I talked to our local vet about greenies. She said that she had never once had to help a dog due to one. QUOTE]
I obviously does not happen to all dogs, but I don't want to take a chance. My dog happened to be at an Emergency Vet Clinic the night (2/14) that I saw the story on CNN Anderson Cooper, and when I picked her up in the morning to transfer her to my regular vet clinic, I mentioned it to the vet tech. He says they see several a month. I also mentioned to my vet while he was caring for Princess, and he said the same thing.
Pet owners just have to be diligent and watch our pets as we would our children. My larger dog will steal things right off the counter if she can get a hold it - I have to be put everything up and out of her reach... when she was younger she ate a plate of brownies and 1/2 carrot cake. Luckily she did not get ill! Our Yorkie will jump up on the furniture and steal things if you are not watching - pens, pencils, etc.
I choose to throw my Greenies away, and whenever I give my dogs other treats - pigs ears and Dingo bones are the favorite, they are always suprvised.
BTW - Princess had Hemorrhagic GastroEnteritis, which is is something else quite scary to witness - she started out with the runs (I had been away overnight and out quite a bit the two following days and she is neurotic at times without me - so I attributed it to stress at first), then vomiting, and quickly went down hill to bloody diarreaha. Luckily we got her to the emergency clinic very promptly, and she is doing fine after a night and day of fluids and meds. I will never pass off the runs as something minor again!
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