A dog or cat's dental care routine mostly fails not because owners don't own a toothbrush, but because getting a toothbrush anywhere near the mouth is the actual obstacle.

This is added straight to the drinking water rather than brushed on. It's tasteless and colourless, so pets don't notice it in the bowl. Petkin's instruction is half a capful to every 8oz of water, made up fresh daily, and it's approved for use in filtered water fountains. Results are reported from around 2 weeks of daily use.

• Added directly to drinking water rather than brushed on
• Tasteless and colourless, so pets don't notice it in the bowl
• Half a capful to every 8oz of water, made up fresh daily
• Approved for use in filtered water fountains
• Results reported from around 2 weeks of daily use

What the label does not say. Petkin describe this as freshening breath and fighting plaque and gum disease, but that's the manufacturer's own claim rather than a clinical one, and no ingredient percentages are given for any of the eight listed ingredients. If your pet already has diagnosed gum disease, this is a maintenance product to run alongside a vet's treatment, not instead of one.

Who it's for: owners of a cat or dog that won't tolerate a toothbrush, who want a passive addition to the water bowl instead.