The oral health information that The GREENIES^® Brand team has been able to share over the last couple of weeks is courtesy of Dr. Jan Bellows, DVM, Diplomate and incoming president of the American Veterinary Dental College. Dr. Bellows is a dental specialist at All Pets Dental in Westin, Florida. He received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University and has worked as a small animal practitioner for 36 years.

Throughout the rest of the month, The GREENIES^® Brand team will be posting more information related to pet oral health and how to maintain your pet’s health throughout the year. For more information about these debunked myths, visit facebook.com/greenies or reach out us on Twitter @GreeniesBrand.

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Enjoy!

Do you have questions about these myths? Send us questions on Twitter @GREENIESBrand or via Facebook.com/greenies!

^®/™ Trademarks © The Nutro Company 2012

^®/™ Trademarks © The Nutro Company 2012

There are a lot of myths out there about pet oral health, and the GREENIES^® team set out to gather information about what pet parents really believe when it comes to their pets’ mouths. We discovered that pet parents hold common beliefs about pet oral health – beliefs that veterinary dentists warn aren’t necessarily true.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be posting each myth we discovered and “debunking” it right here on GREENIES^® Writer’s Pad with the help of Dr. Jan Bellows, renowned veterinary dentist and incoming president of the American Veterinary Dental College.

To kick off this series, here’s Myth #1:

Check back later this week for Pet Oral Health Myth #2!

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This year, pet parents uploaded 9,958 photos of their smiling dogs and cats to smile.greenies.com for a chance to win a feature in The Bark magazine and a year’s supply of free GREENIES^® dental chews and treats. GREENIES^® dental chews and treats are the #1 veterinary-recommended dental chews and treats sold in pet specialty stores**.

Finnegan, the 2011 contest dog winner

Finalists were selected via popular vote, and a team of three expert judges, Cameron Woo, editor of The Bark magazine, Dr. Jan Bellows, a veterinary dental expert and Dorian Wagner of YourDailyCute.com, selected the winners based on the combination of a healthy mouth and a great smile.

Finnegan received almost 2,500 votes and was selected as this year’s dog winner. His healthy smile will grace the cover of the January issue of The Bark magazine, and he will receive a year’s supply of GREENIES^® Canine Dental Chews.

“Finnegan’s favorite thing is nature. He’s happiest outdoors fetching tennis balls, chasing squirrels and getting the neighborhood’s daily news through his nose,” say his parents, Kristen Byrne and Stewart Pelto. “He gets plenty of exercise, just the right amount of natural food and a whole bunch of quality time with parents. He’s also crazy for his daily bedtime treat—that special green chewy toothbrush!”

Monet, a shelter-adopted male, was selected as this year’s cat winner and will be featured in a special feline-themed insert in The Bark magazine. Monet will also receive a year’s supply of FELINE GREENIES^® Dental Treats in a variety of flavors.

Monet, the 2011 contest cat winner

“Monet is crazy about treats—if I gave into his begs every time, I’d have one chubby kitty!” says Karen Warren, Monet’s mom.

Both Finnegan and Monet’s owners understand the importance of a healthy mouth, but, notes Dr. Bellows, “While most pet owners understand the importance of a healthy mouth for themselves, they often overlook that a healthy mouth is just as important for their pets. Many veterinary dental specialists believe that a clean, healthy mouth can actually prolong a pet’s life. And what pet owner doesn’t want to have more time to spend with their pet?”

To learn more about how maintain your pet’s oral health and overall wellness, visit greenies.com.

**Among veterinarians that recommend dental chews for at-home oral care.

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This holiday season, The GREENIES^® Brand teamed up with some of these friends to help provide support for the pet organizations that they passionately championed throughout the year.

The GREENIES^® Brand team worked with Tamar Arslanian of I Have Cat, Paris Permenter of Dog Tipper and Sharon Castellanos from Grouchy Puppy, to fulfill the holiday wish lists of their favorite pet organizations this season.

The GREENIES^® Brand team fulfilled the wish list of each group (of up to $250.00), which provided for things like year-end organizational needs, pet beds or food and treats, office supplies, filing cabinets or shelving, or anything else needed to make the organization successful in its mission.

The support each one of these bloggers provides for their local organizations is remarkable, and The GREENIES^® Brand team was excited to support their passions during the holiday season.

Meet the Bloggers

Tamar breaks the single-cat lady stereotype in her blog, offering witty posts about cat ownership and lifestyle. She has three cats Kip, Petie and Haddie, and regularly fosters cats. She selected her local charity in New York, City Critters, Inc., the rescue organization where she rescued her cats.

Paris runs Dog Tipper with her husband John, supported by their two dogs, Tiki and Irie, and their four cats Felix, Linus, Inca and Coco. Paris chose the Humane Society of Williamson County for her charity, where she adopted Tiki and Inca.

Sharon has shared the stories and adventures of her adopted dog, Cleo, winning numerous blog awards along the way. Sharon selected to support Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS).

More Information about the organizations they support:

City Critter, Inc.

City Critters, Inc. has created a strong rescue animal network in New York, placing stray cats in loving homes, spaying/neutering companion animals and educating the public about animal issues and building the human-animal connection since 1994. City Critters is also committed to reducing euthanasia at the local municipal shelter through their widespread network of foster homes and animal lovers.

“What I love about this organization is they don’t have a shelter or an office; they rely on an extensive network of fosters and work with my local PETCO to show the kittens off on the weekends,” Tamar said.

More information about City Critters can be found here.

The Humane Society of Williamson County

The Humane Society of Williamson County was founded in 1979 and aims to promote adoption, provide affordable spay and neuter services, build a “No-Kill” shelter model to eliminate euthanasia and save the lives of animals in Central Texas.  Their clinic is a multipurpose facility where they conduct adoptions, arrange foster care, and provide spay/neuter and vaccinations services, as well as educational tours and presentations to the area.

More information about getting involved with The Humane Society of Williamson County can be found here.

PAWS

PAWS is a community organization committed to providing and caring for companion animals for low income persons with disabilities and illnesses. PAWS recognizes the strength of the human-animal bond and its healing properties in health and well-being. They also serve as a strong voice in the community, educating others about the benefits of service animals and protecting the rights of disabled individuals to keep companion animals.

“They are amazing; a template for many groups across the country,” Sharon said.

More information about getting involved with PAWS and the many ways you can donate can be found here.

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The Santa Paws Drive allows animal lovers to make virtual donations to shelter animals during the holidays and is reminiscent of a “Toys for Tots” program. In the past two years, animal lovers around the world have contributed approximately $15,000 in toys, treats and donations to shelters in need.

According to the ASPCA, up to 7 million animals enter shelters every year in America alone, and less than 2 percent of cats and 15 percent of dogs are ever returned to owners. This means that millions of animals go without special attention during the holidays.

This year, the Santa Paws Drive will focus its efforts on shelters and rescues that aid special needs and less adoptable pets. It can be easy to overlook these animals, but now is the perfect time to show them the love they deserve.

The selected shelters for 2011 are Belleglen Sanctuary, Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, Greenfields Greyhound Rescue, K9Kastle Corp, Sheba’s Haven House, and Black Dog Rescue.  All toys and treats will be shipped to the selected shelters directly by “helper elves” so that the shelter can receive every penny of received donations.

To encourage donations, The GREENIES^® Brand team is raffling off two baskets of a year’s supply of GREENIES^® Canine Dental Chews and FELINE GREENIES^® Dental Treats. All of the proceeds for the raffle will go to this year’s designated shelters.

Visit SantaPawsDrive.com for more information and to support this cause. The donation period has already begun but will close for toy and treat donations on December 12 and cash donations on December 20.

^®/™ Trademarks © The Nutro Company 2011.  Other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

The GREENIES^® Brand has partnered with veterinarian Dr. Lorie Huston, author of the Pet Health Care Gazette and veterinary expert for petMD’s The Daily Vet, to share insights about the health hazards pet owners may not be aware of for pets during the holidays and tips on how to protect against them.

Holiday Havoc—The holidays can be a stressful time for pets. In many households, the holidays bring frequent visitors and major changes in the daily routine. As such, it’s important to provide pets with a private area of their own. This should be a room or area of the home where guests are not allowed. Pets will find comfort in being able to retire to a quiet place where they can escape the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Above all, it’s important for pet owners to allow a little extra time during the holidays to pay special attention to their pets.

Poisonous Plants—Though seemingly harmless, holiday plants can be highly toxic for our four-legged friends. Poinsettia ingestion can cause mild intestinal problems for pets and irritation to the mouth and stomach. Pets that ingest certain types of mistletoe can become ill as well. Other plants like holly, amaryllis and lilies are also known to be quite toxic to pets, so make sure that when decorating the house, these items are in areas not frequented by pets or at levels pets cannot reach.

Dangerous Decorations—Items like tinsel and ribbons may be potential choking hazards for pets, and tree ornaments, usually fragile in nature, can be hazardous if broken. Water used at the base of live Christmas trees is often stagnant and may contain fertilizers or other preservatives that can upset a pet’s stomach. Lastly, curious pets can run into trouble when investigating candles or potpourri, so be sure to keep these items out of a pet’s line of sight!

Fattening Foods—While it may be tempting to share a holiday meal with your dog or cat, it’s probably best to rethink that strategy as many holiday foods can be unhealthy for pets. Things like chocolate, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts and even onions can be toxic to pets. Xylitol-containing sweets and gums can make pets very ill, and foods with high fat content have been known to cause pancreatitis, especially in dogs. Seek out nutritious and purposeful treats when shopping for holiday goodies, like those offered by the GREENIES^® Brand.

Being aware of these holiday health hazards equips pet owners with the knowledge they need to make this holiday season a healthy and safe one for pets. For more seasonal tips, visit www.greenies.com and www.lorie-huston.com.

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In honor of Adopt a Senior Pet month, shelter organizations across the country are urging potential pet parents to consider rescuing older pets. We want to provide the top 3 reasons why potential pet owners should consider adopting an older dog or cat…you might be surprised by all of the benefits!

Easy to train: Older pets are much calmer than young puppies or kittens and are more likely to pay undivided attention to their owners during the training process. They’ve also had experience with people before, so they are familiar with the process. Dogs in particular already very likely to know common commands like sit or stay which makes the training process and overall acclimation to your rules and your house much easier.

Fewer household disaster: We all know how frustrating it can be to walk in the house and see that your puppy has chewed your favorite pair of shoes, or that your young cat has climbed your blinds again. The calm temperament and overall maturity of older dogs and cats contribute to fewer messes around the household. That’s not to say that they won’t get into something here or there, but the likelihood that your cat will be up all night creating mischief or that your dog will be teething on your favorite coffee table is relatively slim.

Instant companions: Older pets, especially those adopted from shelters, are full of love and create instant bonds with their new owners. These are pets that have likely been in animal shelters for a great length of time and are seeking companionship from a person. The love and appreciation that you’ll receive from an older dog or cat is unmatched!

The GREENIES^® Brand team has a soft spot for older pets, especially when it comes to their health. GREENIES SENIOR™ dental chews are made specifically with older dogs in mind. Made for dogs 7 years or older, GREENIES SENIOR^® Dental Chews have the same benefits as GREENIES^® Canine Dental Chews, but with ingredients to help maintain limber, healthy joints. GREENIES^® Canine JointCare Treats also help to maintain healthy mobility in older dogs. For more information about how GREENIES^® can help keep your newly adopted older pet healthy, visit www.greenies.com.

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1) Wellness Exams with Your Veterinarian

Extending the longevity and healthy attitude of your pet begins with thorough biannual wellness examinations, disease prevention, and a diet and exercise regimen.  The steps sound simple, but often these wellness measures go overlooked even by the most adoring of pet owners.

The American Animal Hospital Association’s (AAHA) recommendation is to have two wellness exams with your veterinarian annually to prevent, diagnose, and/or treat illnesses. The longer you wait to see your vet, the greater the risk for your pet to have an infection or illness that could lead to more serious problems.

Take the time this month to schedule your pet’s wellness examination and read up on the key areas that will ensure a healthy lifestyle for your pet.

2) Socialization
Most pets thrive on the company of other pets.  Exposure to other animals connects you to other pet lovers, but can also lead to good behavior in your pet.  Go to your city’s local website or recreation center to see if there are any pet communities in place where you live. If not, start your own!

3) Dental Care
While we talk about oral care often, we can’t emphasize its importance enough. It’s important to make sure you are doing something daily to take care of your pet’s teeth and to monitor the levels of plaque and tartar buildup, which could cause periodontal disease if left untreated. If you have any questions like “is this ok?” or “is this normal?” when you look at your pet’s teeth, talk to your veterinarian. Learn a few tips here.

4) Exercise
On average, pets need about 1-2 hours of exercise a day. Be creative when coming up with a routine – find new toys or new routes to maintain the energy and effectiveness of the exercise. Check out Dr. Ernie Ward’s tips for maintaining healthy and active pet.

5) Healthy Diet
An improper diet can affect the skin, coat, weight, energy level, and digestive system of your pet. Noticing problems in any of those areas? Take a second look at what you’re feeding them. Your pet deserves the best so make sure the food and treats that you’re giving are functional as well. While you want to give them something they’ll love, discuss the health benefits of your food with your veterinarian.

The GREENIES^® Brand team wants to see every pet healthy and happy the whole year through. Thanks to all of the passionate pet parents and professionals who took time to promote wellness during the month of October.

^®/™ Trademarks © The Nutro Company 2011.