Yellowknife (Mar 08/06) - Dog owners should make sure their pet does not bite off more than it can chew when offering dog treats, says the owner of a Yellowknife pet shop.

"You have to buy treats that are size-appropriate for your dog," said Jo-Ann Cooper of Borealis Kennels and Pet Supplies.

Giving a small treat to a large 80lb. dog could potentially lead to choking, as some dog owners have discovered.

The dog brand Greenies, a toothbrush-shaped bone which promotes doggie dental health, has been implicated in the deaths of numerous pets in America. Cooper said the Greenie bone is made of a hard substance and if a dog gobbles down such a treat instead of chewing it up, choking may result.

Cooper said the same holds true for rawhide bones or any other dog treat.

"You should watch your pet to make sure he chews it properly," she said.

Dr. Tom Pisz, a veterinarian at the Great Slave Animal Hospital, said while he believes the Greenies obstruction incidents happened in America, at the same time the story is being "blown out of proportion."

"I have also seen lots of obstruction resulting in beef hooves, cookies, socks, rocks, everything," Pisz said of the common occurrence.

"If the bone is too small and the dog is too great, it will swallow it, which causes a blockage," Pisz said.

"It's the dogs. They say Greenies, but I think it is a very good quality cookie."

Pisz said he has not had any cases involving the Greenies product, but he has seen many cases of blockage from other items, such as rawhide. "It happens all the time and there is nothing you can do about it unless you know your dog."

Dogs are not meant to be given big chunks or pieces of food, as they will just swallow it, Pisz said.

Intestinal blockage is serious and requires surgery.

If it is not diagnosed right away, it will cause peritonitis and subsequent death, Pisz said.

Janet Pacey, president of the NWT SPCA, said she also does not know of any cases of dog death in the North as a result of improper digestion of such bones.

"But I have heard of dogs getting sick to their stomachs in the past," Pacey said.

Owners should always be vigilant when feeding their dogs, she noted.

"Any treat or toy should be given under supervision," Pacey said.

"Lots of dogs eat lots of stupid things. That's why it's important people watch what their dogs pick up off the ground or play with in the house."

Pacey said dog owners could consider exercise as an alternate to a few too many treats.

"A dog wouldn't need to chew as much if it had lots of exercise."