Information on GREENIES products or treats for veterinarians

GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats

GENERAL QUESTIONS
What are GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats?
GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats are healthy treats with a patented pocket designed by veterinarians to conceal most medications and supplements commonly prescribed for dogs.
How many GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats are in a pack?
GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats come in Tablet and Capsule sizes that have approximately 30 treats (Beef and Chicken formulas) and 25 treats (Roasted Duck & Pea formula), respectively.
How big are GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats?
GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats come in two sizes: Tablet and Capsule.
What is the shelf life?
GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats have a 12 month shelf expiration date on each pack. We preserve the product for freshness and flush each package with nitrogen to prevent oxidation. Nitrogen is an inert gas and is widely used to preserve the product freshness, including those for human consumption as well as for pets.
What do I do with expired product?
Product may still be useable up to six months after the expiration date of an unopened package. However, the pocket may not be as soft and pliable as the product within the expiration date.
Do I need to refrigerate GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats?
No. GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats are stable at room temperature. We do not recommend refrigeration as the product may absorb some of the smells associated with table food.
Can I freeze GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats for long-term storage?
Yes, but like any other fresh meat-based product, freezing will impact the taste and texture slightly and may result in an unacceptable defect called "freezer burn." If your dog is finicky, it may be better to keep them fresh and make that extra trip to your favorite retailer of GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats.
Do you think my dog will like them?
Independent third-party test results document that 95% of dogs successfully take their medications in GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats. In our testing, the dogs were in-clinic or in-shelter dogs so your experience at home may be somewhat better since your dog is in a familiar setting at home. Frequent treating can only increase your success rate.
INGREDIENTS
What are the ingredients?
GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats with real Beef:
Chicken, glycerin, wheat flour, vegetable oil, beef, natural flavors, wheat gluten, dried corn syrup, corn flour, caramel color, lecithin, brewers dried yeast, salt, preserved with potassium sorbate, methylcellulose, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), preserved with mixed tocopherols, vitamin E supplement.
GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats with real Chicken:
Chicken, glycerin, wheat flour, vegetable oil, dried corn syrup, wheat gluten, corn flour, natural flavors, lecithin, brewers dried yeast, preserved with potassium sorbate, salt, methylcellulose, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), preserved with mixed tocopherols, vitamin E supplement.
GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats, roasted Duck and Pea Formula:
Duck, glycerin, dried peas, natural flavors, vegetable oil, water, salt, potassium sorbate (to preserve freshness), xantham gum, citric acid, preserved with mixed tocopherols (a source of vitamin E).
Are GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats all natural?
No. We take great pride in the ingredients we use and everywhere possible we use natural ingredients. Potassium sorbate (mold inhibitor) and methylcellulose (texturizer) are not considered “natural” ingredients by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Additionally, vitamins often do not have viable “natural” options either. But we are searching for natural ingredient solutions that perform the same functionality.
What is the nutritional content?
Capsule Beef Dog
Piece weight
7.5
Calories per piece
29
Crude Protein Min.
11% (0.825g)
Crude Fat Min.
14% (1.05g)
Crude Fiber Max.
2% (0.15g)
% Moisture Max.
26% (1.95g)
Carbohydrates
42% (3.15g)
Tablet Beef Dog
Piece weight
3
Calories per piece
11
Crude Protein Min.
11% (0.33g)
Crude Fat Min.
14% (0.42g)
Crude Fiber Max.
2% (0.06g)
% Moisture Max.
26% (0.78g)
Carbohydrates
42% (1.26g)
Capsule Chicken Dog
Piece weight
7.5
Calories per piece
29
Crude Protein Min.
11% (0.825g)
Crude Fat Min.
13% (0.975g)
Crude Fiber Max.
2% (0.15g)
% Moisture Max.
26% (1.95g)
Carbohydrates
46% (3.45g)
Tablet chicken Dog
Piece weight
3
Calories per piece
11
Crude Protein Min.
11% (0.33g)
Crude Fat Min.
13% (0.39g)
Crude Fiber Max.
2% (0.06g)
% Moisture Max.
26% (0.78g)
Carbohydrates
46% (1.38g)
Capsule Duck Dog
Piece weight
7
Calories per piece
20
Crude Protein Min.
12% (0.84g)
Crude Fat Min.
6.5% (0.45g)
Crude Fiber Max.
1% (0.07g)
% Moisture Max.
29% (2.0g)
Carbohydrates
45% (3.15g)
Tablet Duck Dog
Piece weight
3
Calories per piece
8
Crude Protein Min.
12% (0.36g)
Crude Fat Min.
6.5% (0.195g)
Crude Fiber Max.
1% (0.03g)
% Moisture Max.
29% (0.87g)
Carbohydrates
45% (1.35g)
HOW TO?
How do GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats work?
GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats are highly palatable and seal the capsule or tablet tightly to hide the smell of medicine. However, be certain not to touch the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats with the hand that has come in contact with the medication as your dog is likely to smell the residue and reject both the medicine and the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treat. Some dogs swallow whole and some will chew a few times before swallowing.
What is wrong with pushing the medication into my dog’s throat?
GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats are formulated to assist in the lubrication of the throat allowing the medicine and GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats to enter the stomach as soon as it is eaten resulting in quicker absorption of the medication.
Why shouldn’t I just use cheese or peanut butter?
Several reasons: 1) GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats are a healthier alternative to the commonly used human foods, containing fewer calories and less fat and sodium. Capsule sized GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats have approximately 24 calories while a spoon of peanut butter has 85 calories and a slice of cheese has 80 calories; 2) Using GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats discourage begging. Feeding table food to your dog will encourage begging when he or she sees the same food that you are eating at a later time; 3) Dogs love GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats. Even finicky dogs will gobble them right down. With human food, a finicky dog will generally find the medicine in the food because they smell it as you are feeding it to them.
What if my dog has allergies?
If a dog has food allergies, it would likely be to common proteins like beef, chicken, or dairy. Food allergies in animals are primarily due to proteins and generally the meat proteins. However, your dog could have allergies to other sources of proteins such as wheat, corn, or rice as these are also ingredients. GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Allergy Formula treats are made with duck, a unique protein that does not commonly cause allergic reactions, and contain pea, a carbohydrate that is easy for dogs to digest.
Do you buy the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats for the size of the dog or the size of the medication?
For the size of the medication. GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats come in two sizes: a larger size that fits most Capsules and a smaller size that fits most Tablets.
What if the medication is too big for the proper size GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats?
Veterinarians are very careful not to prescribe medication that is too big for your dog. Many medications are scored so they can be broken in half. If you have a small dog and the medication that doesn’t fit inside the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treat, break the medication in half and use two GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats.
What if I have a capsule?
Never try to break a capsule. If you have a capsule that is too big for the Capsule sized GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats, ask your veterinarian for a possible tablet substitute. Or use two Tablet sized GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats to cover the capsule before feeding it to your dog.
How do I insert the tablet or capsule in the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats?
Using the fingers that DID NOT TOUCH the medicine, squeeze the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats shut, sealing in the smell. By not touching the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats with the hand that held the medication, you prevent the transfer of medicine smell or taste. Feed to your dog.
My dog bit into the medication and now won’t touch the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats?
Periodically “treat” your dog with GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats without medication. When it is necessary to give the medication, your dog will think it’s a treat and take it enthusiastically.
Will the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats conceal liquid medications?
Yes. But you may find this difficult and potentially messy to do. GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats are air tight when properly sealed. Never fill the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats to the top with liquid since it will need room to close. If the amount of liquid medication exceeds the size of your GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats, ask your veterinarian about where to buy and how to use a liquid syringe.
What if my dog won’t eat the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats?
Check the following:
Is the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Treat properly sealed? Medicine has a strong odor to your dog, and if not sealed, some dogs will smell the medicine and refuse GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats or eat around the medicine.
Did the hand that touched the medicine also touch the GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Treat? If so, be sure to hold the treat in the hand that does not touch the medicine. You do not want to transfer the medicine smell or taste.
Do you have lotion, perfume, or cologne on your hands? GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats may absorb lotions or other items from your hands.
Try giving a number of GREENIES® PILL POCKETS® Canine Treats without medication to overcome the learned behavior.
 
 
Like Us on Facebook
Canine Dental Chews