Our Porkhide Bones are gourmet chew treats made with 100% natural pork skin and have a lasting, mouth-watering flavor your dog will love! These yummy treats are naturally high in protein, low in fat and are highly digestible.

The shape of the bone fits inside the mouth for maximum contact, which helps promote healthy teeth and gums. And they are safe for dogs of all ages. Your dog will love these safe, healthy and delicious treats!

Porkhide Bones are the safe and healthy alternative to rawhide treats. Rawhides are cured with harsh chemicals (like ash-lye solutions and bleach) and are known to cause choking, throat irritations and intestinal blockages. Why risk the safety of your precious pup on an inexpensive product, when there’s a better option?

As a dog trainer, with studies also in nutrition, I have wondered for years how Greenies remained on the store shelves, and how many more unsuspecting pet owners might have their innocent dogs harmed or even die from these products. In talking with a Nutro rep not too long ago, it was disheartening to listen to her complete acceptance and defense of this product that has offered no true benefit, yet introduces the potential for great harm.

Greenies main ingredient is Wheat Gluten. Dogs being omnivores, and Cats,true carnivores, are designed to eat meat, they have little tolerance for wheat, which is a known allergen to both canine & feline species. Wheat is a cheap filler. Wheat gluten is known to swell in moisture (the throat, esophogas, stomach, and intestines).

Greenies does make another product called Lil’ Bits, treats for pocket pets. They are made out of the same ingredients as the Greenie dog bones (toothbrushes) but are small bite-sized pieces. The manufacturer says they are recommended for puppies less than 6 months old, toy breeds, dogs weighing less than 10 pounds, dogs who have difficulty chewing or dogs known to "gulp" food or treats. While this may solve the problem of large size pieces getting stuck in the dog’s throat or intestines it does not address the problem of being hard to break down and indigestible or the fact that the processed wheat gluten and powdered cellulose are not native to a carnivore’s diet and can swell up inside the esophagus, stomach and intestines.

Another product by the same manufacturer is Feline Greenies. These are little fish-shaped pieces smaller than a dime. The ingredients list chicken meal, ground rice, ground wheat and corn gluten meal. There is NO nutritional reason for thest 2 ingredients, as wheat and corn, two indigestible and unnecessary grains for omnivores (dogs) and obligate carnivores (cats). 

It's as simple as "cheap fillers create higer corporate profits, at the expense of your pets health and saftey.

You may have noticed you can no longer find those trendy green dental bones at your local grocery store, feed store, or large corporate chain stores.

Now finally, NUTRO Products, Inc. says it is pulling its Greenies line of pet dental chews from supermarkets and other mass markets. Beginning in June, the Greenies -- which have been blamed for illness and deaths in some dogs and cats -- will be distributed only through veterinary hospitals and pet specialty retailers.

It's the latest attempt to resolve highly-publicized incidents of pet deaths attributed to the popular treats. Pet owners said the treats failed to be properly digested and led to fatal intestinal obstructions.

This is a voluntary move on the part of the manufacturer. The company has pulled their product from the shelves of supermarket and mass merchandise-type stores, but will continue to supply pet stores and veterinary offices.

“We believe that pet medical professionals at veterinary hospitals and well-trained, knowledgeable staff at pet specialty stores are best equipped to answer pet owners’ questions about our products and to make the right recommendation,” said Carolyn Hanigan, vice president of marketing for Nashville, Tenn.-based NUTRO.

It seems NUTRO is saying their green dental chews should only be sold to pet owners who have received training in how to use them.

A dental bone that comes with expert instruction? Why? 

The fact is, NUTRO has been trying to fix problems with their product for years -- first in 2006 by clarifying package instructions, followed in 2007 by a reformulation which was supposed to make the chews easier to digest, particularly for dogs.

And now in 2009, they have decided to sell Greenies only through veterinary clinics and specialty retail outlets where instructions will (hopefully) be handed out to pet owners.

Investigation Exposes Pet Injuries and Deaths from Green Dental Chews

In 2006, the Cable News Network (CNN) investigated consumer complaints about the product and uncovered 40 cases over a three year period in which veterinarians extracted Greenies from dogs.

In all 40 cases, the chews had become lodged in either the esophagus or the intestine. Tragically, 13 of those dogs could not be saved.   

Picking the Right Dental Bone for Your Dog Isn’t as Easy as You Might Think

A high-quality Holistic Veterinarian formulated  dental chew like Dr. Jane Bicks' PorkHide Bones for Dogs, along with Life's Abundance Premium health food, Daily Whole Food Natural Supplements, regular brushing of teeth and a professional cleaning by your veterinarian as needed, will insure the long-term health of your pet’s teeth and gums.

Everything you offer to your pet, including bones and treats, are just as important as the food you feed to them. Please check all ingredient labels.

Check here for our PorkHide label ingredients (100% pure, no additives). No China imports ~ Ever! It's simple, it's healthy, and dog's love the taste, while the shape helps to keep teeth and gums clean, as your puppy/dog naturally chews.

 No Bones About It: Bones are Unsafe for Your Dog

Quoted from: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The idea that it’s natural for dogs to chew on bones is a popular one. However, it’s a dangerous practice and can cause serious injury to your pet.

“Some people think it’s safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast,” says Carmela Stamper, D.V.M., a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration. “Bones are unsafe no matter what their size. Giving your dog a bone may make your pet a candidate for a trip to your veterinarian’s office later, possible emergency surgery, or even death.”

“Make sure you throw out bones from your own meals in a way that your dog can’t get to them,” adds Stamper, who suggests taking the trash out right away or putting the bones up high and out of your dog’s reach until you have a chance to dispose of them. “And pay attention to where your dog’s nose is when you walk him around the neighborhood—steer him away from any objects lying in the grass.”

Here are 10 reasons why it’s a bad idea to give your dog a bone:

1. Broken teeth. This may call for expensive veterinary dentistry.
2. Mouth or tongue injuries. These can be very bloody and messy and may require a trip to see your veterinarian.
3. Bone gets looped around your dog’s lower jaw. This can be frightening or painful for your dog and potentially costly to you, as it usually means a trip to see your veterinarian.
4. Bone gets stuck in esophagus, the tube that food travels through to reach the stomach. Your dog may gag, trying to bring the bone back up, and will need to see your veterinarian.
5. Bone gets stuck in windpipe. This may happen if your dog accidentally inhales a small enough piece of bone. This is an emergency because your dog will have trouble breathing. Get your pet to your veterinarian immediately!
6. Bone gets stuck in stomach. It went down just fine, but the bone may be too big to pass out of the stomach and into the intestines. Depending on the bone’s size, your dog may need surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a procedure in which your veterinarian uses a long tube with a built-in camera and grabbing tools to try to remove the stuck bone from the stomach.
7. Bone gets stuck in intestines and causes a blockage. It may be time for surgery.
8. Constipation due to bone fragments. Your dog may have a hard time passing the bone fragments because they’re very sharp and they scrape the inside of the large intestine or rectum as they move along. This causes severe pain and may require a visit to your veterinarian.
9. Severe bleeding from the rectum. This is very messy and can be dangerous. It’s time for a trip to see your veterinarian.
10. Peritonitis. This nasty, difficult-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen is caused when bone fragments poke holes in your dog’s stomach or intestines. Your dog needs an emergency visit to your veterinarian because peritonitis can kill your dog.

“Talk with your veterinarian about alternatives to giving bones to your dog,” says Stamper. “There are many bone-like products made with materials that are safe for dogs to chew on.”

“Always supervise your dog with any chew product, especially one your dog hasn’t had before,” adds Stamper. “And always, if your dog ‘just isn’t acting right,’ call your veterinarian right away!”

This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page⁴, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

Date Posted: April 20, 2010

Our favorite chew for dogs, formulated by Dr. Jane Bicks DVM; are HelathyPetNet's Porkhide Bones, as they are designed to fit the dogs mouth for satisfaction and chewing effectiveness, and are 100% natural pure pork hide. Dr. Jane's Prokhide bones are known for:

• No Chemicals
• No Additives
• 100% pure pork
• Digestible
  

PorkHide Bone Treats, the safe alternative to chemically treated non digestible rawhide, Greenies, and real bones.

Because we treat pets like family!

Ask the Vet ~ Dr. Jane Bicks. You may join in on a live conference call with Dr. Jane Bicks every other Wednesday evening at 8:30pm Eastern time. Dr. Bicks is the formulator of Life's Abundance natural pet food and products. She invites all of your questions.
The number to call is (218) 844-0860, pass code is 626116#
at 8:30pm Eastern time