About a year ago, a warning went around saying that Greenies treats were unsafe for dogs. A television station in Seattle, Washington reported that the treats could indeed be unsafe, and told the story of three different dogs who had to undergo surgery to remove intestinal blockages caused by teeth-cleaning treats like Greenies. A total of nine people came forward to KIRO-TV to claim that their dogs had died from intestinal obstructions after eating Greenies or similar products.
If you’ve never heard of Greenies and other teeth-cleaning treats, here’s the scoop: Greenies are toothbrush-shaped dog treats that are harder than your average biscuit. Dogs (and cats) have to do a lot of chewing to wear the treat down. This helps clean teeth, control tartar, and ease doggie breath. The original Greenies are made by S&M NuTec; other similar products are available under other names from other companies.
The CEO of S&M NuTec responded to the claims that Greenies posed a health risk. Sam and Judy Roetheli developed Greenies as a treat to ease their dog Ivan’s bad breath — brushing was too much of a circus to be performed regularly. Greenies were the first dog treat in the world to receive the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s Seal of Acceptance because it reduces plaque and tartar.
As far as digestibility goes, Roetheli said that Greenies are approximately 85% digestible — which makes them more digestible than regular dry dog food. The primary ingredient is wheat gluten, which is digestible. The problems arise when a pet swallows the treat whole, or ingests too large a chunk — the size of the chunk decreases the exposure to digestive juices in the pet’s stomach, meaning larger pieces go into the intestines.
So how do you feed Greenies (or any treat) safely?
- Supervise your pet when they are eating a meal or a treat.
- Make sure you offer an appropriately sized treat to your pet; a treat that is too small can be swallowed or become a choking hazard.
- Follow specific feeding directions for treats.
- If your pet has a tendency to gulp or swallow treats whole, find an alternative treat.