Greenies dental treats

[CathyAnn]

I have not heard this before seeing this. Makes me worry as my 'kids' love Greenies.

Anyone?

TRUE GREENIES STORY BELOW

Animals In Print

The On-Line Newsletter

From 7 August 2001 Issue

WARNING

Green "toothbrush"-shaped dental chews prove deadly

It has taken me since Monday evening to write this message to you. That

is the night that our little 17-1/2 year old Chihuahua mix, Peanut, died as

Dr. Bell and Dr. Iannone of Evesham Vet Clinic worked valiantly to

save her life. It was a death that never should have happened, and I will

forever have to live with knowing that because of what I did NOT know, my

wonderful little girl would lose her life. I only hope that this E-mail

will save the life of someone else's precious companion

Peanut died after having swallowed a chunk of what is known as a

"greenie"

They are green "toothbrush"-shaped chews designed to remove tartar from

teeth and improve the breath of dogs. I had hoped that with "greenes" and

regular tooth brushing I could avoid the anesthesia risk

of dentals for my older small dogs.

How ironic that it would be just the thing I wanted to use to avert danger

that would claim Peanut's life.

We have used greenies in the past - they worked well and the kids loved

them. I always gave the dogs a size larger than what I would normally

have purchased just to be certain they didn't get off a large piece and choke

on it. They have never been allowed to have them unsupervised.

And the night Peanut swallowed the piece, my husband was there with her.

Although she sputtered and struggled, she seemed to have swallowed the

section, but the next morning, she didn't seem like herself and didn't

want breakfast.

She vomited her am meds, but was drinking fluids. By late morning I

decided to phone the vet just as a precaution. I was given an evening

appointment, at which time X-rays were taken and it was determined

that the greenie was actually lodged in Peanut's esophagus just above

the area of her heart.

After hours that evening, Drs. Bell and Iannone stayed on and anesthetized

Peanut to use the endoscope to try and remove the greenie or move it down

into the stomach where it would be surgically removed. Both options were

attempted, with only pieces of the greenie breaking off.

It seems that this product had adhered itself to the esophageal walls

and as these very experienced vets struggled to free up her sealed passage

way, her heart finally just gave out and stopped beating. Dr. Bell said he

has never seen anything quite like this.

My baby is gone all because I didn't know of the dangers involved with

this product. When I shared this with my CGC class tonight at WonderDogs, my

instructor told me that she has been told by several people in her online

group that they have had dogs die the same way after using the popular

denta-bones. Evidentially, these products become somewhat like cement if

they get caught in the esophagus.

Please, PLEASE urge everyone you know who has a dog (and anyone you know

who SELLS these tremendously popular products) to think twice before using

them again. If I had read a message like this prior to Sunday night, I might be

watching my little Chihuahua girl still enjoying her evening nap under her favorite

blanket rather than sitting at the computer writing this E-mail through tears of incredible

grief and guilt. I only hope this saves the life of another animal.

In memory of my "Nutty-Buddy",

Shellie

source: DogLover9 @ aol.com

[CarCarDawn]

Hi- - - I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved "Peanut" - - thank you for informing us of the danger of using this product. There are so many things out there that we can unknowingly give our pets that may have consequences. May you find some solace in the years ahead - - - God bless.

[CathyAnn]

Oh no, Dawn! I (thankfully) didn't lose my Cairn(s)!!

I just 'cut and pasted' this article for an FYI and to see if anyone had heard of this before. And, a warning to those of us who do give our little 's Greenies.

Cathy

[LORI]

I had heard this before about greenie's. We were told by our breeder that we shouldn't use these or raw hide chewies or pig ears. Too dangerous.

Cairns are an aggressive chewiers and will bite off more than they can chew if given the opportunity.

We send our sympathies but wish to thank you for your much needed advice.