Greenies Dental Chews Pulled from Market

Greenies Dental Dog Chews have been pulled from the market. They are no longer being sold in supermarkets but are still available through on-line retailers and pet retailers like PetSmart and Petco. When I spoke to PetSmart regarding the recall, they had no idea what I was talking about. I then urged them to contact Nutro Products (the manufacturer of Greenies) directly.

According to Nutro Products, "...we believe that pet medical professionals at veterinary hospitals and well-trained, knowledgeable staff at pet specialty retailers are best equipped to answer pet owners' questions about our products, and to make the right recommendation," said Carolyn Hanigan, Vice President of Marketing, of Nutro Products, the manufacturer of Greenies.

No reason was given as to what prompted Greenies to be pulled from the market at this time; however, dog owners have been complaining about how bad and dangerous Greenies are ever since they came on the market. According to CNN, A $5 million lawsuit against Greenies was filed in 2005 for the death of a four year-old Dachshund who suffered from an intestinal wall blockage from a portion of a Greenie.

Nutro Products repackaged Greenies in 2006 with more detailed instructions; and in 2007 they came out with a statement informing the public that the new Greenies would be more highly soluble and in theory, safer. Greenies will now only be available through veterinarians and pet specialty retailers.

And if you thought it was just a one-off with Nutro Products, think again. They have also issued a dry cat food recall on May 21, 2009 for Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care and Nutro Max Cat. Contact your dog's veterinarian to find alternative treats and food products, and stick with a brand that has a good reputation.

*To read more of Bobbi Leder's work on Associated Content, click here.