Method for producing pet dental treat

A pet dental treat includes an outer shell constituting a dense, solid shell which keeps the dog occupied while the dog's teeth sink into a soft, chewy porous inner core, potentially coated on exposed surface(s) such as with a bio-active compound, to scrape tartar and remove plaque from the dog's teeth, including hard-to-reach teeth, thereby helping to maintain the oral health of the dog while also reducing bad breath. The pet dental treat has a cross-section visually resembling a tooth and includes a longitudinal slot defining an integral pocket having in-turned retaining elements at an entrance to the slot, with the pocket provided to selectively retain a functional, edible additive insert, such as a vitamin, medicinal item or the like insert, to be given to the pet, with the retaining elements preventing the edible insert from inadvertently falling out of the pocket.