Pet Tips

Green Pet Tips

Personally, I try to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle whenever I can. Every small thing one can do will be helpful to reduce the carbon footprint we all leave. You would be surprised of the many, very small, changes you can make to allow your pet to show he/she cares about the environment as well.

Let's talk poop, yuck, right? Well, being a responsible dog owner means you need to pick up the poop from those little, or big poop factories aka our dogs. In my community there is actually a fine if you don't. Using a biodegradable and compostable dog pick up bag just make sense. The BioBag I use is not only sustainably made but also compostable and will not take a century in a landfill to disappear. Yes, of course you can reuse the plastic grocery bag and give them one more life BUT, they do take 100 years+ to break down in your landfill.


Dog Nutrition

Feeding your dog the best food possible is an investment in your dogs' health. Just like humans benefit from eating good, nutritious foods so does your dog. A lot of health issues in dogs can be remedied by changing to a nutritious diet.

One of the most important things is to read the label on the dog/cat food. Know what should be in there but more importantly what should not be.

In general, items that you prefer not to see on the list of ingredients include artificial colors, artificial flavor, artificial preservatives and by-products. Meat by-products are the clean parts of slaughtered animals not including meat. Meat by-products do not contain hair, horns, teeth or hooves. Poultry by-products are the clean parts of slaughtered poultry including organs, heads and feet. Poultry by-products do not include feathers. Instead of by-products, you should ideally look for animal proteins that are also listed as from a single source such as chicken instead of poultry or lamb instead of beef.


Training & Safety

Common Toxins & Poisons
There are many common substances in your house and in your backyard which can be toxic or poisonous to your dog. Here you will find a list of common poisons and toxins. Each of these substances has been reported to cause adverse reactions in your dog from mouth irritation to seizures or even death. If you suspect your dog has ingested any foreign substance, call your vet immediately or the ASPCA's poison control hotline to learn more about what you need to do for your dog. The sooner you act the better.

ASPCA POISON CONTROL 24 HOUR HOTLINE:  (888) 426-4435

Cleaning Products:

  • Acid- and Alkali-Based Products (found in many toilet cleaners, detergents, drain de-cloggers)
  • Bleach
  • Borate
  • Turpentine-Based Products

Human Food and Drink
Alcohol, Avocado, Chocolate, Coffee, Excessive Fat, Garlic, Grapes, Macadamia Nuts, Moldy and Spoiled Food, Mushroom, Onions, Raisins, Small Bones, Tea, Xylitol-Sweetened Products (Xylitol is a sugar substitute), Yeast Dough.


Dog/Cat first Aid Kits

It is good to be prepared to deal with small injuries or issues. A First Aid Kit is wonderful to have on hand and ready when you need it. Below is a list of items to gather in one place so you can get to it immediately:

Every household with a dog should have a home first aid kit designed specifically for the four-legged resident. You can purchase a pre-packaged dog first aid kit at many pet supply stores, or you can make your own. Remember to store the contents in an air-tight container in a place that is out of reach of your dog, and alert other household members where the first aid box is. You must also check the contents of the kit periodically to make sure none of the items are out-of-date. Finally, do NOT give your dog any over-the-counter medicines without first checking with your dog's vet.

Basic Home First Aid Kit
Allergy medication, Antibiotic ointment, Antidiarrheal medicine, Bandage tape. A copy of your dog's license, physical description, photo and microchip id number. A copy of your dog's medical and vaccine records.

Cotton balls, cotton swabs, eye wash solution, hydrocortisone ointment, hydrogen peroxide, poison control hotline number, rags or soft cloth for making a muzzle or tourniquet, rectal baby thermometer, rehydrating drink (example Pedialyte®), rounded-tip scissors, sterile gauze pads (in several sizes), tweezers, two towels or blankets (one for keeping your dog warm and one to use for transporting your dog), vet and 24-hour vet contact information,wound disinfectant (example: Betadine®)


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