Posted on 02/15/2006 3:57:34 AM PST by LouAvul
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (CNN) -- At least 13 dogs have died after being fed the top-selling pet treat in the country, owners and veterinarians have told CNN.
The problem comes because the treats, called Greenies, become lodged in a dog's esophagus or intestine and then some veterinarians say they don't break down.
"I know they are marketed in saying that they do digest. Certainly the ones that we've taken out, esophageal or intestinal, that have been in for days are still very hard," Brendan McKiernan, a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist from Denver, Colorado, told CNN.
Greenies recommends owners check that the treats are chewed and Joe Roetheli - who launched the brand as a treat that can freshen a dog's breath and clean its teeth - said it was important to pick the correct chew for a particular dog. There are 7 different sizes to choose from depending on the size of the dog.
But most of the dog owners CNN talked to say they did follow package instructions and they still had a problem.
Mike Eastwood and his wife, Jenny Reiff, recently filed a $5 million lawsuit in New York, blaming Greenies for the intestinal blockage that caused the death of their dog Burt.
"I'm mad that their packaging states that the product is 100 percent edible, highly digestible and veterinarian approved, yet our dog died of it," Eastwood told CNN.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I thought these greenies were okay until one of my dogs threw up huge chunks a day after eating one! Never again!
The rule with bones for dogs is this. NEVER give a dog chicken or poultry bones of anykind. They can splinter during chewing and choke the dog.
As for meat and pork bones, they are ok as long the pork bones are the nuckle portion and both are cooked. There are numerous "recipes" on the net you can find on how to process bones for dogs.
I guarantee you someone on here will disagree with my comments and tell you they've fed chicken bones etc to their dogs for years with no problem. Some dogs can handle it, however no Vet will ever recommend giving them to a dog.
It's like chocolate. Dogs can be deathly allergic to chocolate. Last May I lost my Brittany/Springer Spaniel baby, Leetah, to liver cancer. She could eat chocolate with no problems. Even at one point getting a hold of a ziplock bag filled with 2 dozen cookies and having an evening snack while we were out. However my next-door neighbor lost her poodle this past Christmas when her dog got into some chocolate she was using to bake with. The dog was dead before they could get it into the car to the vet.
The point of this long post is simple. Why take chances? If you want to give your dogs bones for chewing go to a reputable pet store and purchase good quality bones at the right size for your pet.
You are so correct in this and how you train your dogs. I have a 90lb Rottie and a Cocker Spaniel, both of whom I can take the food right out of their mouths.
Believe it or not, the Rottie accepted me taking food from her within a day of adopting her into our home. My Cocker fought me for weeks about it. Now he even shares his food with one of my cats.
Those who do not train their animals well, who do not become the Alpha "dog" of the pact have so many problems with their pets.
That's why I balk at people giving wholesale "we throw chicken bones to our dogs all the time" kind of advice. Even some beef bones, particularly cooked ones, like T bones, are risky with a dog that will bite off shards and swallow them. Gettin' lucky doesn't mean it was a good idea ;~D
At the time it wasn't funny but now we laugh about it. My parents have an 18 year old Cocker Spaniel named Kimmie. Kimmie goes nuts over french fries. My Stepfather had recently bought a brand new Ford SHO, fully loaded with leather seats.
A few weeks after they bought the car, they'd stopped at some fast food place and got fries. a few fries must have fallen between the seat and the console. The next day they took Kimmie with them and left her in the car for a few minutes while running into a store. When they came out the drivers side seat had been eaten/ripped out and Kimmie was chowing down on a french fry!!
$5 million!!?? For your dog!!??
I wanna take my ball and go home now. Lawyers are making a wreck of our country...
There's a reason for the difference in reaction. It takes a lot of milk chocolate, found in chocolate chips, to be harmful, but baker's chocolate is lethal even in very small doses.
We've all heard it, "Don't give your dog chocolate it will kill him". We'll how true is it you're probably wondering. Do I have to rush him to an emergency vet if he ate one of my M&M's?
The truth is chocolate contains theobromine that is toxic to dogs in sufficient quantities. This is a xanthine compound in the same family of caffeine, and theophylline.
Toxic Levels
The good news is that it takes, on average, a fairly large amount of theobromine 100-150 mg/kg to cause a toxic reaction. Although there are variables to consider like the individual sensitivity, animal size and chocolate concentration.
On average,
Milk chocolate contains 44 mg of theobromine per oz.
Semisweet chocolate contains 150mg/oz.
Baker's chocolate 390mg/oz.
Using a dose of 100 mg/kg as the toxic dose it comes out roughly as:
1 ounce per 1 pound of body weight for Milk chocolate
1 ounce per 3 pounds of body weight for Semisweet chocolate
1 ounce per 9 pounds of body weight for Baker's chocolate.
So, for example, 2 oz. of Baker's chocolate can cause great risk to an 15 lb. dog. Yet, 2 oz. of Milk chocolate usually will only cause digestive problems.Source: Dogs and Chocolate Toxicity
We have always given our dogs bones raw. When we butched a beefer or a deer. We never cleaned all the meat from the bones, just stuck them in a bag in the freezer. Just take a couple out and give them to the dogs while they were outside in their yard. Giving them to them inside makes too much of a mess. Their coats shine with health and their teeth are clean. We also never feed any dry dog food or treat that has soy in it.
Sounds like it was quite an ordeal, but also a fairly uncommon and freaky one. It's a mishap not likely to happen again, so it's easier to manage than a chemistry reaction to the drugs. If the teeth and gums are fairly healthy, it may be her chemistry or even diet that causes ~overly~ foul breath. A vet might be able to help.
I see others have already answered you about using only a dog toothpaste if you do try brushing
No, but it might save somebody else's pet and will get attention --that it has already gotten.
Pets affected by onion toxicity will develop haemolytic anaemia, where the pet’s red blood cells burst while circulating in its body.
While garlic also contains the toxic ingredient thiosulphate, it seems that garlic is less toxic and large amounts would need to be eaten to cause illness.
I've had dogs literally my entire life. Growing up, my parents and I showed Old English Sheepdogs and from the time I left the house I got my own dog. Now, I'm the proud alpha master of a Rottie and a Cocker Spaniel (as well as 4 cats and two birds).
If you are planning on getting a dog I have a few suggestions for you.
1. Research the type of dog you are going to get to make sure it will fit into your lifestyle. Look at how much time you really have to train, exercise and groom a dog and base your decision on that. http://www.akc.org/future_dog_owner/index.cfm?nav_area=future_dog_owners has great information for prospective dog owners.
2. Many pet stores such as PetCo have inhouse training/obedience classes. Find one in your area and make an appointment to speak to a trainer. They can help you with the problems all people encounter with their first puppy. These stores will also carry tons of books on general dog training as well as breed specific books.
3. I am a huge supporter of animal rescue. As a matter of fact, none of my animals have come from a breeder. All have been rescued from either the SPCA or a private rescue organization. If you decide to purchase a dog, please PLEASE get one from a reputable breeder NOT a puppy mill. (www.akc.org has links for breeder information) Most pet stores that sell dogs receive their stock from puppy mills. I personally will not spend a red cent at a store that sells dogs.
4. Talk to people in your neighborhood who are pet owners about the Vet they use, find a vet that really cares about the animals they treat, instead of one who is only in it for the money. Most importantly, give your dog it's yearly shots and vet exams. Never forget to give your dog heartworm medication and keep them on a good flea/tick treatment. (I prefer Advantage for fleas over Frontline, I find it more effective) Regular grooming/bathing is also important to an animal.
5. As for training. You will find many different training techniques out there from "click" training, treat training, praise/correct training etc. In my experience, using a combination of training methods is needed with most breeds. I strongly suggest that any first-time dog owner take training classes. Dog training isn't about training the dog, instead it is about training the owner. Beginner obedience classes are usually not very expensive, will give you a good foundation to work with and will normally address specific problems you may be having with your new pet.
Finally, the most important piece of advice I would give any new dog owner is to enjoy your dog and bring them in as a new part of your family. There is a reason why so many pet owners will tell you their dog/cat or even potbelly pig is like one of their kids. They get into our hearts and stay there even after they pass on.
Good luck!!!!
100% correct and why I tell any new dog owner to NEVER give their dog chocolate, in any form. You can not be sure about the levels of theobromine you may have, nor can you be sure how your dog will react to it.
Like I said in the previous post, why take chances?
Snopes says "Undetermined."
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/greenies.asp
I agree. We had a greyhound who ate anything and I was against chicken bones and as a normal rule would say no but she got them accidentally one day and observed her chew them into small pieces before swallowing.
After that I gave her all types of bones cooked and uncooked but this was the only dog I have had I would have done this with and would certainly not recommend it as a general rule.
Agreed and I would never recommend anyone to give the bones and other things we gave to our greyhound or she got of her own accord she was a thief.
Do you give them the bones raw??
If I have to follow some label directions to give my dog a certain treat, I'll choose a different treat.
Yes - I never give them cooked bones.
Uncooked chicken bones are okay to eat.
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