February is Pet Dental Health Month, and WHIMZEES®, the creator of all-natural, daily dental chews for dogs, surveyed Americans across the nation’s 10 largest cities to see how pet dental healthcare habits stack up.

Here are the WHIMZEES Smiliest Dog Cities in America:

1. Los Angeles
   Three-quarters of Los Angeles pet parents admit that they like the smell of their dog’s breath, which is no surprise as an overwhelming 84 percent of residents devoted extra attention to their pet’s dental health while spending more time at home over the past year. 65 percent of L.A. pet parents also think their dog’s dental health is very important for a longer, happier life, which inspires consistent habits and helped Los Angeles secure the number-one position.
2.  New York City
   New York City pet parents stepped up during the pandemic, with 60 percent of them taking advantage of more time at home to put in extra care for their pup’s pearly whites. 72 percent also said they would give up their own dental work for a year if it meant their dog could have healthy teeth and an overall healthy life.
3. Atlanta
   In Atlanta, 70 percent of pet parents believe their dog’s dental health impacts overall health, so they take measures like professional vet cleanings (50 percent), brushing their dog’s teeth with a toothbrush (43 percent) and giving edible dental chews (52 percent), all of which help prevent dental disease from developing.
4. Boston
   60 percent worry about their dog developing dental disease and more than half believe dental health is very important to build a longer and happier life for pets. Boston pet parents are a big fan of edible dental chews; 60 percent use them as a measure to care for their dog’s teeth.
5. Chicago
   80 percent would forego their own dental health for a year if it meant their dog could have healthy teeth and an overall healthy life. Over 60 percent also worry about their dog developing dental disease, which motivates reliable dental care.

“With more time at home with furry friends amidst the pandemic, we’re encouraged to see how pet parents across American cities have stepped up to care for their dog’s teeth, which helps set the foundation for a long, happy life,” said Dr. Danielle Bernal, staff veterinarian for WHIMZEES, in the press release announcing the survey results. “Dental disease is the number one health issue for dogs, affecting 80 percent of adult dogs and up 96 percent of senior dogs, and if left untreated, can lead to serious quality of life and health issues.”

Check out the WHIMZEES Smile Tracker and upload a picture of your dog’s smile for a chance to win free WHIMZEES for a year.

WHIMZEES dental chews are conveniently available at pet specialty retailers nationwide and online retailers, including Chewy and Amazon, with new distribution to national retailers including Target and Meijer.

To learn more about WHIMZEES, visit the brand on Facebook @WHIMZEESUS and Instagram @WHIMZEESUS.

Survey Methodology
Conducted in January 2021, SWNS collected data via an online survey from a random sampling of 2,018 adult dog owners across 10 U.S. cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas Ft. Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington D.C. Scoring from the Smiliest Cities List was based on an average across a variety of dog dental care questions examining pet dental care habits, attitudes towards the importance of pet dental health for overall health and concerns about dental disease. 

Related:

Top 10 best cities to vacation with your dog in 2019

The 25 most cat-friendly cities of 2019

New certification is putting pet-friendly cities on the map

Is your dog a genius? Dog treat company unveils test to help you find out