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 ...
"veterinarians say they don't break down."
Must be some pretty bad stuff.
5 million law suit for Burt's death?....He musta been a very rare breed. LOL
MM
I'm glad to have read this. I have two lab mixes, and I am amazed at what goes down those gullets. The ones that scare me is when they steal aluminum pans out of the garbage, chew them into weird shapes, and swallow the pieces.
They would probably swallow these treats whole.
Welp, I do believe it's a good thing that I thought Greenies were highly overpriced...I have dogs that would certainly wolf them down....
Sounds like they need to go back to the drawing board...or they're going to need to have 90% of their employees in the legal department.
I've given greenies to my dog for years without problems.
I have two male labs and all they live for is to eat. If I kept them supplied with treats, I'd be bankrupt in a month.
BACON BACON BACON! My dogs only eat 'Greens' when they're already constipated.
And only $16.50 for 32 oz.
Get rid of Fido and have his breath stay nice & clean at the same time.
Give us a break!
I hear you on that one...I think my lab, if he had the chance would eat the entire 40 lb. bag in one sitting....
I'm sure he was....but 5 million, wont replace him.
MM
Critical Doggie News Ping!
We feed our dogs BARF. Bones and raw food. They have sparkling clean teeth, no bad breath, their poop is small and breaks down quickly, they have no interest in chewing anything except bones.
LOL, maybe it soylent green made only from liberals.
So have I. My two yorkies and tiny pom love these things. I don't leave them when they are eating the greenies-just to be safe from them choking. (I do this with any chew treat-greenies or not) And they chew them..don't swallow them whole.
Now they only get them once a month or less for a special treat.
My black lab/aussie shep loves greenies--one of her favorite treats. But we are careful to give her the right size for her weight. I wonder if that has anything to do with the problems?
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