DOG OWNERS/LOVERS - Treats Kill Our Pets!
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
March 9, 2007 3:29pm CST
Dog treats killed our pets
I received this today from a friend. I have already seen this warning on the Today Show a month or so ago and told my vet about it. She removed them from her practice. Obviously it is a real danger but this is the first time I have seen it in print so I wanted to share it with you. The company saying that they save lives because dogs dont get peridentontal disease is ludicrous!
The problem comes because the treats, called Greenies, become lodged in a dog's esophagus or intestine and then some veterinarians say they don't break down."I know they are marketed in saying that they do digest. Certainly the ones that we've taken out, esophageal or intestinal, that have been in for days are still very hard," Brendan McKiernan, a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist from Denver, Colorado, told CNN. (Watch a vet retrieve a two-day old, undigested Greenie from a dog -- 7:40)
Greenies recommends owners check that the treats are chewed and Joe Roetheli - who launched the brand as a treat that can freshen a dog's breath and clean its teeth - said it was important to pick the correct chew for a particular dog. There are 7 different sizes to choose from depending on the size of the dog.
But most of the dog owners CNN talked to say they did follow package instructions and they still had a problem.
Mike Eastwood and his wife, Jenny Reiff, recently filed a $5 million lawsuit in New York, blaming Greenies for the intestinal blockage that caused the death of their dog Burt."I'm mad that their packaging states that the product is 100 percent edible, highly digestible and veterinarian approved, yet our dog died of it," Eastwood told CNN.
S&M NuTec, which manufactures the toothbrush-shaped chew, won't comment on the case but in court papers denied the allegations.
Roetheli said the focus should be on the dental benefits and Greenies are saving dogs' lives by lowering the risk of periodontal disease.
I would rather have a live dos with gum problems that a dead dog with healthy gums!!!The complete story http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/14/dangerous.dogtreat/Photo: GREENIES
11 people like this
26 responses
@Mollyjo (266)
• United States
10 Mar 07
I have read this as well. I don't give these to my pets I am afraid of killing one of them. I would rather have my pet them give them a deadly treat. Yes this is true and possible. I couldn't imagine having one of my babies die over a treat but, to be on the safe side I don't give them to them. A really good dog food that I use to replace treats is beneful my doberman loves it she thinks she is getting a treat evey time I give it to her. Yes it is exspensive but, if you want to give your dog a treat buy a small bag and use it just for treats and use your normal dog food for feeding. It does work and they love it.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
10 Mar 07
My dogs get Beneful as their dry food. I cant bake worth a darn for people but I bake all my own dog teats and they love them.
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
10 Mar 07
I stopped feeding my dog greenies quite a while ago because my vet brought it up. There are plenty of tarter control products on the market that are 100 % digestable. Biscuit type dental treats are what my vet recommended. That and teeth brushing,,which I must admit I don't do..lol
Here is another link to the dangers of greenies.
http://www.wcpo.com/wcpo/localshows/dontwasteyourmoney/1c7a7ae1.html
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
10 Mar 07
Thanks Mari, Mine get either my home made treats or the biscuits for their teeth.
@supremegod (1018)
• India
9 Mar 07
its very informative and i dont buy dog treats for my dog much.. i share the human treats i buy for myself
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
9 Mar 07
Well Ihave never seen that before here in the UK but Gissi will only eat 2 types of Treats and that is the Dental Chews and then another soft Chew. So I never buy anything different for him as I am just wasting my Money lol. But I am so sorry that this couple lost their Dog through a treat that is suppose to be safe.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
10 Mar 07
I'm glad you stopped giving them to her, better safe than sorry.
@jbrowsin66 (1321)
• United States
10 Mar 07
I've never heard of these things before... but I know that sometimes even my dog will get a piece of larger dry food stuck and have to cough it up. Right now we're feeding "little bites". We have to realize that dogs can't chew as well as humans can. (Or know why they should chew their food well, lol)
1 person likes this
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
9 Mar 07
This is amazing. I am shocked. I don't have a dog now, but have two cats. They eat the greenies all the time. They love them. I wonder now, if it will be harmful to them. Thank you for this post, and warning pet owners. (us cat ones too.) I'm giving you a + rating for such a fine post. Thank you sugar.
1 person likes this
@Eskimo (2315)
•
10 Mar 07
I haven't heard of these, and wouldn't like to buy them, not sure if they are available in U.K. Don't give dog many treats, a lot of dogs don't chew anyway, just try to crunch things up then swallow.
The company shouldn't be allowed to sell anything which can be dangerous, especially if you have to get the exact size correct for the size of the dog.
@resasour (378)
• United States
10 Mar 07
My pom loves greenies. I belonged to a survey club and I had the opportunity to test try the "new" formula. She does not like them quite as well as the old ones, but she still eats them. We buy the smallest ones for her. They make greenies for cats too and my dad's cat loves them. I understand about them being a possible hazard, but I am careful to watch my dog with any treats or bones too for that matter. I have had more of an issue with her splintering bones than with the greenies. Also, she does get great check ups.. so I do see both sides, and I hope they further improve on the formula so as to address the choking issues in pets, but in the meantime I will still continue to give my pom her greenies and still watch her to make sure she is eating it and not trying to swallow it whole.
@cassidy22 (2974)
• United States
9 Mar 07
Never feed your dog a treat that they can swallow without chewing. We give our dogs greenies all the time, but they CHEW them up, so I am not afriad of this. I don't give them RAWHIDE, because they rip of big pieces and swallow them, and the same thing could happen.
People need to be responsible with their pets and not assume they treat toys and treats as we think they should. You need to monitor the behavior of your pets. A harmless toy can quickly become harmFUL if they can break off a piece and swallow it. Same is true for treats if they decide to swallow anything whole. Supervise your pets, people.
1 person likes this
@Married2aMarine (1273)
• United States
10 Mar 07
I think it all depends on your dog. Some dogs chew and some dogs "inhale" (just swollow their food). If your dog inhales then NEVER give them Greenies, rawhide or other such treats where they will just swollow huge chunks and choke themselves. My dog gets greenies but she's an extremely slow and delicate eater and chews on her treats for ages!! So, it really depends on how your dog eats.
1 person likes this
@seventeen17 (65)
•
10 Mar 07
How can they pass the tests to get on the shelf if they are not safe? I know in Britain that everything is strictly tested for safety before hitting the shelves. start a petition for their withdrawal immediately
M17
1 person likes this
@AngelNicki (412)
• United States
10 Mar 07
I've heard that before. I don't get my dog any Greenies. I am surprised they even sell them at Petsmart and Petco!
@demonswilldrown (19)
•
10 Mar 07
I run a kenneling business in orkney, so this piece of information was both incredibly useful and extremely worrying.
That a company can even try to justify a treat that kills animals by saying it cleans their teeth is beyond belief.
Anyone who has owned a dog knows that they become a big part of your family. If that kind of attitude was taken about a human foodstuff people would riot.
Thankyou for a well informed and valuable post.
All the best
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
10 Mar 07
I'm so glad that you placed this discussion onto MyLot. We give our dog 'Greenies' and now I may refrain. This is very scary to think that the 'Greenies' may give him an intestinal blockage due to not digesting properly! My dog is bad (as any dog) to try and devour the bone as quickly as possible. I do hope he chews them well!
@xfallenxlostx (2074)
• United States
10 Mar 07
HOly CR@P! Thank you so much for that warning. i will make sure never to give either of my pups greenies. i really feel for the families of the deceased dogs. How terrible.
@all_am_rejects (57)
• United States
10 Mar 07
OMG How horrible.That company should be held responsible 4 this it is an outrage to sell dog treats that dogs cant digest. That is especially scary 4 me because my dog, T-bone, is like a dog treat fanatic and practically swallows treats whole. I'm going to make sure i don't buy greenies just in case.
@xenatessmocker (339)
• United States
10 Mar 07
Thanks for the heads up, I had no idea they were such a problem. Those greenies are overpriced anyway. $8 for a box of 12. Ouch
@zen_flynx (106)
• Philippines
10 Mar 07
thats awful! some companies invest a lot of their money on marketing instead of research and development. out of topic' do bones do the same thing on dogs? like bones from chicken? cause i give my dogs a whole cooked chicken and they devour even the bones! does this do the same thing?
@Gabrielle1609 (278)
• Singapore
10 Mar 07
even though my dog is small, i usually buy large chewing treats for him... this way, he will really chew and not swallow large chunks... dogs don't really need greenies if you give them top quality dry food... the dry food itself will clean their teeth as the dogs chew them... my dog always got sparkling white teeth cuz i give him expensive dry food and mix only a little bit of canned food... the canned food is totally mashed and mixed in only to give a bit of flavour as expensive dry food is tasteless most of the time... cheaper dry food contains salt to make them tastier... but they are not healthy... even then, take note to bring your dog to the vet for dental cleaning regularly... this way, you can ensure your best friend always got sparkling white teeth and healthy gums...
