Greenies May Be Deadly

(and good advice on other fake foods)

 

 

First, a few details and source for more information on the lawsuit, then some words of caution about other “natural” or “healthy” treats for your dogs.

 

A lawsuit was filed recently in New York State by the owners of a dog that died from eating a greenie. The dog’s name was Burt.  He did not die because he bit off a big piece in his throat and choked, but because the treats are NOT 100% digestible as they are advertised to be. They can swell in the intestine and cause a blockage like the one that resulted in Burt's death. Supervising a dog while they eat any greenie type treats is not an assurance of safety.

Here is a website that has been set up regarding the lawsuit (there is a PDF of the lawsuit that explains in detail the whole scenario of his death and what is going on.   It's called Burt's Cause as the owners say that they will not let Burt have died in vain. http://www.burtscause.com/

This important news forwarded to our News Desk Dec. 05 by Health Reporter Jean (Always for George - Always for the Rimadyl Dogs) LuSwinton@aol.com  DogCare readers will remember her for the valiant and successful fight she waged against Pfizer.  See DogCare article which also includes info on Proheart6 injectable heartworm protection, Lyme Disease risk, etc.)

 

As with anything that you don’t grow yourself, slaughter, or peel (good rules to live by) there is risk in all foodstuffs today.  At one time many of us thought the “hippie generation” or the “health food nuts” were a bit far out there.  Not so today.  More and more people are spending tons of money on organic, raw, or unprocessed foods because we are learning what the risks are in Unnatural “natural foods. 

 

The same applies to your pets.  But again, a word of caution that we realize may be confusing; natural does not necessarily mean healthy nor does it mean safe.  Examples:  monosodium glutamate is used in everything and it is a natural substance but for many people, it can lead to serious health problems, immediate or delayed reactions requiring hospitalization or doctor visits, often misdiagnosed as “stomach flu.”  Poisonous mushrooms may be natural, unprocessed, etc. but a person would be a fool to eat them.

 

Having said that and opened your mind to a somewhat broader perspective, here’s a good piece of advice: only shop the perimeter aisles of a grocery store.  That is where you will most likely find fresh produce, fresh unprocessed meat, and finally, fresh dairy products.  The center of the store contains all the frozen, canned, and packaged items masquerading as food.  They are all laden with chemicals, preservatives, spices (another catch-all but nice sounding term for the two former ingredients) and other “additives.”

 

Back to the dogs and those treats.  Books have been written about human diet and eating habits.  Especially Americans – the most unhealthy and overweight society in the world!  Other countries are closing in on us and they are in direct proportion to the influx of “prepared” foods consumed.  The same thing is happening to our pets but WE are supposed to love and protect them and care for them.

 

Please.  They can’t go shopping.  Many pets can’t even get out of the house to nibble on the grasses they so desperately need because they are totally deprived of raw green vegetation.  Even those who get table scraps get them COOKED.  Dogs and cats are not as evolved as we humans and therefore, have a much greater need for whole food with active enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. 

 

Be careful what you give your dogs and like your new rule on how to shop the super market, begin to think about a new rule for DogCare.  No more packaged treats, toys, or bones.  Give them a real treat.  Try fresh green grapes (forget the current urban legend about raisins) apples, bananas, and other fruits.  Tomatoes, beans, green peas, asparagus; fresh and uncooked may develop your dog’s natural instinct for fresh growing vegetation.  Toy dogs and cats will learn to relish those little “grass gardens” thoughtful owners provide inside. 

 

Toys?  Has man ever manufactured anything better than a suitable size rope or stick or wait – BONE!!??  Did I say a real bone?  Not one of those baked, dried, bleached things in shrink wrap.  Better a bull’s you-know-what to chew on than a fake or denatured piece of plastic.  The preservatives in the bullstick are safer than any petroleum-chemicalized toy.  But best of all, regardless of your pet’s size, try a real hambone, a real soupbone, a real knuckle bone.  Yeah.  A raw one is best but of course the hams are all chemically cured nowadays and a lot of what you think is fresh in the meat case has been dyed, preserved, or chemically tenderized.  The next time you pick up a shrink-wrapped package of steak or hamburger at Wal-Mart, read the label!  It should say nothing other than to define a steak as T-bone, round, etc. or hamburger as lean or 50% fat or whatever.  If it lists “ingredients” or seasonings, use at your own risk and for goodness sake, don’t give it to your dog!

 

Sorry to be the bearer of unhappy news but that is just another gift to you.  It may even be an unwelcome gift at this point, but as you begin to think outside the box and the deluge of marketing magic seen on TV and in every homemaker magazine, you will begin to appreciate having that little bit of extra knowledge to protect yourself, your family, and your pets.

 

We’ll keep you informed on the Greenie Case.