[Harper M]

Hi. I don’t know if it’s because you bought food containing that substance for your dog. However, the issue of dog food is very important. You need to find a reputable place to buy it. As I am buying this for my dogs. They love it because it has a lot of flavor, and I also find them healthy. You can refer to it https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Greenies-Flavours-Dental-Dog-Treats/dp/B00T7R7HYY?th=1 mario games
Wishing your dogs good health.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Harper M.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Harper M.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Harper M.

[j D]

ATTENTION ALL – I encourage anyone who believes this item/company is a hazard to IN WRITING, reach out to any and all companies that sells the product/brand. Perhaps ALSO email or write the company itself directly. PUT THEM ON NOTICE. Perhaps the more people the better.

KEY – Include in your concern these TWO phrases:
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE and also
YOU ARE ON NOTICE.
And first word in the subject line, use the word URGENT to grab attention of the email receiver.

The two phrase are LEGAL terms that are often taken seriously by HQ’s and or should be, because they are meant to hold people to a certain standard in the legal world and thus getting an email or letter w/these words being used, SHOULD prompt any and all responsible stores, companies to actually address this concern and to do so in a timely manner or else be held liable if something bad happens.

Time is of the essence is essentially a legal term that encourages prompt attention, using that phrase shows a future judge that whomever is using the term is COMMUNICATING the need for promptness.

The phrase “on notice” essentially COMMUNICATES that whomever is receiving the concern is as of the date, AWARE and ALERTED of a concern and hence now anyone made aware of the concern and not taking appropriate action to mitigate the hazard, fix the hazard, can be held LEGALLY responsible, w/much more certainty than someone who claims in a legal battle that they were not aware and makes the claim that they had no idea that their product on their shelves was a hazard.

Having this all in writing and pointing out in the email/letter to them, that not only are they “on notice” but that the email/letter serves as clear and concise documentation that can and WILL be made available for any and every court case that results from this product, thus it would behoove any all store owners and the company selling this item to FIX the concern PROMPTLY or potentially lose big and lose swiftly.

As I recall it was Amy who had done all the great research, perhaps she could provide somewhere that people could send a copy of these emails/letters that they have sent to store owners and the main company, so that if there ever be a need, the proper authorities wont have to seek them out and potentially miss out on having them to use in court.

Worth noting, it is a common strategy for attorneys to defend their clients by telling judges their client had no idea they were doing anything wrong. it is then upon the claimant, that is to say the person/people who filed the lawsuit, to then move forward and PROVE that actually the company did indeed know they were doing something wrong.

Defendants attorneys do NOT offer up guilt, the attorneys job is to DEFEND their client, which in so many cases in so many courts, equates to NOT honesty and accountability but rather defendants are advised to deny, deny, deny, unless and until they are FORCED by a judge to provide specific documents. Until then, its a war of attrition, a game of deny, deny, deny, make the claimant do the work, provide the proof to PROVE the case of wrong doing. That said, a claimant will have no way of knowing that anyone has put the company or stores on notice unless at some point the judge orders the company or store to hand over whatever documents the claimants attorneys request. That means tho a good attorney will need to request to see any kind of letter, emails, etc, indication that the company (or store) was aware the product was a hazard. A good atty would also look into complaints filed about the company and this is where it would be helpful if Amy could provide somewhere that people can simply forward a copy of their concern emails TO as simply as possible so that they can be sitting somewhere meaningful on file as a record for any future atty to use easily to hold the company and stores accountable.

I almost purchased one of these “no hide” items recently. I was thrilled to discover these in the store. My first impression, I was disappointed and disgusted that there was no wrapper on them, but I minimized and dismissed my concern and was begrudgingly willing to try one despite no wrapper. As I was picking one out, suddenly a bug flew out of one and into another and I was so disgusted I opted NOT to get one after all because my concern at that point was that bug could be laying eggs inside of those, which could not only be ingested by my pet but also be released into my house and or that bug could be transmitting a disease that could harm my pet. When I saw on this post someone had a similar experience, of seeing I think it was called a “skin bug” it reassured me after reading Amy’s extensive research, that these are likely rawhides merely being marketed as no hide.

My trust in companies and stores has depleted more and more in recent years. WARNING, we really cant trust the hype. That “no hide” website was SO charming, so inviting and its just yet another example of how just like w/so much these days, politics, food, household items, just about everything , MARKETING, is designed and in place, to make things, people, products, SEEM, SO good, so trustworthy, MARKETING w/words, pictures, its all a big game, pull our strings, telling us what they think we want to hear, to manipulate and get us to buy their candidate, their product, support them in their endeavors, them gaining profits, gaining power, and we end up being negatively impacted as a result of their lies and or their carelessness. IMHO, so many of us have been wired to trust and believe that if its in a store, if its on TV, if they tell me what I want to hear, then it must be okay. Nope. it is upon each of us to SEEK OUT the facts from reliable sources ESEPECIALLY for upcoming elections and not just trust what we are being told and being sold in politics and on packaging, TV and social media, ads, etc. Facts ARE available as Amy discovered in this instance, people just have to be willing to do a little digging to seek out facts, to question and to push back when things do NOT seem or feel right or seem to good to be true.

For pets, when in doubt, I suggest check w/vets. These days I have multiple vets and I check w/several of them when I have a question, as they each have different opinions, experience and education, they tho are just one resource. I compare their answers, and go w/what seems logical and wise to me, I also rely largely on my own common sense to make decisions. I too tho am far too often too trusting. I am so thankful I saw that bug fly in and out of that “no hide” that day, cause that bug flipped my common sense “switch” back on after I dismissed my instinct about no wrapper being acceptable. For me, no wrapper was in no way acceptable for my pet and yet I was willing to trust the company’s decision to offer a treat w/no wrapper over my own instinct. We as a society are naive far too often in this way. Im “training” lol myself to NOT be so naive. That bug was yet another training lesson for me.

BTW I have seen comments here about HOW to give dogs rawhides… to me, common sense is that dogs are similar to toddlers, and thus it is my responsibility to keep mine safe in similar ways as a toddler when out and about, in the car, when feeding, around stairs, etc. It is my understanding that in toddler day care there is a rule that if something can fit through a toilet paper tube, then it can be a choking hazard for a toddler. That said, I literally sit w/my dogs when they have gotten rawhides in the past because they are each different in their chewing habits. One is a gulper, so I have to be especially careful w/him and have had to in the past, save him from choking on a rawhide that he was simply swallowing as is his instinct to do when it gets to a size he feels should be swallowed. I have learned from that terrifying experience. We as people learn as we go. So many of us don’t realize that each dog is different. Some just swallow, some chew, sometime habits change from day to day. One never knows when something bad will happen, so its upon us to make time and sit and WATCH them as they chew making sure that what they are chewing on can NOT be swallowed, can NOT be choked on because it is the dogs instinct TO SWALLOW, consume the treat in front of them. Same w/toys, my dogs gnwas off bits of toys and swallows those too I repeat its upon me to PAY ATTENTION, notice these things and adjust the toys he gets accordingly.

I have used rawhides as a tool NOT a treat. 10mins a day, I MAKE that time to sit and watch my dogs to ensure they have NO chance of swallowing the rawhide or whatever else they may be getting, same w/toys. We recently had a rawhide cause a gum issue, tear at the gumline because the rawhide was too rigid and that has caused a whole other set of issues so we have been off rawhides for a while and looking for another chewing option. I appreciate the Kong suggestions in these posts as this gives the dogs something to toss around, and slobber on but can be the tiny pieces of treats taht they cant choke on. Even w/that I will STILL WATCH as they play because one never knows if a problem may show up. All toys, treats pose a risk a hazard.

I personally NEVER by the Greenies, the brushless chewable type treats, that dogs can supposedly chew on for dental health because I don’t want my dogs swallowing the treat whole and choking on it or it causing an obstruction. My dogs arent obnoxious, they are simply seeing something yummy like that and their instinct is NOT to chew on it, but instead to just swallow that yummy thing, when I tried those, my dog chewed it maybe a few times then swallowed it basically whole and I then had to wonder and worry for days about that in his system. Not all of us know our dogs habits or what our dogs will do at any given moment so is best to stick w/something we know will NOT be a hazard. Knowing my dogs are sometimes gulpers, I have learned to now feed ONLY tiny treats that cant be choked on even if swallowed whole. I look for treats that if swallowed whole it will either disintegrate as it goes down w/the saliva breaking it up or it is so tiny (pea size) that swallowing it whole doesnt matter. They still get a treat but I get zero stress and scares in the process. I tho also take time to BRUSH my dogs teeth WEEKLY rather than rely on a treat to do that work for me.
Good luck to all!

[aimee]

Hi Mary B,

I’m so glad your dog is now doing well!

I’ve held Greenies in a warm water bath and they fell apart, so I felt safe giving them to my little guy. What an ordeal! Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Mary B]

Hi.
I wanted to share our experience with Greenies Petite Dental Chews.

I had a Chihuahua that we gave Greenies Dental Chews to about once every 2 weeks. He absolutely loved them and it was always a joy to watch him as he ate them because when he was chewing a piece, he would look up at us with such happiness on his face.

About a year after we started giving him the Greenies Petite Dental Chews, he started throwing up and having liquid diarrhea. We took him to the vet and he seemed fine. They could not find any reason for his inability to to digest food properly that caused him to vomit multiple times a day and have bowel movements that were mostly water .

They referred us to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Hospital. We had to leave him for 3 days so they could do more intensive testing.

As it turned out, he could not digest Greenies and he had a blockage in his colon and stomach. Basically big hard balls of Greenies. They diagnosed him with with IBS and kept him a week on a liquid diet with digestive enzymes until the Greenies finally passed. Than introduced him slowly to Canine I/D.

After that he was fine. I don’t blame the Greenies. He just couldn’t digest them and they built up inside him.

So, with that said, if you give your dog Greenies Dental Chews and he starts having digestive issues and all tests come back normal, tell your vet our story.

It cost us close to $7000.00 to find out our dog had IBS and could not properly digest Greenies Dental Chews.

We thought he would a degree from University of Tennessee for his time spent there and for being a good student, but we just got a bill and a few cans of Canine I/D. We still had a “graduation party” with our other pooches when he came home.

Thankyou.

[crazy4cats]

Hi M&C-

Are you familiar with: http://vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Cats.pdf

I unfortunately, do not brush my cats’ teeth, but I do give them either Greenies or Dentabites. I belive they help, but brushing would be best. Hope this helps!

[aimee]

Hi Amina,

I’m glad you found the information helpful. It is hard to believe that it has been a little over 3 1/2 years since my initial post when I, like you, tried to recreate a No Hide using labeled ingredients. It is interesting to note that when the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture sent Salmon No Hide for testing the lab reported a protein content of 88.49%. This suggests that the water, carbohydrate, fat, and ash taken together would be ~ 11.5%. Starch test results were reported as 0.5% . Truly baffling to me when I consider the reported ingredients. It appears to me that there is an unreported nitrogen source in this product. ( In lab analysis protein is estimated based on nitrogen testing) and I have no explanation for the very low reported starch content in a product which lists brown rice flour as the second ingredient.

There is a lot of information since posted about this product and a current class action suit that alleges the product contains rawhide.

I don’t know that there are any truly “safe” chews. There is risk and benefit in everything. If looking for a consumable dental chew I’d suggest you choose from the Veterinary Oral Health Council accepted products for dogs list. Personally, I look for a product that was found effective against plaque and I appreciate that Greenies are formulated to meet AAFCO maintenance making it easy to incorporate them into a feeding plan without concern of unbalancing the diet. Keep in mind that just as we need to see a dentist regularly despite daily brushing and flossing, your dog also needs to be treated by a veterinarian on a regular basis.

[anonymous]

Pill Pockets for Dogs
Rehydrated chicken, glycerin, wheat flour, vegetable oil, wheat gluten, dried corn syrup, dried cultured skim milk, natural flavors, sodium bisulfate, natural chicken bouillon flavor, hickory smoke flavor, xanthan gum, preserved with mixed tocopherols

I don’t see anything that I would be concerned about in small amounts. If it’s working I wouldn’t change anything.

I have to bury my dog’s pill in soft canned food (small amount) and observe for at least 10 minutes in case she decides to cough it up.
PS: I see those pill pockets being sold at my vet’s office, don’t think they would do so if there were negative reports.

[Mark S]

Could you please elaborate on the negative effects of the ingredients in Greenies pill pockets. I have border collies that have had seizures, and have been using the pill pockets to give them their medications. Please let me know…

[Patricia A]

Honestly don’t know if if there is any validity to this . Can companies which were losing money when the grain free craze started be this sinister ? Ummm…of course.

👉👉🔴Consider who funded the scientific research and Advertising Press Release. 👇🤭http://vetmed.tufts.edu/tufts-at-tech/donors/ (Hint: The list is similar to the same companies who fund the research at UC DAVIS Veterinary Medicine)👇
The following companies gave to the UC School of Veterinary Medicine of more than One Million Dollars Each?

Mars Incorporated

Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Morris Animal Foundation

American Kennel Club

American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation

Bayer Corporation
What do these companies have to do with dog food?
Mars Incorporated = PEDIGREE®, and ROYAL CANIN®. Mars Petcare is also home to the brands NUTRO®, GREENIES®, SHEBA®, CESAR®, IAMS® AND EUKANUBA®. Mars Petcare is the world’s biggest veterinary health group with hospitals such as BANFIELD®, BLUE PEARL®, PET PARTNERS®, and VCA® – making Mars the largest veterinary operation in the North America. (They need sick dogs to survive)

Hills Pet Nutrition – Science Diet, Prescription Diet, Ideal Balance, Healthy Advantage

Morris Animal Foundation – supported by The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), PetCo and Blue Buffalo Foundation.

American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation – in partnership with Eukanuba, a grain based dog food owned by Mars Corporation

Bayer Corporation- owns Monsanto the largest GMO seed supplier in the world. Forty percent of the world’s genetically modified (GM) crops are grown in the U.S., where Monsanto controls 80 percent of the GM corn market, and 93 percent of the GM soy market and is heavily invested in grains. Responsible for all the major companies that sell farmers the stuff they need to grow crops: seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers. Also makers of flea & tick chemicals known to have life threatening side effects.

Here’s the complete list of doners to UCDavis Vet Med

https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/giving/recognition-and-resources/honor-roll

Here is the link to the report funded by some the above donors: http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2018/06/a-broken-heart-risk-of-heart-disease-in-boutique-or-grain-free-diets-and-exotic-ingredients/.

Taurine Plain Talk.

Scientific research shows lack of taurine can cause DCM in some dogs.
No, grain free diets are not the cause.
Lack of Taurine is the cause.
Taurine comes from muscle meat protein… not grains.

[anonymous]

Just brush their teeth once a day and listen to your vet when he recommends that a professional cleaning (maybe once or twice per lifetime).
No need to take a chance on those other things mentioned. Yuck!
Per the search engine:
/forums/topic/dental-chews-greenies-or-pedigree-dentasitx/#post-119699
PS: Have you tried raw carrots? Not the baby ones, they are chemically treated and a chocking hazard due to their size.

[JoAnn B]

They are 30 lb cockers, 11 yrs old and I give them 6 inch ones. I did stop and no more grass eating. I don’t know what to give them to chew for their teeth. I won’t give them rawhide or beef bones etc. Any ideas? I did buy greenies and they are OK with them but they are gone in 5 minutes.

[Tyrionthebiscuit]

I think the Pill Buddy brand is lower in calorie than the Greenies pill pockets. There is also a pill masking paste that may be lower in calorie since you can only use as much as needed.

Maybe look at the Freshpet refrigerated food. There’s a variety that’s tiny pieces and those are very soft

[Spy Car]

Aimee,

Thanks for the laugh. I do my part for canine health by having my dog get regular exams. My traditional (and very outstanding) vet is exceedingly happy with my Vizsla’s condition.

She is particularly complimentary of my dog’s dental health. It stands in very marked contrast with what she generally sees, and she’s said as much.

And yes, in answer to your question, our vet does thoroughly probe and measure the space between the teeth and the gums looking for any pockets and does a thorough exam of the gums. She says the results couldn’t be more outstanding. There is no sign of periodontal disease.

You are defending a type of feeding where there is massive evidence of a problem. At the same time, you attempt to suggest that those who are feeding diets that promote good dental health (which is clear and demonstrable) are unscientific in their reasoning and you are not. LOL.

It is topsy-turvy, I’m afraid.

I don’t think self-funded studies started by self-selected individuals are the way science works. LOL.

In the meantime, I chose to believe my own eyes. There is no comparison (and I mean none) between the dental health of PMR fed dogs and kibble fed dogs. All the greenies in the world won’t change that.

We already know that 70-80% of kibble-fed dogs have periodontal disease by the time they are THREE. THREE YEARS OLD. That is a horrifying statistic and it can only get worse as dogs become seniors.

Sorry, but you are attempting to defend a losing proposition.

Bill

• This reply was modified 7 years, 4 months ago by Spy Car.

[Acroyali]

What Bill said.
Raw fed dogs usually have good dental health without the aids of dental chews and routine cleanings. I dislike putting my dogs under and aim to avoid it.
Non raw fed dogs, usually, do not have excellent dental health through a lifetime, unless provided with safe chews daily (RMB’s), and have owners diligent with tooth brushing.
A correct bite and a strong root structure plays a part, as our raw fed pet with a terrible bite and a terrible root structure often times have issues despite RMB’s, but it’s more rare than the regular dog with a sound bite/root structure eating kibble and chomping down Greenies.
No matter what we feed, when we evaluate a pup we look for a good bite. Parents must have a good bite, or at least the bitch if the sire is off site. When teeth fit together well, good dental health usually follows. When the jaw is over or undershot, poor dental health usually follows….with kibble fed dogs/cats, it’s a few years (or months with the little guys), with raw fed dogs, it’s a few years and (in our experience) less intense even with the little guys. It depends on so many factors.

I’ve seen dogs eat dental chews, Greenies, Denta-stix, CET chews, and they chomp off 1/3 of the chew, chomp, swallow, chomp off another 1/3, chew once, swallow, and then swallow the rest of the chew whole.
I cannot fathom how that does a damned bit of good for their dental health.
Our dogs plow through RMB’s and huge hunks of rubbery tripe and it takes them a good bit of time to do so. Their teeth are gorgeous.
Can I see what’s going on behind their gumline? Of course not. But I can’t see what’s going on behind the gumline of my own teeth and I can’t look inside my own body and detect cancers or organ malfunction, etc….
Sometimes, common sense prevails.

[crazy4cats]

Hi-

Off that VOHC list that Tyrion posted, I like the DentaLife Daily Oral chews for my dogs.

I have also fed the Pedigree Dentalstix. They often have them at Costco and they are a good price! My dogs are seven and have not had to have their teeth cleaned yet. I try to give them some type of dental chew every night. I switch between the cheaper and ones and the vohc approved ones. I’m not crazy about greenies either, but do buy them now and then. They are EXPENSIVE!

Give the Purina chews a look too. They aren’t quite as expensive.

You could also buy the VOHC approved dental kibble and give it the your dog as a snack. I do that with my kitties.

Good luck!

• This reply was modified 7 years, 4 months ago by crazy4cats.

[Tyrionthebiscuit]

http://www.vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Dogs.pdf

I personally didn’t like greenies. They were a bit too soft, in my opinion. But they are listed in the link I posted. I prefer the Prodent Plaque off chews. There have been actual studies done on how the ascophyllum nodosum helps fight against plaque. But, every dog is different.

[Angela S]

I have been giving my dog greenies for a couple of years now, since she’s not crazy about having her teeth brushed. They seem to do a pretty good job at keeping her teeth nice and clean. I noticed that pedigree dentastix are significantly cheaper. Not sure if i should switch to dentastix to save money or not.. has anyone used both? and how do they compare? or if you just used dentastix, how are your dog’s teeth? what do you think of dentastix?

thanks!

[Richard P]

Jude, I had the same problem with my Great Dane. My vet said to make sure he doesn’t come in contact with plastic; no plastic food/water bowls, etc. Also make sure that food and treats do not contain wheat, corn, soy and do not give treats high in gluten such as Greenies or Dentastix. If ears itch try using Novalsan Otic on a cotton ball to clean out the ear canal. I saturate the cotton ball with the Novalsan otic and press the cotton ball into the ear to squeeze out the liquid and then rub the base of the ears for a minute to help cleanse. Then stand back because she will shake the cotton balls out of her ears.
For skin itching you might try Equyss Micro-Tec Equine Spray from http://www.KVSupply.com.
It’s all natural and non-toxic. I spray it on him and brush it in all over

[Susan]

Finally Clean label project has released their 2nd study on dog & cat foods & have also added a few more brands…..
These brands below got 1- 2 stars for being high in Toxic Metals & Acrylamides & BPA/BPS. but it’s only certain formula’s that got 1 star not all their formula’s got 1 star, some brands did have a few of their formula’s with 1 star, this might explain why some pets were really sick this year, look & see did the brand/formula you were feeding your dog get 1-2 star?…
click on link below
read then scroll back up, look to your left & click on “Dry Dog Food” to find out which formula’s got 5 stars & less.
http://www.cleanlabelproject.org/pet-food-study-2-0/

Brands that got 5 Stars- I & Love & You, Nutro, Canidae, Canidae’s cheaper brand “Under The Sun”, Purina, Trudog, Simply Nourish, Eagle Pack…

Brands with 1 & 2 stars are on pages 11 to 16, you can also click on “Brand Report Cards” link down the bottom …..
I was VERY surprised “Fromm” had 4 formula’s with 1 star & the rest of Fromm formula’s only got 2 & 3 stars, People are always posting how good their dogs are doing on Fromm but I wonder how good their dogs will be doing after just eating Fromm for 2-4 years?…. This is why it’s best to rotate between a few different brands so your dog isn’t eating the same food 24/7…

*Brand formula’s that got 1 Star.
TOTW, Merrick, Acana, Orijen, bbf, Timberwolf, Earthborn Holistic, Fromm, Greenies, Holistic Select, American Journey, Kirkland, High Tek, Natures Variety, Blue. Only Natural Pet, Natures lodic, Special Kitty, Lotus, Wet Nose, Primal, Old Mother Hubbard, Castor & Pollux, Open farm, Milk Bone, Halo, Natural Balance, Nutri-Source, Solid Gold, Diamond, Petcurean, Racheal Ray-Nutrish, Meow Mix, Trudog, Pup-Peroni, Nature’s Planet-Organics, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Dog for Dog, Milos Kitchen, Dogswell Nutrisca.
http://www.cleanlabelproject.org/brand-report-cards/

[carol w p]

Generations of our Rhodesian Ridgebacks have been given “regular’ size Greenies as a special treat all their lives. Our vet has been ok with it as long they’re supervised, and never given to a dog that tends to gulp or swallow things whole. The regular size isn’t very big for a large breed, but it’s enough to lodge in the trachea if not chewed into pieces before dispatch.

The Veterinary Oral Health Council website has lists of approved dental chews and treats: http://www.vohc.org/index.html

[Michael M]

Wow, glad to know this information about Greenies – this is part of the reason why I joined this forum. I’ve gotten them for free and hadn’t paid for them, and I rarely give my dogs any types of treats besides peanut butter. I hadn’t thought too much about the ingredients. Luckily, it was only twice that I’ve given it to mine.

That being said, they definitely didn’t do a great job of cleaning their teeth. I also switched to pig ears – stuff that won’t easily get caught in their throat but provides some good chewing action.

[Kari P]

We use Whimzees, as they are made of all natural ingredients, don’t stain, and appear to be easily digested by our dog. We haven’t had any issues with them, but they are expensive.

I wouldn’t use Greenies based on reports of foam, blockage issues, and questionable ingredients. Dentastix ingredients list is also really long and concerning. Blue Buffalo Dental Bones and Zuke’s Z-Bones are the only other two dental chews I have found that contain natural ingredients, but both are expensive as well. Both have higher protein content than Whimzees though. I personally don’t see any reason to feed a dog a vegetarian product, but both Whimzees and Zuke’s are vegetarian if that matters to you.

Most brands recommend one stick per day, but keep in mind these are extra calories. I prefer to feed dental sticks less frequently because they are so expensive so I tend to give them to our dog on days when he is more active.

[Chayse L]

I do not recommend Greenies!!

Our dog was given a Greenie 2 days ago and has been throwing up ever since. She has no appetite, seems completely out of it and has severe diarrhea.

TropiClear Water Additives are the way to go. It’s a much safer option, and happens to be more effective than the Greenie bones.

Save your pet(s) the hassle and avoid buying Greenies.

[anonymous]

Ask the vet why he suggested Benadryl? Does he think the dog’s anal gland issues are related to stress, anxiety? Allergies?
You may want to try a grain free limited ingredient kibble, my dogs do well on Nutrisca Salmon and Chickpea as a base with a little water added twice a day. Ask the vet if the vet tech can show you how to express his anal glands yourself (and how often), youtube has some good how to videos.
Oh, and I would forget the greenies, maybe an occasional 1/2 carrot instead (don’t be alarmed if you see orange chunks in the feces, it’s all fiber). I don’t like plastic bones either.
And start brushing the teeth once a day, it only takes 5 minutes once you get in the habit, youtube has good videos for this too.
Is he getting enough exercise? Get extra weight of off of him if he’s overweight. Increase walks (optimal for 1 hour a day or more)
Check the search engine here: /forums/search/anal+glands/

From a previous post of mine per:
Excerpts (out of context) from article below: https://www.vetsecure.com/veterinarymedicalclinic.com/articles/136
Overview:
Anal sacs are the reservoirs for the secretions of anal glands which are located on either side of a dog’s anus, at approximately four and eight o’clock. These sacs contain liquid secretions from the anal gland, which, in healthy animals, are normally pale yellow-brown to grayish in color. The contents are usually emptied during normal bowel movements, or when a dog is nervous or scared. In most animals, these sacs empty easily. However, some dogs, especially small breed dogs, are not able to empty the sacs properly and become susceptible to anal sac disease.
Transmission or Cause:
The cause of anal sac disease is unknown. Smaller dog breeds, such as Chihuahuas and poodles, are most often affected. Excessive anal gland production, soft feces or diarrhea, poor muscle tone, and obesity also contribute to higher risk of developing anal sac disease. Anal sac abscess tends to occur after an impacted anal gland has become so severely swollen and infected that the anal sac forms an abscess and ruptures.
Prevention:
Expression of the anal sacs every few weeks or months often will help prevent anal gland fluid from accumulating and becoming thickened again. High fiber diets have been shown to help prevent anal sac disease in at-risk dogs, especially those that are obese.

[Shawn S]

In the past couple months, my dog has started having problems with his anal glands. Took him to the vet and had them released. Two days later, it starts up again. Vet told me to try giving him Benadryl. While on Benadryl the past couple days, he has been fine. No issues with anal glands. Does that mean it is his diet that is causing it? Right now I feed him eukanuba lamb and rice (stuck with this since a puppy due to sensitive stomach), 1 greenies each day during the week, and he chews on a Nyla bone occasionally. Not sure where to start, I know that greenies are not the best for him and I could do away with them and start brushing his teeth more often. My first thought was to change his food to a better product. As I started think more into it and trying to eliminate the small thing, I Was thinking of first starting by cutting out greenies. Maybe the nylabone too? Doesn’t seem like the small fragments that break off those bones are very healthy. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Feel bad for the guy when he is scooting his butt on the ground.

[Marty M]

Thank you for this topic. I had three bags of this poison in my pantry, and after seeing “propylene glycol” mentioned as an ingredient by another poster, ran incredulously to confirm. Not only is it an ingredient, it is the 8th listed. What the heck is anti-freeze doing in something for pets?!?!?

If not for this topic thread I could be amongst the other posters who have lost their beloved pets. My heart goes out to them. I have been reading these forums to better educate myself about the nutrition in pet foods, as one of my five dogs went from 17 up to 24 pounds in one year. Obviously to my husband and I, “we” are completely to blame as the Beagles, while as smart as whips, cannot reach the pantry door or figure another way in to the food (thank goodness, or we would be doomed). They, and I, thank you for the recommendation of beef trachea treats, as an alternative to the fattening Greenies.

May this thread warn other pet parents, and I for one will be reading all ingredient lists with a very careful eye.

[joseph H]

Currently trying to report the lack of use of the metal detector at co packer Wild Flavors Erlanger, KY 41018. They make the dry ingredients which go into the Greenies product. I understand this is not for human consumption, but should be regulated somehow. Maybe explain all these animals getting sick. Went through chain of command at work. They are extremely retaliatory. Enough said.

[Juliet J]

If it were opinion saying “greenies are safe and there’s no issue using them” and they actually are dangerous then THATS a problem. But when it’s someone saying don’t use this product because it caused this persons dog to die then THATS OK. Because in the first one your dog might endanger your dog because you used the product but in the second one you didn’t use the product and nothing happened. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

[Cindy T]

Hi All-

I have a Malshi who is teething terribly and am looking for a good chew treat for him. The thing is, for such a tiny dog, he destroys things pretty easily; rips ears of of his toys, shreds his ropes, Virbac C.E.T. chew sticks are gone pretty quickly, etc. I was considering greenies but not hearing great things and I’ve also heard about the Himalayan root but not sure that will work for him. Any suggestions? I’d like for him to have something he can enjoy instead of just a hard rubber toy. Thanks!

• This topic was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by Cindy T.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by Cindy T.

[Connie G]

My little Yochons loved Beggin’Strips but I heard some negative feed back so stopped
buying them?
Anyone now if the toothbrush “Greenies” to help clean the teeth are good? okay?

[InkedMarie]

I agree with NutriSource and stopping the greenies.

[Laura M]

Nutrisource is a good food that deals with the sensitive digestive track very well. I put my puppy on the large breed puppy formula and he has never had a problem – even when changing over from what the breeder had him on at 9 weeks. He is 7 months old now. I would recommend it because dealing with diarrhea is no fun. I would also eliminate the greenies until you get things under control. Good luck.

[DogFoodie]

I’d definitely agree that overfeeding is the leading cause of loose stool.

What is she eating currently?

Have you eliminated the Greenies?

[Lane M]

Pudding poo that sometimes becomes diarrhea. Especially when she is a given a treat (possibly greenies). We have tried going yeast free and thought that was the answer. She has no other symptoms that you mentioned. We have also debated about how much to feed her and varied that to see if it would help. (Read that too much food can cause loose stool)

[Jenn H]

A while back Greenies changed and a lot of dogs started having stomach upset. I haven’t used them in yrs. They can also be fattening.
I’m lucky though that my dogs have naturally good teeth. A lot has to do with genetics.
My dogs also like the Nylabones that are chew toys. I haven’t given them the edible kind.
Wysong has a powder that you add to the water. A friend of mine just started her dog on it. No verdict yet on how well it works.

[LadyJane]

We switched to the ‘soft’ Greenies for hips and joints. One a day and it is just like the commercial. Jumping and happy! They may not be for every dog, so find what works for you and your dog.

[Burton G]

I seem to remember a problem with Greenies. They were choking the dogs ore something.
Am I immaginning this or has it been fixed ?

[Bobby dog]

You’re welcome Hav mom. Hopefully your pup will like them. Whimzeez are convenient to try since they’re sold individually and in bags. One of the regular posters AGT recommended them so I gave them a try.

I’ll have to come back for an update when I open the bags of Indigenous. It takes us forever to go through a bag since he only gets one a week.

The list is handy, but other than the GF Greenies, I don’t think any of the dental bones recommended by the VOHC fit my criteria. The info was a good read for me along with the other info on the site. C4D posted the site to me on the review side so we can thank her for it! 😉

[Hav mom]

what dental chews do you feed your dog? I have been giving my dog the ones from Dr. Becker at Mercola.com ..Although they are very good and healthy, they are expensive. I tried Greenies and he loved them but ate it too fast and I don’t find the ingredients I like in them and think they could be hard to digest. Any one out there have ideas??? I always give him one after dinner and he so looks forward to it, but I need a new brand that is healthy and safe. What say you guys, any ideas?

[SaltiDawg]

I have generally been getting my kibble from chewy.com. For some time, I’ve noticed that amazon.com has been offering my choice of kibble for precisely the same price with Prime (Free) Shipping. I also am seeing this exact duplication of price for dental Greenies, again with prime shipping. (I assume it is bots updating prices.)

Be careful in the price comparison as Amazon is collecting Sales Tax in certain areas… presumably chewy is also.

I live in MD and Amazon now has a big brick and mortar presence here and thus collects 6% Sales Tax.

[DogFoodie]

I’ve used this for plaque control with success: http://www.plaqueoff.com/animal/Animal-Products.html

These still aren’t great, but they’re an improvement over Greenies: http://www.virbacvet.com/products/detail/c.e.t.-veggiedent-tartar-control-chews-for-dogs/chews

[Kevin R]

Hi all. I appreciate the suggestions and insight. As far as the Greenies, she hasn’t had any in several days and I don’t plan on giving her anymore. I did get a referral to dermatologist yesterday, so I may go ahead and do this so I can at least have a better idea on what she is allergic to. Her allergies seem to be year round, so I don’t know. To me, this seems like something she is eating or something in my house. But we’ll see. As far as her food, i would still like to switch it, but I would like to see what the dermatologist office says when I call. I guess it depends on how soon they can get me an appointment.

[C4D]

Hi Kevin,
THROW THE GREENIES AWAY! They are loaded in wheat! If you must do a chew like that, pick one that has no grains and minimal potato. These are difficult to find. You might try something like a bully stick or venison ear. Here’s the ingredient list:

Wheat flour, wheat protein isolate, glycerin, gelatin, oat fiber, water, lecithin, natural poultry flavor, minerals (dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, magnesium amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, potassium iodide), choline chloride, dried apple pomace, fruit juice color, vitamins ( dl-alpha tocopherol acetate [source of vitamin E], vitamin B12 supplement, d-calcium pantothenate [vitamin B5], niacin supplement, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement [vitamin B2], vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride [vitamin B6], thiamine mononitrate [vitamin B1], folic acid), turmeric color.

Link:
GREENIES Pet Products for Dogs

Many dogs react to grains of any type. My own dog did, even though they were the “good grains”. This alone helped for many years until she developed a specific allergy to only 1 protein.

Red, I realize that you are all about skeptvet. HOWEVER, I really am not happy with how he dismisses alternative treatments.

I treated an older demodex mange dog (confirmed by my vet) with feeding her echinacea in her food daily for 7 days and shampooing her every 10 days (3 times) with a natural mineral based shampoo that included neem oil. My vet was aware of what I wanted to try before using the “traditional methods”. It worked completely. I also changed her from a fish based diet, (which I confirmed was the cause of allergy through my own trials) to a limited ingredient diet. She was completely cured. She is now able to eat all but fish in her diet. The fish was the cause of all of the allergy issues which in turn triggered the demodex. I treated a dog with high liver enzymes (vet diagnosed) with milk thistle and sam-e. Within 6 months, I brought the ALT down from over 300 to under 65. I had another dog with a bacterial skin infection that my vet thought was environmental. I switched the protein and we have not had an issue since. I did experiment and found that in fact the specific protein was the cause. I truly believe there must be a melding of both western traditional methods with some alternative holistic methods. That’s my $.02 worth! I will forever choose a combination of the 2.

P.S. I don’t use topicals either. I pull any occaisonal ticks that are on my dogs and have never had fleas, but have found that many of the natural methods repel fleas and ticks do help. I wouldn’t treat my children with flea and tick topicals even though we have had ticks on them over the years of primitive camping. I’ve kept all various worms/parasites at bay (even with fosters that are infected) with Diatomaceous Earth. It’s worked for me.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by C4D.
• This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by C4D.

[Pitlove]

Hi Kevin- If you aren’t sure what she is allergic to your going to beat your head into a wall and kill your wallet switching foods to figure out what works. Trust me. If her symptoms mirror those of an evironmental allergy (my vet said licking the paws is the key one) you are better off going to a dermatologist and at least doing a consulation and going from there. Testing for enviromental allergies would be a good idea, but if you are worried about money at all, I would still at least have a meeting with a dermatologist to have him/her look at your girls skin etc. Thats what I plan to do.

To do a proper test for food allergies/intolerances you would need to conduct a very strict elimination diet. They can be diffcult and time consuming, but it’s the gold standard for diagnosing food allergies/intolerances. I would cut the Greenies out for now. You can try changing the food. My vet suggested a fish based food and so far its been working well.

[Kevin R]

Hi all, I just wanted to reach out as I’m looking for a good food for my 9 year old Westie. She is a very allergic dog, but I’m not certain what all to. I believe its mostly environmental and dust, but maybe some foods. We had blood allergy tests done a few years back, but I’m not sure how accurate it was. In the past, she has been on steroids a few times and then ultimately Atopica. Also, I usually bathe her about once a week with Malaseb, but sometimes I may wait a little longer if she doesn’t appear to need a bath. Anyways, I’m trying to get her off of the Atopica completely if possible. Currently, her skin is somewhat “yeasty” and she may have a vaginal infection which I’m taking her to the vet for. Currently she is eating the Royal Canin prescription food “Venison and Potato.” I recently started giving her some supplements found in this Westie diet here – http://www.westierescueca.com/diet.htm, but I’m not certain if their ingredients would be aggravating any yeast issues she’s having. I had been giving her Greenies treats as well, but I’m looking to eliminate this as well if needed. I recently got some Orijen freeze dried duck treats since its just duck in the ingredients. I guess my question is what be a good food to try if I change her diet completely and should I look for a low glycemic food? Should I add any supplements? Thanks in advance for your help.

[Sam Koch]

So I have two Chihuahuas with very bad teeth. Perio Support by VetriScience has helped them tremendously, but one of my Chis is missing a bunch of teeth from abscesses and past abuse (before we adopted her, of course!). I was wondering if Perio Support still works with a little bit of water mixed in the food?

Does anyone have any recommendations in addition to the Perio Support? We use Merricks food and their version of “Greenies”. I got an antler but they haven’t shown interest yet.

Sam

[Lila S]

We’re going through some food issues with our rat terrier. He’s 1 year old and 11 lbs. I’ve tried a few different dry foods, most recently Natural Balance Ultra and Merrick Grain Free. He’s done okay on them, though he’d always have some inconsistency with his poops, which I attributed to a variety of treats for training or other treats (no more Greenies for him).

Recently he had some pretty bad GI troubles, and right now he’s on an antibiotic, a probiotic/stool firmer, and the Science Diet Low Fat GI Restore food. He’s doing fine, but I’m going to be transitioning him back to the Merrick Grain Free soon, but I’m not sure if that’s what I want to stick with.

Problem is that he’s picky and sometimes he just won’t eat his kibble. If I add some wet food he’ll eat, but often leave the kibble. Mixing Stella & Chewy’s in with water has worked the best. But I’m worried about the S&C’s fat content, because his GI problems were mostly attributed to too much fat. And apparently he does have a pretty sensitive system, so changing things up too much will keep causing problems.

On top of all this, in a month or so we’re taking in another dog from a family member who is moving and can’t take her: a 6 year old min pin, also about 11 lbs. She’s currently eating Iams, and I’d like to transition her to something better, and also ideally feed both dogs the same thing. I definitely don’t want her diet to be too high in fat because she’s getting less active.

Any recommendations for a good small breed (or small kibble-size) food that would be suitable for both of them with their different ages and energy levels? Also topper options to keep them interested without being disruptive to their systems?

[Sally H]

I have been feeding her chicken and she only wants the brown meat. She does love liver but I am not up to cooking her chicken rice and green beans every day. I wouldn’t get the combination right and I want her to eat nutritionally. I have never had a dog that wouldn’t eat dry dog food and I never let them have people food so this is a real problem. I am 70 and walking her three times a day is tough enough as she loves long walks and chasing squirrels and I do love for her to be able to do that. She does seem to have trouble with hard
food and will not eat hard treats so I need to stick to soft foods. She sticks her nose up at all of the canned foods I have gotton her so far and the refrigerated food I got her at Publix. Someone suggest Dyno bites as being supposedly very tasty.??? She does love Cesar softie treats and hard bits of liver. as well as the greenies. She licks my coffee cup after I have drained it and even tried to lick my bowl that I had tomatos and okra in yesterday. Couldn’t believe it She throws up when she eats stews so those are out. She only gets treats once or twice a day when she does something special that she is getting trained about. Any one who can help me I will bless forever. Thank you for reading. Sally

[cffinc]

In case people haven’t seen this link~
http://darlacooks.com/2012/02/21/make-greenies-for-your-dog/

[Cheryl Pepper Millie Sophie]

Dori,
Please let me know how the girls do on KBPF-I ALMOST placed an order for the trial sizes, but my head is spinning from what I already have in the bullpen for Millie.
The next free-dried i have for her is the Oracle grain-free, still waiting for the Primal Raw.
I,too was loved by the shelter, all the foods I tried for pepper & poor thing couldn’t tolerate any.
Thanks for the heads up with the fruits and veggies -I only feed 1 type of treat its called Cocotherapy-freeze dried fruits or veggies they are very costly & the bags are very empty for $9.95 a bag, I don’t use any commercial bones either.
When I first got Pepper & didn’t know anything I bought her Greenies for her dental issues-my angel got so sick on them, I swore I would never again buy anything like that!!
I have been in Louisiana 34 yrs-all my adult life, but they still call me a yankee and I am proud of that,never lost my accent as I am told!! I go home & they ask me where I am from!!! Go figure.
Do you have any suggestions on what I can use to clean Millie’s ear she has some wax & I think it bothers her-she shakes her head sometimes,no smell, I thought vinegar or hydrogen peroxide , but this healthy dog Handbook says both are no-no’s=the book says o use a commercial product, I always try to stat away from them, but if you have a particular product that works, I would appreciate the info.
Fondly,
Cheryl