This Just In: Getting Greenies Just Got a Little More Difficult . . .

PetSugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:00:44 -0700

Rather controversial but still well-loved by pups across the nation, the manufacturer of Greenies just announced today that the product will now be offered exclusively through vet hospitals and pet specialty stores. The hard treats help reduce plaque and tartar buildup, but some dogs have trouble chewing and properly digesting them . . . which leaves many animal lovers confused and on the fence about the snacks. Citing studies that show nearly 75 percent of pets exhibit some stage of oral disease by age 3, Carolyn Hanigan, vice president of marketing for Nutro Products, Inc. says:

We believe that pet medical professionals at veterinary hospitals and well-trained, knowledgeable staff at pet specialty stores are best equipped to answer pet owners’ questions about our products, and to make the right recommendation.

I've given these treats to North in the past and, while he'll gladly gobble most anything, I would never offer one unsupervised. What do you think of the news? Does it change your take on the toothbrush-shaped snacks?

Source

What's Your Take on Greenies?

PetSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:45:12 -0800

While many pups go crazy at the sight of these green treats, others have never even gotten a minty whiff - but why is it that the toothbrush-shaped Greenies have so many critics? The dental snack has chewy curves to fit around a pup's chompers to significantly control plaque and tartar build-up. . . . yet many pets then have trouble digesting them, opting to bite off hard bits and just swallow them whole. In addition to complaints of runny poo, the treats have come under fire in the past, with stories of veterinarians having to perform surgeries to remove undigested chunks of Greenies from the esophagus and other parts of the digestive tract. I still have pet-owning pals who own up to feeding their pets these popular treats, while others now shy away. How about you?