Greenies Frequently Asked Questions
Greenies Dental Chews & Feline Greenies Dental Treats
How do Greenies for Dogs and Cats work?
Greenies for dogs help control plaque and tartar buildup using your pet's natural chewing motion. As your pet chews on the treats, scraping and scrubbing along the surface of their teeth occurs. Greenies are made without chemicals. The only thing that removes plaque and tartar is your pet's chewing motion and the treat's unique toothbrush shape.
Feline Greenies help control plaque and tartar buildup thanks to mechanical abrasion. As your cat chews Feline Greenies, the natural oat fiber within the treat works almost in the same fashion as scrubbing, similar to brushing their teeth. This action removes plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums.
What are the side effects?
Because all varieties of Greenies treats are highly digestible, some pets may experience gastric upset or diarrhea. If you suspect an overdose in your pet, or your pet has accidentally ingested a large amount of these treats, contact your veterinarian.
How are Greenies different than rawhide and other chews?
No two dogs are exactly alike, and many other dental chews and rawhide treats take a one-size-fits all approach based solely on your dog's weight. Greenies are designed with multiple other factors in mind: the shape of your dog's skull, how hard they can bite, how wide they can open their mouth, and the placement of their teeth. All of these things affected the design and shape of Greenies Dental Chews.
Feline Greenies Dental Treats are shaped like regular kibble but are slightly bigger and have a special texture from natural oat fiber that scrubs your cat's teeth. The ridges and texture help remove plaque, food debris, and tartar buildup from your pet's teeth and gums.
Unlike some other treats, Greenies Canine Dental Chews meet the Dog Food Nutrient Profile for maintenance as established by the AAFCO. This means these treats meat the minimum requirements for protein, fat, carbohydrates, and essential vitamins and minerals. Not many other treats meet these AAFCO requirements. Because dog treats and cat treats add extra calories to your pet's diet, the manufacturer of Greenies believes that these calories should be as nutritious as your pet's regular food.
Why is caring for my pet's dental hygiene important?
Taking care of your pet's teeth and gums is important because periodontal disease (gum disease) is one of the most diagnosed diseases in pets. Poor oral health may lead to gingivitis, having to have teeth removed, and even more serious conditions like liver, kidney, and heart disease. Greenies can be an important part of your pet's at-home dental health regimen, especially when combined with regularly scheduled veterinary cleanings. According to the manufacturer, an independent study showed that dogs eating one Greenies Dental Chew a day had 60% less tartar buildup and 33% less plaque buildup in 28 days than dogs that just ate dry dog food alone.
Are Greenies designed to clean dirty teeth or maintain already clean teeth?
Greenies Dental Chews and Feline Greenies Dental Treats help pets with dirty teeth and they help maintain already clean teeth and gums.
Which size is right for my dog?
Greenies Dental Chews come in five different sizes that fit any dog's needs.
Jumbo: dogs over 100 lbs.
Large: dogs between 500 and 100 lbs.
Regular: dogs between 25 and 50 lbs.
Petite: dogs between 15 and 25 lbs.
Teenie: dogs between 5 and 15 lbs.
My dog is less than 6 months old and/or less than 5 lbs. Can I give them Greenies Dental Chews? How old should my cat be before I give them Feline Greenies?
The manufacturer does not recommend Greenies Dental Chews for dogs that weigh less than 5 lbs. and/or those that are under 6 months of age because they do not have the proper chewing abilities. Other treats like Purina Pro Plan Puppy Biscuits are formulated specifically to meet your puppy's needs.
The manufacturer does not recommend starting cats on Feline Greenies Dental Treats until they are at least 10 to 12 months old.
Why are Greenies Dental Chews green?
Greenies Dental Chews are green because they contain a substance from plants called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll helps eliminate sulfur compounds created by the bacteria in your pet's mouth that cause bad breath.
What makes a treat like Greenies complete and balanced?
Unlike some other treats, Greenies meet the Dog Food Nutrient Profile for maintenance as established by the AAFCO. This means these treats meet the minimum requirements for protein, fat, carbohydrates, and essential vitamins and minerals. Not many other treats meet these AAFCO requirements. Because dog treats and cat treats add extra calories to your pet's diet, the manufacturer of Greenies believe that these calories should be as nutritious as your pet's regular food.
If this is complete and balanced, does this mean I can feed it as a diet?
The manufacturer recommends that Greenies be fed as a treat and not as your pet's sole diet. Greenies are not designed to replace a meal. The Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition recommends that complementary pet foods, snacks, and treats don't exceed 15% of your dog's daily calories. The ASPCA recommends that treats should represent 5% or less of your cat's daily caloric intake. However, no two pets are alike, so be sure to discuss your pet's unique nutritional needs and feeding guidelines with your veterinarian. Also because Greenies are highly digestible, if fed excessively, they can cause upset stomachs and diarrhea.
Are Greenies Dental Chews easy to digest?
Yes. Greenies Dental Chews are made with special, high quality proteins that are easy for your pet to digest. In fact, Greenies Dental Chews for dogs are 96% digestible, which makes them more digestible than the average dry dog food. Feline Greenies are approximately 82% digestible, which is similar to many premium dry cat foods.
How are Greenies Lite different from regular Greenies for Dogs? How are Greenies Senior different?
Greenies Lite chews have fewer calories than regular Greenies, but they still retain all the other characteristics that make them such effective dental treats.
Greenies Senior offer the same benefits as regular Greenies chews, but they are formulated with the needs of aging dogs (7 years and older) in mind. These chews contain glucosamine and chondroitin to help support joint health. They also have a softer, chewier texture to be easier on your senior dog's teeth and jaws.
Are Feline Greenies good for cats who has had teeth pulled out?
Greenies are meant to be chewed and not swallowed whole or in large chunks. You should consult your veterinarian about whether or not Greenies are right for your cat.
Are Feline Greenies Dental Treats safe for cats with urinary problems?
Check with your veterinarian before giving your cat Feline Greenies Dental Treats if they have a history of urinary problems.
If my dog is on a hypoallergenic diet, can they have Greenies?
While Greenies Pill Pockets come in a hypoallergenic Duck & Green Pea Formula, there is no guarantee that your dog will not be allergic to its ingredients. Consult with your veterinarian about your pet's specific needs. Greenies Dental Chews and Feline Greenies do not have a hypoallergenic formula.
Is there sugar in Canine Greenies?
Sugar is not one of the listed ingredients in Greenies Canine Dental Chews.
Greenies Pill Pockets
What is the difference between the capsule and tablet pill pockets?
The difference between the two versions is the size of the hole in the center of the treat where you place the medication. The capsule varieites have a bigger hole than the ones for tablets.
Can you put pet medications in Greenies Pill Pockets in advance?
The manufacturer does not recommend putting medications in the pockets in advance. It is best done right before giving them to your pet. Tablets or capsules may start to break down if they are store inside the pill pockets for a long period of time.
Can I put a powdered medication in a Greenies Pill Pocket?
Because Greenies Pill Pockets are airtight when sealed and the manufacturer states they can be used with liquid medications, powdered medications should be fine as well.
What if my pet's medication is too big for Greenies Pill Pockets?
If the medication is too big and is a capsule, do not break it open and try to fill the pill pocket that way. Instead, ask your veterinarian if there are smaller alternatives available. You may also use two Pill Pockets to cover the medication before giving it to your pet.
My pet won't eat Greenies Pill Pockets. What should I do?
While independent third-party tests show that 95% of dogs and 82% of cats successfully take their medications in Greenies Pill Pockets, there are several factors that may be affecting your pet's willingness to eat the Pill pocket treat.
Is the Pill Pocket properly sealed? Pets may be able to smell the medications within improperly sealed Pill Pockets.
Are you using the same hand to give the treat that also put the medicine inside? The smell and taste of the medicine may have transferred from your hand to the Pill Pocket. Try to use separate hands for this.
Do you have lotion, cologne, or perfume on your hands? Greenies Pill Pockets may absorb these smells and flavors from your hands, thus making them unappealing to cats and dogs.
Also, you may want to try giving Pill Pockets without medication inside as a regular treat so that your pets think of them as treats. This may help overcome the learned behavior.
Are the phosphorus levels in Greenies Pill Pockets safe for dogs with Chronic Kidney Disease?
Greenies Pill Pockets are designed to be as safe as possible. However, you should consult with your veterinarian before giving them to your dog.
How much calcium, phosphorus, and salt are in the Feline Pill Pockets?
In Greenies Pill Pockets for Cats the calcium and phosphorus are reported by percentage. Per serving calcium is 0.165% and phosphorus is 0.43% in the chicken-flavored pill pockets. Each salmon-flavored pill pocket has 4.2 mg of sodium, and each chicken-flavored pill pocket has 5.3 mg of sodium.