Three shapes in one box, alligators, toothbrushes and stix, all made from the same potato starch base. They are dental chews rather than treats, and the shapes exist because different textures reach different parts of the mouth.

The panel is the giveaway that this is not food: 1.1% protein, 7.2% fibre, 2% fat. There is almost no protein in a Whimzee because there is no meat in it. It is potato starch and cellulose, coloured with alfalfa and paprika extract, and the calcium carbonate goes into the toothbrush shape only. At 294 kcal per 100g they still carry calories.

• Three shapes, potato starch based, no meat
• One a day, for dogs 9 months and over
• Protein 1.1%, fibre 7.2%
• Natural colourants only, no additives stated

The dog weight on the box is not a suggestion. The medium pack says 12 to 18kg. A chew too small for the dog is a swallowing risk and a chew too large will not be worked properly, which is the whole mechanism. Buy the size, not the box that happens to be on offer.

Who it's for: dogs from nine months who need daily dental work and cannot have a meat chew, including vegetarian households.