Quote Originally Posted by Lady's Human

Second, a greenie stuck in a dogs throat over a day (one, where was the owner, two, why did treatment take so long) would not be subject to digestive juices, just the mucus in the throat, which is not part of the digestive process. When greenies are properly chewed by the dog, they are probably 100% digestable material. As an example from human food, if you just swallow a gummi bear without chewing, it will pass through your system relatively undigested, as your teeth didn't break the wax coating they put on them. There are many other coated foods that this holds true for.
I don't mean to argue, but digestion begins as soon as a piece of food enters the mouth. There are enzymes in saliva that begin to break down edible things. Numerous AP biology classes in high school and nutrition classes in college have taught me that. You are right that the stomach's acids are not breaking down the greenie stuck in a dog’s throat, but the saliva and mucus would start the process. Think of it this way... When a dog chews a rawhide it becomes very mushy, but if you leave it out in the rain it does not lose its original form. The rain may absorb a little, but not nearly as fast or as effective as a dog's saliva would.

Also, if the news is reporting the truth, greenies don't break down in the system. They simply just pass through the same way a coin would.

I'm not telling people not to give their pups Greenies. I'm just telling you why I won't. It's not worth it for me.

By the way, I have no idea what the pet owner or vet were thinking by letting the greenie stay stuck in the dog’s throat. It is no one I know personally, I saw it on TV.