All About the New Greenies

An In-Depth Look at the How and Why of New Greenies

If you happen to be curious about the exact breakdown of Greenies® Dental Chew's design and formula then you're in luck. Greenies® has included an in-depth informational section that is sure to answer any inquiry. This installment delves into the why and how of the design and production processes.

Highly Digestible Ingredients

Ingredient labels can be very confusing; in some cases it's like reading another language. Most people that pay attention to exactly what goes into the product are the "health-nut" type and tend to steer clear of any unnatural sounding components. However, there are a number of ingredients included are selected for unique qualities that each possess. For example, Greenies® formula features gelatin, wheat protein isolate, soy protein isolate and sodium caseinate; the word "isolate" may be unfamiliar, which is why Greenies® has taken the time to explain its role. Isolates are highly digestible, soluble sources of protein which are low in fat and carbohydrates.

Extreme Flexibility

The flexibility of the chews wasn't a fluke. All of the design features serve a purpose. The softer texture allows your dog's tooth to actually penetrate, which helps reduce plaque and tartar over a wider area of the tooth. The more a dog chews, the more it works its mouth and teeth. Using this natural mechanism and coupling it with a chewy and soluble formulation helps to create friction across a wide surface area of each tooth as it sinks into the product. As the tooth is removed, the exit friction helps to remove plaque and tartar buildup. The action leads to fresher breath and healthier gums.

The increased coverage area also increases efficiency. Studies have shown that just one New Greenies® Dental Chew a day will result in a 69% reduction in calculus build-up and a 10.5% reduction in plaque build-up.

Bite Forces

The chew is specially blended to accommodate all of the various chewing abilities of dogs. After examination, it was clear that one universal design would not work for all dogs. Careful consideration was given to the anatomical structure of different dog breeds to customize a specified chew based on canine physiology. Three skull types were used as models in preparation for bite-specific treats: Brachycephalic, Mesaticephalic and Dolichocephalic.

Brachycephalic dogs display a short-nosed, more compact type of jaw structure; this includes Bulldogs and Pugs. Mesaticephalic skull types feature a moderate jaw structure and length, and are found in dogs like Beagles, Labradors, and Golden Retrievers. Dolichocephalic dogs are the long-nosed dogs, with a narrow jaw structure; Greyhounds, Whippets and Dachshunds are some of the dogs that are included in this category.

So much attention was given to skull and jaw structure because they determine maximum overall bite force, the maximum pressure exerted at the location of each tooth and the vertical distance between teeth when the mouth is open. The results of examining the criteria found that the maximum gape, or vertical space between the teeth, and overall bite force generally increase with the weight of the dog, but both vary dependent on the skull shape.

The team at Greenies® used this information to develop a superior dental chew. Five new textures and sizes were implemented to accommodate the natural mechanics of a dog's chewing action. Each size allows for maximum penetration for the widest range of plaque and tartar removal for each tooth. The design encourages chewing from the middle to the back of the mouth, where the strongest force is exerted.

Some additional factors that came into play involved swallowing and digestion. Two specific factors that impacted the pre-development research needed to be taken into consideration. One concern was because the weaker bite force of smaller dogs tends to lead to less chewing and more gulping of large pieces; Greenies® remedied this by offering smaller products that feature a softer texture to encourage chewing in even the weakest jaw type. The other concern was with bigger dogs have a shorter digestive tract and need a very thorough breakdown of food as it passes; the design was adjusted so that the harder textures and larger sizes are highly soluble and break down very quickly while digested for the maximum nutritional benefit.

Key Design Changes

The signature toothbrush design is not only to let everyone know of its myriad dog dental benefits, each aspect also performs a task. The new design was one of 50 possibilities. The bristle shape makes natural grooves that allow teeth to get deep into the chew and offer a wider area of contact for maximum cleaning; a 6th bristle was added for an even broader range. The grooves in between the bristles also provide natural breaking points for chewing ease. The oval-shaped backing of the brush can be easily manipulated in the mouth and provides a broad, flat cleaning surface. The handle features a valley running down the shaft between the knuckles for easy manipulation and added breaking points.

The modified design and formula make Greenies® Dental Chews a smart choice for any owner who cares about their pet’s oral health.