For the dog owners- Page 2

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 11:51pm

Walter Bondi loves them, but he's not allowed to eat them anymore. Acute pancreatitis.

[Di2]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:06am

Hi Kel:

I am interested in reading that story you posted about greenies but your lunk won't work for me. Can you send me the website address??

PS....My boyfriend and I took our dogs out to dinner with us last night and it was great fun. I have never been in a dog friendly restaurant before.

The fireplace was roaring and we let the dogs off their leashes and they played with other dogs for hours while we enjoyed our dinner.

So great to have them with us.

[DBillyP]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:58am

I put a Greenie in water last night. I did not, however, cut it into pieces like the Snopes story mentioned. It would not cut with scissors, and I was too lazy to go upstairs to the kitchen for a knife. So, here are my observations:

First, it would not cut with scissors, which means that most dogs (Truman, a Maltese/Pomeranian mix, included) have to chew on them forcefully, creating small pieces that will be swallowed. Second, after soaking overnight in water, a Greenie basically becomes a wet Greenie. It expanded no more than you would expect something soaking overnight in water to expand. Please keep in mind that there is a BIG difference between water and stomach acid.

This morning, feeling refreshed and slightly less lazy, I took the Greenie to the kitchen to cut it into small pieces in order to continue the experiment. The first knife I tried was too dull, further supporting the idea of forceful chewing. A second, sharper knife did the trick, and Truman's Greenie is now soaking in a dozen pieces in the same plastic cup of water. Stay tuned for further observations.

[peach]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 10:32am

I had gotten the feline greenies for my cats - they liked them for a while. Then one of them wouldn't partake. Then the other decided she didn't like them either.

So I tossed 'em.

I don't think the feline version has the same speed effect as the dog version. My cats seemed the same as usual after they ate the cat greenies.

My local shelter is always looking for greenies when the donation list comes 'round. There are vets on staff there - so I imagine they can't be too bad for the pets?

Updated On: 1/11/06 at 10:32 AM

[DBillyP]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 7:53pm

The Experiment: Part Deux

Well, after eight hours of soaking in water ... nothing happened! Well, at least nothing unexpected.

The Greenie pieces expanded only so much as one would expect of something soaking in water for eight hours. They had the feel of a jujube (the candy, not the fruit) and they tasted like them too ... just kidding about the tasting part ...

Now, if I could only soak them in stomach acid ...

Interestingly, I took Truman to the vet today for a vaccination booster. They sell Greenies at the clinic, so, like peach, I assume they cannot be that bad.

[Plum]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 8:01pm

Hm. Well, you could try soaking it in an acid of a similar pH, like diluted hydrochloric.

What's weird is that "greenie" is a nickname for amphetamines, especially in professional sports.
Updated On: 1/11/06 at 08:01 PM

[guitargeek0624]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:38pm

My dog has seizures whenever we throw her a Greenie...she starts rolling around on the floor and spazzing, then she grabs it, takes to her little "special corner" in the living room and chews on it for about an hour.

Thank you, the makers of Greenies, for giving me an hour of silence each day.

[KelRel]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:52pm

Well I am glad to know that they are ok. After reading that it scared the crap out of me. I wasn't sure if it was true or not, but I thought I would throw that out there in the mix. This is one time I will gladly be wrong. Anything that makes our babies happy and is good for them (ish) is great.

[Allie]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:56pm

I want to find these for my dog! she goes insane for regular treats, so I can't wait to see what will happen when I give her one of these!

I'm not too concerned for her health, either. In the past, she's eaten 4 King-sized chocolate bars and paper (all at once), a hockey puck, and a pound of butter off the counter. None of which made her sick. I'm actually not positive she's not a robot, actually...

[Up In Lost]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 11:05pm

I've also heard that Greenies reform ina dog's intestine... That being said, my dogs love them, and used to get them every night, but now only occasionally.

[DBillyP]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 2:19pm

Despite the results of my recent experiment, I am rethinking Greenies for Truman.

I just watched a story on CNN about them. The problem, as others have mentioned, is the possibility of intestinal blockage. If Greenies are not properly chewed and a dog swallows a too-large piece, the possibility exists that it will not break down in the stomach. The story mentioned that 13 dogs have died due to Greenies-related problems. (I did not catch in what time period those deaths occurred.)

Greenies are the number one selling dog treat in the country. The company asserts that people need to ensure that they are buying the right size for their pet.

I must admit to some confusion about the issue. Millions of dogs eat them every week, and 13 have died. I am sure there are other dogs that have died from choking on other kinds of treats. Perhaps Greenies are simply getting the publicity because of their popularity.

[grizzabella]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 9:00pm

I think you're probably right, PBillyD. It's always the most popular items of any sort that get the most scrutiny. However, as our dog doesn't like greenies (he's too lazy to chew them, I think) it's not an issue in our house.