Why is dental care important to a dog's health?
Poor dental health can affect a dog’s overall health. Periodontal disease is currently the #1 diagnosed disease in pets.* It’s important to control plaque and tartar, the two leading contributors of periodontal disease. However, more than half of all dog owners admit they have no daily dental regimen. If left unchecked, poor dental health could lead to life-threatening conditions, such as liver, kidney and heart disease.
What is the best way to take care of a dog's teeth?
Many veterinarians recommend a dental care routine that includes daily dental brushing and a professional oral exam once a year. Daily dental maintenance can be conveniently provided by feeding one GREENIES™ Canine Dental Chew once a day.
To make it easier to remember, try scheduling your dog’s dental treats feeding at the same time as your own personal oral-hygiene routine.
If I give my dog dental chews daily, do they still need vet cleanings?
Yes! Just as professional dental cleanings are important to good oral care for people, semi-annual or annual dental cleanings by a veterinarian are just as essential for dogs. An in-depth tooth and gum analysis and professional cleaning from a qualified veterinarian at least once a year ensures that there are no other health problems on the rise. However, daily dental care routines are important, too. GREENIES™ Canine Dental Chews help to control tartar and plaque buildup, and that helps promote good dental health.
How do your dental chews help clean teeth?
GREENIES™ Canine Dental Chews feature a special texture designed for maximum dental effectiveness. Our unique treats help control plaque and tartar buildup by mechanical abrasion. Their chewy texture allows your dog’s teeth to sink in for maximum tooth contact. Much like a toothbrush, this action causes a mechanical scrubbing of the tooth surface. Our dental chews do not use chemicals to reduce plaque and tartar like many other brands.
How effective are GREENIES™ Dental Chews for maintaining oral health?
The Nutro Company has followed the required protocols and product testing to meet the strict Veterinary Oral Health Council requirements for acceptance. We are proud to say that GREENIES™ Canine Dental Chews are effective in controlling plaque and tartar accumulation. In an independent 28-day feeding study, dogs receiving one GREENIES™ Dental Chew per day averaged 60% less tartar accumulation, 33% less plaque accumulation, 80% healthier gums and 45% improvement in oral malodor (halitosis) compared to dogs who only received dry dog food.
What is the Veterinary Oral Health Council?
The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is an international organization of board-certified veterinary dentists formed by the American Veterinary Dental College. The council has established testing protocols with pre-set standards that a manufacturer must meet to receive their Seal of Acceptance. VOHC evaluates the effectiveness of veterinary oral-care products — similar to how the American Dental Association, through clinical testing, measures the efficacy of human products. Visit their site
for more information.
GREENIES™, GREENIES SENIOR®
, GREENIES™ Weight Management and GREENIES™ Hip & Joint Care Dental Chews all display the VOHC Seal of Acceptance for plaque and tartar control.
Are GREENIES™ Dental Chews safe?
GREENIES™ Dental Chews are designed to encourage dogs to chew off small pieces of the treat, which are easier to digest. Its formula contains high-quality, easy-to-digest ingredients that make the texture softer, flexible and chewy. The digestibility and chewy nature of our dental chews helps ensure that they are safe for dogs when fed the appropriate serving size. GREENIES™ Dental Chews are 96% digestible, making them more digestible than the average dry dog food.
Are GREENIES™ Dental Chews low fat?
GREENIES™ Dental Chews are considered low fat. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) defines low fat as being no more than 9% crude fat for products containing less than 20% moisture.
How should I store GREENIES™ Dental Chews between uses?
Sealing the package after feeding is important to preserve the texture and freshness of the uneaten chews. The Nutro Company uses the highest-quality packaging to help maintain the flexible, chewy texture throughout the shelf life of the product. We do not recommend freezing or refrigerating.
How do GREENIES SENIOR®, GREENIES™ Weight Management and GREENIES™ Hip & Joint Care Dental Chews differ from original GREENIES™ Dental Chews?
GREENIES SENIOR® Dental Chews are specifically formulated for dogs more than 7 years old. These specially designed chews contain a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin to help maintain healthy joints. They also feature a soft, chewy texture to accommodate an aging dog's sensitive teeth and gums. Made with a natural blend of fiber, GREENIES SENIOR® Dental Chews are healthy and easy to digest.
GREENIES™ Weight Management Dental Chews contain all of the oral health benefits of GREENIES™ Dental Chews, but with fewer calories.
GREENIES™ Hip & Joint Care Dental Chews contain all of the oral health benefits of GREENIES™ Dental Chews. Plus, it includes natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joints and mobility. It’s one treat with multiple health benefits.
Why are there five sizes?
Groundbreaking research made it possible to design a dental chew with the most appropriate size, texture and hardness for dogs with a variety of bite force capabilities. The result is GREENIES™ Dental Chews are offered in five different sizes (from Jumbo to TEENIE® Treats) and are designed to be effective for adult dogs of all sizes. See the Feeding Guidelines section on our product pages to find the size appropriate for your dog.
Is there a limit to the number of times I can feed GREENIES™ Dental Chews in a day? Can I feed it as a diet?
We recommend GREENIES™ Dental Chews be fed as a treat and not as a sole diet. The Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition recommends that snacks or treats do not exceed 15% of your dogs’ daily caloric intake. Feeding one (1) dental chew per day follows this recommendation. As with any treat or chew, GREENIES™ Dental Chews do not replace the main meal. If too many are fed or the wrong size treat is given to the wrong size dog, the dog could exceed its daily calorie requirement.
Can I give GREENIES™ Canine Dental Chews to my cat or other small pets?
No. GREENIES™ Canine Dental Chews are formulated for adult dogs. The texture is designed to accommodate a dog's bite force. We recommend you feed FELINE GREENIES™ Dental Treats for cats. We do not carry products appropriate for pets other than dogs or cats.
What is the shelf life of GREENIES™ Dental Chews?
GREENIES™ Dental Chews have a shelf life of 18 months. The "Best Before" expiration date is printed on the back or bottom of the package. It is very important to reseal the package with the zipper closure between feedings to ensure correct texture and freshness is maintained. We do not recommend feeding the product after the “Best Before” date.
Can GREENIES™ Dental Chews vary in color?
GREENIES™ Dental Chews are made with high-quality ingredients. From time to time, a normal variation in color can occur with some ingredients, causing a slight change in the surface color.
My GREENIES™ Dental Chews have white specks on them. What is that?
GREENIES™ Dental Chews are nutritionally complete and balanced for adult dogs. Vitamins and minerals have been added to meet the dog’s nutritional requirements just like in a premium dog food. Sometimes part of the added minerals may appear as white specks on the surface of GREENIES™ Dental Chews. This is normal and does not affect the quality of the chew.
My GREENIES™ Dental Chews are all clumped together. What do I do?
This in no way affects the integrity or nutritional quality of the product. You can easily pull them apart for normal feeding. Because the product is chewy and flexible it can clump together if stored under high heat or humid conditions. Please store the product in a cool, dry place. Remember to always keep the package tightly sealed between feedings to maintain product freshness.
Where are GREENIES™ Dental Chews made?
GREENIES™ Canine Dental Chews are made in Kansas City, Missouri.