Greenies® are marketed as the original smart-treat for dogs. I’m not exactly sure what is smart about them because as far as I can see they don’t contain any advanced micro-circuitry or a quantum brain and I’m pretty sure that if they say Mensa’s IQ test then they would score a big fat zero but as far as helping to clean your dogs teeth of tartar they appear to be the number 1 chew for doggies.
The dental chews are the most popular type of chews from Greenies® but the company also makes other treats. Pill Pockets are available if your dog is on medication is you find it difficult to administer pills. Joint Care formula is made for older dogs who have difficulties with their bones.
What are Greenies® Dental Chews?
Plaque buildup is inevitable in dogs. You could just let it be but if you care about your dogs health and well-being, as most owners do, then you may want to consider getting it removed.
One way to get it removed is to have your dog anesthetized and have a veterinarian clean the teeth manually, the same way that human have their teeth cleaned. Obviously this runs it’s own risk so using a specially designed chew stick is the second, and less invasive, alternative.
Greenies Dental Chews are made for exactly this. They are firm but flexible, tough but chewing. Shaped like a toothbrush this textured surface is made to encourage the cleaning of teeth.
Are Greenies Safe for my Pet?
Dogs are always at a risk of intestinal blockages simply because they swallow large lumps of food at a time. This is a natural instinct from their distant past when they had to compete for food. The only way to ensure that they could protect their food would be to consume it as quick as possible before the other predators got hold of it.
Of course out in the wild their diet would consist of wild animals which their digestive tracts were capable of handling. A lot of the chews fed to dogs now-a-days may still be natural products such as rawhide and bully sticks but they have been dried and hardened making them more difficult to soften and therefore digest.
Greenies® are specially prepared to be easily digestible but as with any sort of chew there will always be a chance that sections of it breaking off and becoming stuck in a dogs intestine or esophagus. There have been reports of deaths in the past but this was several year ago and the recipe was modified after this time to make the dental chews even more digestible. Having said that pet owners should always monitor their dogs while they are engaged in chewing.
Ingredients
- Gelatin
- Wheat protein isolate
- Glycerin
- Soy protein isolate
- Sodium Caseinate
- Natural Poultry flavor
- Hydrogenated Starch Hydrogenate
- Lecithin
- Vegetable Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols)
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Dehydrated Tomato
- Ground Flaxseed
- Dehydrated Sweet Potato
- Cranberry Fiber
- Potassium sorbate
- Choline Chloride
- Taurine
- Carotene
- Chlorophyll
Greenies are high in proteins which are used to help break down the plaque buildup. They also contain vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidents essential to a dogs health. These sticks are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC).
Where to Buy Greenies
| Picture | Type | Size | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenies Dental Chews for Dogs, Regular, Pack of 27 | 27 Pack | $$ | 4.5 | |
| Canine Greenies Pill Pockets Peanut Butter Capsule, 7.9-Ounce | 30 Pack | $ | 4.5 | |
| Canine Greenies JointCare 7 Ct Week Sm/Med Dog | 7 Pack | $ | 4.5 |
What is the Best Size Greenie for my Dog?
When choosing a Greenie you should select one that is the optimum size for your dogs jaw. Too small and it will just be gulped down. Too large and your dog will struggle and may may damage it’s teeth.
| Size | Length | Dog Size |
|---|---|---|
| Teenie Greenies | 2-3/4" | 5-15 lbs |
| Petite Greenies | 3-1/2" | 15-25 lbs |
| Regular Greenies | 4-1/4" | 25-50 lbs |
| Large Greenies | 5-1/4" | 50-100 lbs |
Greenies for Dogs Reviewed
Greenies Dental Chews for Dogs, Regular (27 Pack)
The most popular sized dental chew from Greenies. This 27 oz box contains 27 daily treats for your dog. Ideal for dogs 25 to 50 pounds but other sizes are available to accommodate any size animal.
Just give one treat to your dog each day and to help banish stinky doggie breath, improve gum health and keep the old canines clean.
Greenies Pill Pockets Peanut Butter Capsule, 7.9-Ounce
These Pill Pockets are made with real peanut butter, irresistible to most dogs. Just pop a pill or capsule into the central cavity then pinch is closed and you’ll have no problem getting your dog to take its medicine stress free.
Great for older dogs who need to take daily medications and they also come in beef and chicken, although peanut butter is our favorite.
If your dog is a picky eater and likes to chew its food more then putting the pill pocket into it’s daily bowl of food should help.
Greenies JointCare (1 Week)
If your dog suffers from ligament or joint pain then these supplements may help alleviate some of the pain and improve mobility.
Containing vitamins and minerals including Omega-3 fatty acids and glucosamine extracted from green muscles. Numerous owners have reported seeing and improvement in older dogs health and these treats aren’t very expensive to try out. Although hard, each chew comes individually wrapped so as to help preserve its freshness.
These pills are not intended for dogs under 15 pounds and as the extracts come from a type of shell fish owners that have allergies related to this are advised to avoid handling them.
