If you are searching for VetriScience Perio Support, you are probably weighing up whether a daily dental powder could work for a dog who will not stand for a toothbrush. Perio Support is a popular US dental powder built around zeolites and probiotics. This guide for Australian owners covers what is on the label, what the formula is designed to do, where the evidence stops, and how it compares with a multi-ingredient brushless powder.
What is VetriScience Perio Support?
It is a dental powder for dogs and cats that is mixed into food. The US product information sheet says it is intended for use between veterinary dental cleanings and describes it as helping to maintain clean teeth and fresh breath. It is a supplement, not a medicine.
Because it is a US product, check availability and labelling if you buy it through an importer or reseller. In Australia, veterinary chemical products are overseen by the APVMA, and wording on overseas jars may not match local rules, so rely on the label of the pack you actually receive.
VetriScience Perio Support ingredients
The US sheet lists these actives per 2.5 g (about one teaspoon):
- Natural zeolites (500 mg), the largest part of the formula.
- Proprietary probiotic blend (355 mg), with six named strains including L. acidophilus, E. faecium and B. subtilis.
- Cranberry powder (25 mg), yucca schidigera extract (7 mg), taurine (1.25 mg) and zinc (0.8 mg).
Inactive ingredients include anise oil, calcium carbonate, fenugreek seed extract and fermentation extracts. Retail pages sometimes show a shorter list, so trust the jar.
What the evidence does and does not show
The idea is that zeolites interact with plaque while probiotic strains influence odour-causing bacteria. It is a reasonable concept, but the product page we reviewed cites no clinical study, and one retailer uses the phrase "clinically tested" without linking data. Treat the claims as label-level descriptions and look for independent evidence.
The stronger evidence is about cleaning frequency. Harvey and colleagues (J Vet Dent, 2015) linked brushing frequency to plaque, calculus and gingivitis, and the WSAVA Global Dental Guidelines (2020) centre daily home care and professional exams. Periodontal disease is common, per Wallis and Holcombe (J Small Anim Pract, 2020), and a Swedish survey (Svärd and Enlund, 2023) found only about 42% of owners brushed daily even after a periodontitis diagnosis.
How it is used
The US sheet gives weight-based amounts per meal, from about a quarter of a teaspoon for dogs up to 15 lb (around 7 kg) to two teaspoons over 120 lb (around 54 kg), given with or after food. Directions can differ by pack, so follow your label and ask your vet if unsure.
Pros and honest limits
- Pros: mixes into food, no brushing, a readable strain list, suits mixed dog and cat households.
- Limits: no enzyme system, prebiotic fibre or seaweed among the actives; per-strain probiotic amounts are not shown; no powder removes existing tartar.
- Access to dentistry: veterinary dental specialists are concentrated in the capital cities, so regional owners often face travel and waiting lists. That makes steady home care more valuable, but it is not a reason to delay a check if you notice red gums, drooling or a loose tooth. Be wary of anyone offering scaling without anaesthesia outside a veterinary setting.
- Storage: keep any powder sealed, cool and dry, particularly through Australian summers.
Perio Support vs a multi-ingredient dental powder
Our Pure Majesty Pets Dog Dental Powder takes a layered approach: hydroxyapatite (15%), kelp Ascophyllum nodosum (8%), GOX/LPO enzymes (0.6%), inulin (14%), oral probiotic lysate (0.3%), zinc citrate (0.6%), green tea (0.5%) and pork liver (10%). Kelp has been studied in dogs in a double-blind, randomised trial (Gawor et al., 2018) using edible treats.
| Factor | VetriScience Perio Support | Pure Majesty Dental Powder |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Zeolites plus live probiotics | Hydroxyapatite, kelp, enzymes, prebiotic, postbiotic, zinc, green tea |
| Enzymes | Not listed among actives | GOX/LPO 0.6% |
| Kelp | Not listed | 8% |
| Species | Dogs and cats | Dogs |
Neither replaces a vet exam. More comparisons: Plaque Off, PetLab Co and kelp dental powder for dogs.
VetriScience Perio Support: FAQ
Is Perio Support the same as Perio Support Pro?
No, they are different products with different formulas. Check the label.
Can it remove tartar?
Hardened tartar needs professional removal. Powders are positioned as support between cleanings.
How long until I notice fresher breath?
It varies. If breath stays unpleasant after a few weeks, book a vet visit.
Does a powder replace brushing?
No. Brushing is the gold standard; a powder can be a practical add-on or an alternative for dogs who refuse a brush.
The bottom line
Perio Support is a zeolite-and-probiotic powder some households find convenient. If you would like hydroxyapatite, kelp, enzymes, a prebiotic, a postbiotic, zinc and green tea in one scoop, try Pure Majesty Pets Dog Dental Powder for brushless daily oral-hygiene support, or browse our dog dental supplements.