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Volume
II, Issue I January 2006 IN THIS ISSUE •
The Grievance with
Greenies® •
Recognizing
Intestinal Blockage – Don’t Feed Bones |
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The Grievance with Greenies®
The Problem: A
number of people are alleging that Greenies® either lodged in dogs’ throats
and choked the dog or caused intestinal problems such as blockage. This complaint will gain more publicity in
the coming months due to a $5 million dollar lawsuit. Newsday
reports that the owners of a deceased miniature dachshund recently filed suit
against the manufacturer of Greenies®.
The Real Question: The real question that pet owners should
consider is “Does this product pose an unusual or unwarranted hazard to pet
health?” Eating is dangerous. Dogs can choke on any number of consumable
products just as children can choke on hard candies. Nylon bones and rawhide also pose a choking
hazard to dogs in as much as a dog can get a piece
lodged in its esophagus. In the lone
experience of Intestinal blockage is a
constant concern for dogs. They love
to chew non-food items, and dogs have a tendency to swallow large chunks of
hard-to-digest items. The accusers are
alleging that Greenies® are not adequately digestible. The treat manufacturer, S&M NuTec, counters that their digestibility testing showed
Greenies® to be more digestible than dog food “when properly chewed.” The two most common causes of intestinal
blockage seen at Healing Springs are bones and corncobs. Healing Springs has not yet seen one case
of intestinal blockage related to Greenies® consumption. |
See all the dental
chews recommended by the vets of Healing Springs. |
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Consider the Math: We have included links to mass media news sources featuring individual reports about problems with Greenies®. These reports have credibility. S&M NuTec points out that it sells millions of Greenies® every week. This is not to say that the complaints lack credibility. Rather, it is to put the danger in perspective. If there are 21 cases of Greenies® related illness ever year, that would mean the probability of a problem is beyond one in a million. Is this more or less dangerous than putting your dog in the car to drive to the groomer? As of yet, most complaints are of an anecdotal nature, and the technical complaints have not been presented in an academic setting where they can be properly scrutinized. |
Links to Stories
about Greenies® |
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What to Do:
Determine your own risk tolerance. Any
chewable treat or toy that can be consumed
represents a hazard to your pet. Is it
an undue level of danger? Consider
this. The experience of this busy
hospital includes zero Greenies® problems.
It includes many, many problems with dogs in the road. If you really want to ensure your pet’s
safety, make sure it can’t get in the road. Healing Springs sees many parvo cases. Make sure your puppies are
properly vaccinated. The cases
of intestinal obstruction seen at Healing Springs usually involve bones from
human meals and corncobs. Do not fee
your dogs bones from human food sources. Keep dog out of your trash and the trash of
your neighbors for the dog’s sake.
When you do treat your pets with Greenies®, watch them consume the
treat. You want them to chew it to
nothing. If they bite off chunks and
swallow chunks, take it away from the dog and discontinue use of the treat. Finally, learn to recognize the signs of
intestinal blockage. See next article. To
See S&M Nu Tec’s Response to the Animal Health Bulletin click: http://www.healingspringsanimalhospital.com/2006_Feb.htm Subsequent
Issues of the Animal Health Bulletin have more information on Greenies®. Click Here: Animal
Health Bulletin Searchable Archives |
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Recognizing Intestinal Blockage – Don’t Feed Bones |
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Dogs love to chew.
In the wild, chewing is a good habit, because
it helps dogs reach the nutritious marrow of bones. At home, chewing bones represents an unnecessary
risk. In the experience of Healing
Springs, chewable treats and nylon bones are much safer than the real thing. |
Bone consumption ranks as the most common cause of intestinal blockage in dogs. |
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The Problem: Bones and corncobs have a tendency to get lodged in the intestinal track. Even when chewed thoroughly, these items
can form an impaction. Intestinal
blockage kills dogs. Fixing the
problem often requires surgery which can be
performed at Healing Springs. The
surgery has a high rate of success. Recognizing the
Problem: If you know that your dog has consumed
bones, corncobs, or other worrisome food items, monitor the dog’s activities
diligently for the next 48 hours. Intestinal blockage tends to become evident
24 hours after the problematic meal.
They stop eating. They become
lethargic (lazy). They sometimes
vomit. If you recognize these signs in
your pet, present the pet to your veterinarian immediately. X-rays can help diagnose the problem. Depending of the severity of the blockage,
if it is ignored for too long, portions of the
intestines can die. Ultimately,
intestinal blockage has a strong capacity for causing death. The good news is that an attentive pet
owner can usually recognize the signs in time and that the success rate for
this emergency at Healing Springs is high. |
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The Animal Health Bulletin is a FREE service of Healing (276) 236-5103 Visit our website at www.HealingSpringsAnimalHospital.com |
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Administrative: Request an article topic. Click
Here. To ask questions about a
specific pet, call Healing Springs at (276) 236-5103. You have permission to forward this bulletin in its
entirety to a friend. If you did not receive the Animal Health Bulletin
directly and would like to begin receiving them, simply enter your
information for a free subscription: Click here to subscribe,
update your e-mail preferences or unsubscribe. The Animal Health Bulletin is developed and
distributed with the assistance of Brazzell Marketing Agency specializing in healthcare marketing. © BMA 2006 |
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