GREENIES killing dogs!

[ilovepcot]

Just read on CNN that Greenies aren't always able to be digested and get lodged in the dog's esophagus. Sadly, some have died. We noticed our dog wasn't able to digest them and stopped giving them to him. Now I have to alert the person I gave them to!

 

[Holly]

What is a greenie?

 

[llij]

Holy Moly! We give our Yorkie greenies. She loves them! I better find some other treat now for her. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Lisa L from MI]

I heard that quite a while ago on the news. It was a HUGE thing and I am surprised they still have them available. I thought I read though that the dogs actually choked on them because of the way they broke up????

 

[llij]

What is a greenie?

It is a little green toothbrush shaped treat for dogs. Here is a pic that I pulled from the Greenie website.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

My holistic vet told me to stop doing this some time ago, so I did.

My dogs loved greenies. Oh well. I didn't notice that they kept their teeth cleaner or their breath fresher, anyway.

 

[golfgal]

I read about this on some dog websites too. We were going to buy our puppy some and then I saw the warnings. I am glad we didn't give her any.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Has anyone heard of any problems with dogs chewing Pedigree type dental chews - like Dentabones and Dentachews? I know our guys love the heck out of those things but I don't want to give them to them if they pose a hazard like Greenies.

 

[FreshTressa]

Wow...thanks for sharing...this is the first I've heard.

I have big bag of fake greenies from costco...they prolly do the same thing.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I talked to our local vet about greenies. She said that she had never once had to help a dog due to one. On the other hand, she'd done lots of surgeries for rawhide chews, corn cobs (our black lab), tennis balls, etc that had lodged in different parts of the digestive tract. I had never even heard of the duadenum (sp?) until a corn cob lodged in that particular part of our lab! BTW-we didn't purposely give our dog the corn cob, she stole it from the chicken coop, sneaky little thing that she is.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I stopped giving my dogs "treats" awhile ago. (Due to digestive issues). If I am training I use people food (tiny itty bits) or their own dog food.



For chewing I use a Kong stuffed with some of their own dog food or rice if they need some bulk, mixed with the "dog roll" food. I use Natural Balance.
I save that for rainy days when they are bored out of their minds, we are busy, when I need 1 hour of peace, etc...

People also stuff it with pumpkin and freeze it as a treat. I have not done that yet.

 

[marymouse]

I will admit up front that I work for a company that sells Greenies but I don't work FOR Greenies. I believe in Greenies and will continue to give them to my dogs. I haven't gotten to see the CNN report so I don't know what they are going to report but the information we have been given the dogs were given inappropriate size bones in regard to their weight. I dont' know if this is true but this is what Greenies claims. When we first started to sell them I gave my dogs the large size thinking they would last for a long time. No, they just pooped bright green for two day, so I know they don't digest.

I also know that nearly every dog treat/toy I sell has been involved in some kind of problem. Rawhide doesn't digest and can cause blockages, rope bones can come apart and tie up the intestines, squeakers from toys can also block a dog.

Just remember to use common sense when giving your dog and treat and monitor the way the chew and play. I am not at all making light of the dogs that died from Greenies and feel so horrible for their owners (not blaming them at all).

Greeenies is well aware of the issue and I would be willing to bet that the formula changes to try and prevent these problems in the future. Greenie bones have made a huge difference in my dogs dental health and I will stand behind them.

 

[LoriKay]

Our local television station did a segment on this the other night. Immediately after it was over DH went downstairs and threw the $50 box of Greenies that we'd just bought for our greyhound into the trash.

 

[2BigKIdz]

My collie acted weird after eating greenies so I only gave them to him twice. The first time I didn't really think it was the treat but after he acted funny the next time he had one I threw them away. He does get the Waggin' Train brand (freshies, I think) that is very similar, he loves those and has not had a problem but my other dog gets choked on them so he does not get them. I guess I will stop giving them to the dogs period. The vet did recommend Pedigree dentabones, neither of my dogs have experienced problems with those so I guess I will stick them.

 

[SUSIEQ]

My dog had to have her anal sacs expressed frequently during the year or so we gave her Greenies.

She did not have this problem before we started using them, and she hasn't had this problem since we stopped using them (knock on wood).

Something just made us think the Greenies might have something to do with her problem, and now we know they did!

 

[Mimi Q]

No more Greenies for Miss Puggles. Thanks for the info.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We stopped feeding them awhile back. For one, I personally know someone who's dog choked on it.

Secondly, they are RIDICULOUSLY overpriced and have NO nutritional value. They don't improve dental health, don't freshen breath, and have no value.

Why bother wasting money on something that does nothing? I can instead do things that DO provide good nutrition, won't choke my dogs, don't make me go broke, and will help their dental health. And my holistic vet said to steer clear when I picked her brain on them.

Seems like a no brainer

 

[eclectics]

Just saw the piece on CNN. Scary! So sad these people lost their beloved dogs. They should be off the market. They do not break down if swallowed as chunks. They just clog up the intestines or throat and stay solid as a rock. Terrible!

 

[cstraub]

My dog eats cat do do. If that doesn't kill her nothing will!

Of course I'm kidding. I'll have to check into this. My Sierra loves greenies!!!

Thanks!

 

[Mad4Mickey]

with all treats your pet needs to be supervised. I have never seen a dog choke on a Greenie . I work in a large 24 hour emergency clinic , but we do have a large daycare program and boarding facility. We give the Greenies out as treats still .

Although it tells you on the package that if you have a pet who is a over chewer / one who gets really excited about chewing they can choke as with most of those types of treats and toys