Most owners start out meaning to brush their pet's teeth daily and quietly stop within a fortnight, usually after being bitten or simply worn down. A spray is the compromise. It takes seconds, needs no cooperation beyond lifting a lip, and it happens on the days when a toothbrush would not have. Something done every day beats something done properly twice a month.

The spray goes straight onto the teeth and the gum line, which is where the soft film of bacteria that eventually hardens into tartar forms. Freshening the breath is the effect you notice; slowing the rate at which that film sets is the part that matters. It is made for both dogs and cats, and the format lets you do it while your pet is settled on your lap rather than making an event of it.

• Spray applicator for quick daily use
• Suitable for both dogs and cats
• Targets everyday breath odour
• Works against soft plaque and surface staining
• No brushing or restraint required

Be realistic about what a spray can do. Nothing you spray, add to water or hand over as a chew removes tartar that has already hardened onto a tooth. That comes off with a scale under anaesthetic, at the vet. This is for keeping a reasonably clean mouth cleaner. If your pet has red gums, a smell that makes you turn away, or is chewing on one side only, book the vet rather than buying this.

Who it's for: Owners whose pet will not tolerate a toothbrush and who want something they will actually keep up with between check-ups.