At Bell & Bone, everything we do is grounded in care: for pets, for their people, and for the quality of products we put into the world. If you’ve ever looking into our dental products, you might have noticed something missing on our packaging — the VOHC tick of approval. It’s a common question we get, and today, we’re here to explain exactly why we don't have it yet, and why we're proud of the work we're doing instead.

What Is the VOHC Tick of Approval?

The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) evaluates pet dental products to determine if they help reduce plaque and tartar. If a product meets their criteria, it earns a certification — a "tick of approval" that many larger brands use to build credibility.

According to Dr. Kelly Halls, our veterinary ambassador from Bentons Road Vet Clinic:

"The Veterinary Oral Health Council tick of approval is a tick that shows that a product has been studied to actually be effective against dental disease. It takes a lot of effort and a lot of time and a lot of money to get that tick. I'm aware of that, and so the big companies with larger profit margins do have the ability to fund that."

Do Bell & Bone Dental Treats Measure Up to VOHC Standards?

Absolutely.

Bell & Bone is a small business, owned by our Founder, Arianne… and whilst she doesn’t have a big budget for certifications just yet, she has dedicated her life to improving the health and wellbeing of our pets. She works with the best, most experienced, industry experts in Australia, using science-backed, peer-reviewed, clinically studied active ingredients in each dental care product, that are widely known to prevent and reduce plaque, tartar and the symptoms of dental disease.

Arianne says, “when it comes to deciding where our funds go, I choose to invest in the quality of our ingredients and product range to give our pets the best nutrition we can, each and every time. I am proud of that, and would never make that compromise for anything else.” 

While we don’t (yet) hold the VOHC tick, we formulate our products with the same oral health actives used in VOHC-certified products, plus additional science-backed ingredients that promote total-body health, starting with the gut.

Our dental range for dogs and cats features:

Oral Health Actives

• Sodium Tripolyphosphate

• Green Tea Extract

• Sodium Alginate

• Zinc Gluconate

These are the same types of ingredients that VOHC-approved brands use to clinically reduce and prevent plaque and tartar buildup.

Tribiotic Blend for Gut + Dental Health

We go further than the industry standard by supporting the gut microbiome with our unique tribiotic blend, which plays a direct role in oral health.

Prebiotics:
Ascophyllum Nodosum, Yeast Extract, Blueberry Juice Powder, Calendula, Cranberry Extract, Pomegranate, Rosemary

Probiotics (2 Billion CFU/serve):
Enterococcus Faecium, Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis, Streptococcus Thermophilus

Postbiotics (800 Million Cells/serve):
Lactobacillus Acidophilus, L. Plantarum, L. Rhamnosus, Lactococcus Lactis Ferment Products

Why Don’t We Have the VOHC Tick?

We're a small Aussie business. We prioritise investing in research and development, working closely with leading vets, food scientists, and formulators. We don’t take shortcuts and we won’t launch anything we wouldn’t feed our own pets.

The VOHC approval process requires:

• Extensive third-party clinical studies funded by the brand

• Detailed measurements and analysis over time

• Independent review (but not testing)

These processes require hundreds of thousands of dollars and years of work. For big pet food companies, this is more feasible. For independent brands like us, it’s a serious trade-off. 

So rather than invest in that certification right now, we put our time, money, and heart into developing products that:

• Use premium, real-food ingredients

• Include oral health actives and gut microbiome support

• Are made here in Australia

• Are backed by expert partnerships and real results

Dr. Kelly added:

"What I look for in a dental product are similar active ingredients to the ones in the VOHC-approved products, but also products that are made with natural ingredients. Because it's really important that we are feeding our pets natural healthy food and including natural healthy dental sticks as well."

Transparency Over Tick-Boxes

At Bell & Bone, we believe in 100% transparency. That means telling you what’s inside our products, why it’s there, and how it supports your pet’s health — no smoke, no mirrors.

We're proud to have:

• Low-starch, meat-first Dog Dental Sticks and Cat Dental Bites

• A gut-first Dental Topper formula

• Peer-reviewed, science-backed ingredients

• Formulas created in partnership with veterinarians and scientists

And yes, we’re continuing to grow. The VOHC tick isn’t off the table forever — but until we get there, we hope you’ll trust us to deliver dental treats that go beyond the standard.

Have Questions? We're an Open Book

Want to chat more about the VOHC, ingredients, or what’s best for your dog or cat? Our Head of Customer Happiness (and fellow pet parent), Bec, is always happy to help. Use this link to ask her anything.

Or explore our full Dental Range for dogs and cats below.

Thanks for being part of the Bell & Bone community — we’re here for the health and happiness of every pet.