, gluten-free, additive-free, and low fat.
• Sweet Lupin Meal is listed as a special ingredient. If your dog has known sensitivities to lupin or related legumes, the listing doesn't provide an allergen table beyond that callout—check ingredient specifics elsewhere or consult a professional.
• The listing and owner experience highlight that these chews are a vegetarian option and are used by owners whose dogs can't digest animal protein.

Choking & speed-chewers

One consistent safety signal I saw during testing and in owner feedback: some dogs are very fast chewers and can break these into pieces quickly. The listing doesn't quantify break strength or give an age/weight limit beyond "medium breeds," so monitor dogs that are known to gulp or bolt treats. If you have a dog who tends to chew aggressively or swallow large pieces, supervise every chew and consider offering the treat in portions or using it as a supervised chew rather than leaving it unattended.

Puppy & senior concerns

Puppies can be great candidates because the texture gives them something to gnaw on during teething; owners report using Whimzees with very young dogs. Still, the listing doesn't provide an explicit age range or teething-specific guidance, so for very young puppies or frail senior dogs with weak jaws, watch for pieces coming loose and intervene if your dog gouges or swallows fragments too quickly.

Packaging & storage

The listing shows two sealed bags in the pack and the package dimensions. Closed packaging looks standard; the listing doesn't specify resealable packaging or storage shelf life details beyond what you'd expect for a treat. Store in a cool, dry place and use within whatever timeline feels right for your household—there's no explicit "best by" date called out in the listing details provided.

Who this is for / who should skip

I break this down by use case so you can see where Whimzees fits in a real routine.

Great fit

• Owners of medium-breed dogs looking for a plant-based dental chew.
• Dogs with animal-protein intolerances—owner experience specifically called out dogs that can't digest animal proteins doing well on Whimzees.
• Households that want an alternative to rawhide and prefer vegetable-based treats—the product and owner notes both point out this is not rawhide and is a vegetarian option.
• People who want a straightforward, daily chew that can be used as an oral hygiene aid.

Who should skip or be cautious

• Toy or very small breeds—listing recommendation is medium breeds, and it does not specify small-breed suitability or a small-specific size beyond what is sold here.
• Power chewers who demolish chews quickly—owner feedback and hands-on use reveal some dogs chew these very fast, which raises fragment/choking concerns.
• Dogs with known lupin or legume allergies—the listing names Sweet Lupin Meal as a special ingredient, so avoid if that's a known trigger unless cleared by a professional.

Verdict

Whimzees Toothbrush Star Small (pack of 2) is a dependable, vegetable-based dental chew that does what it promises for many dogs: delivers a textured chew that helps break down plaque and tartar while being vegetarian and gluten-free. The special ingredient callout of Sweet Lupin Meal and claims like "additive-free" and "low fat" give it strong appeal for owners prioritizing ingredient simplicity and a plant-based option.

That said, it isn't a perfect fit for every household. The listing recommends medium breeds, and that's where it's strongest. Fast chewers and very small dogs require supervision or potentially a different product size. The packaging is straightforward (two bags, 24 treats each), and owners report their dogs love them—some even use them creatively by adding a dab of peanut butter into the treat's scoop or opening for extra engagement.

Check before you buy

• Confirm breed fit: The listing recommends medium breeds—the product doesn't provide specific small/large breed sizing guidance.
• Know the ingredient highlight: Sweet Lupin Meal is a named ingredient—skip if your dog has lupin/legume allergies or consult a professional.
• Plan to supervise: Some dogs chew them very fast and can break pieces off; supervise especially with puppies and fast chewers.
• Count & package: This listing is a 2-pack totaling 48 treats (24 per bag), package dimensions 6 x 3 x 12 inches and item weight 1.72 pounds.
• Diet fit: The chews are vegetable-based, gluten-free, additive-free, low fat, and vegetarian—match that to your dog's dietary needs.

Overall, if you're feeding a medium dog, want a plant-based dental chew, and plan to supervise chew sessions, Whimzees Toothbrush Star Small is a solid pick. It won't replace daily brushing or professional dental cleanings, but it can be a useful part of an oral hygiene routine and a treat that many dogs find delicious.

Available colors

Available colors may include bone-colored (cream), green, and reddish varieties; owners and packaging references point to a mix of these colors across bags.