CNN: Dog treat killing dogs..."Greenies"

[ariellyn]

Getting stuck in digestive tracts. Thirteen dead dogs so far.

Anybody ever seen those Saturday Night Live skits with Dan Akroyd spoofing the manufacturers of deadly toys? They would justify them if they put kids eyes out, or worse. Well that's exactly what these guys who own the company look like. Manufacturer says the benefits of clean teeth from chewing Greenies far outweigh the downside.

Sick.

[napi21]

1. Do you have a link to thin info?

I am a volunteer rescuer and also on several dog boards. Many people talk about how their little dogs love Greenies. If there's a problem, I need to let them know, but I can't do it without some validation.

Edited for spelling :(

[ariellyn]

5. No, it was just on CNN--Paula Zahn's show. nt

[rainbow4321]

6. There was info over on the Pet Forum board

a while back about them being bad for dogs. The Greenies are not being digested well so they accumulate in the dogs' stomachs, making them throw up..there was one story about a dog needing surgery to get the ball of Greenies out of him.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=243&topic_id=11875&mesg_id=11875

http://www.kirotv.com/investigations/5325021/detail.html


Millions of dogs chew on the treats every day, and there's a good chance your pooch is one of them. The package says Greenies are "100 percent edible" but a company spokeswoman told us they are "85 percent digestible."

"That was not 85 percent digestible," Jensen said. "That was not digestible."

Berkley is the latest of several dogs Dr. Jennifer McBride has operated on after eating teeth cleaning products, mostly Greenies. "We will see things in abdomens that will dissolve like bones and over time, they will dissolve and go away.

But these are mostly indisolvable, so they tend to get stuck more often," McBride said.


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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=243&topic_id=10150&mesg_id=10150

[tridim]

8. Here's the story..

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/14/dangerous.dogtreat/index.html

[tridim]

2. Yep, when I gave one to my dog it was gone in about 20 seconds

That was the last Greenie she'll ever have. Same deal with rawhide bones.

[ariellyn]

7. Rawhide bones? Really? I have always given my dog rawhide

It lasts forever. It was recommended by the trainer when she was a puppy. She takes forever to chew rawhide bones.

[tridim]

10. It depends on the dog.. My other dog can handle rawhide flips

But my Boston can't have them. She swallows the knots and the middle part whole.

[Thtwudbeme]

3. I work in a large volume animal hospital as a receptionist;

next door to our clinic is a specialty clinic with surgeons and is open 24 hours for emergencies.

I deal with about 12 board certified veterinarians.

I have not heard of ONE case of dogs having greenies pulled out of their guts...however, I did get to see the thousand dollar surgery for the dog with the plastic ball.

That said, the docs I work with always tell people do NOT leave your animals alone with chewy stuff---ever.

Stephanie

[xultar]

12. People are stoopid and leave their pets with them and don't watch.

Some dogs will swallow treats when they get them down to a particular size. Some will keep chewing.

People should NEVER leave their pets with treats they can possibly swallow whole.

When my pets treats get down to size I throw them or way or watch them while they chew and when they put the whole thing in their mouth
I always do the drop it command.

[donco6]

4. I've fed my dog Greenies for years.

Never had a problem. :shrug:

[ariellyn]

9. Oh well. I forgot I was watching CNN. Must remember the grain of salt. nt

[Caoimhe]

14. They produce these stories for the most out of touch dog owners

and parents. Often you see a story about how.. this or that causes a choking hazard for a toddler.. well no shit. If it's this size or under... it just might. It's your job as a parent to monitor what your kids are putting in their mouth. Some dogs are treated like extremely spoiled children, and given a tasty weird shaped treat, will choke themselves on it. Just sayin...

[Caoimhe]

11. bottom line.. watch them

I prefer to buy regular twisted hide bones and using a plastic knife, tuck peanut butter into the spaces.. he goes nuts for it, it takes him a few hours or days depending on his boredom level. A Kong works great too, with peanut butter in the grooves.. and they can't injest those. Any time you give any of your animals or humans a new food.. watch over them. It makes sense.

[AirmensMom]

13. My sister's dog had trouble with them.

She would get a tummy ache until she vomited them up. She doesn't get them anymore. They make them for cats now, but I won't give them to my cats.

[ulysses]

15. always something new blamed on "greenies" here.

:silly:

[egadsbrain]

16. Another link... why risk it?

There's so many other safe treats you can give.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lidog054576713jan06,0,2170861.story

[earth mom]

17. Just discovered greenies-which the clerk jokingly called "doggie crack".

Dh and I had a chuckle about that while watching our blind elderly dog go nuts over em. She's almost literally been the dog with 9 lives so we were happy to see her gaga over them because it reminded us of her fun filled days before she lost her sight.

I hope she won't hold it against us if we don't give her greenies anymore.... :cry:

[Thtwudbeme]

18. Did you read my post?

Speak to your vet before you decide that greenies are bad.

13 dogs dead out of millions that eat them.

Think about it.