A dog that won't tolerate a toothbrush anywhere near its mouth still has to drink, which is the whole logic behind a breath additive that goes in the water bowl instead.

This one combines peppermint oil, stabilised chlorine dioxide, grapefruit seed extract, grape seed extract, thyme oil and neem oil. The instruction is 1 tablespoon added to 16 fl. oz. of fresh water, or 1-2 teaspoons for a smaller bowl, used daily, and it's safe for daily use in dogs over 12 weeks old. It's sold as a 500ML bottle, and works best alongside Vet's Best Dental Gel Toothpaste.

• Peppermint oil, stabilised chlorine dioxide and grapefruit seed extract among the ingredients
• Add 1 tablespoon to 16 fl. oz. of water daily (or 1-2 teaspoons for a smaller bowl)
• Safe for daily use in dogs over 12 weeks old
• Freshens breath without brushing
• Best used alongside a dental gel toothpaste
• 500ML bottle

On what it doesn't do. This freshens breath and is aimed at reducing plaque and tartar build-up when used alongside a toothpaste; it isn't a substitute for a dental check if a dog's breath smells consistently bad rather than just needing freshening, since persistent bad breath can point to a problem a bottle in the water bowl won't fix.

Who it's for: owners of a dog that won't tolerate brushing, wanting something added to the water bowl daily rather than a toothpaste applied directly.