Happy National Earth Day! Did you realize that there have been reports that a small to medium sized pet's carbon paw print could be greater than that of a large SUV! These handy tips can help you make your pet "environmentally friendly" and reduce this paw print!
Pet Food
Choosing a high quality pet food helps not only the environment, but also you! It can reduce the number of bowl movements that you dog has each day. Check the label to see what the ingredients of your current pet food are and, as each pet is unique, the next time you are in for your pet's annual check up, ask one of our veterinarians for their recommendations on what to feed.
Recycle
If you live in Frederick county MD, you hopefully have received one of the large blue recycling bins to put your recyclables in and have them picked up at the curb. Pet food cans are recyclable and, depending upon the type of dry food you provided to your pets, this bag may be too. Old plastic toys may also be recyclable, but you need to check the symbols to make sure - use this handy helper to help decode them. Another handy vet tip whilst we are on the topic of plastic dog toys - check on these toys on a regular basis, you don't want your dog to chew off and ingest any large pieces as this could cause an obstruction, which might necessitate surgery.
Another way of recycling is if you have any gently used pet beds, collars, leashes or towels that you no longer need, Frederick County Animal Control and other local pet rescues almost always welcomes donations of this kind - it's a great way to spring clean and discard extras whilst being environmentally friendly and helping animals in need, it's a trifecta of winning!
Stainless Steel or Ceramic Pet Food Bowls
Get rid of the plastic dog bowls, recycling where possible, and replace them with either ceramic or stainless steel bowls. You can even take your to dog downtown Frederick MD and design and paint your own ceramic bowl at I Made This! Stainless steel and ceramic are not only the better environmentally friendly option, they are also much more hygienic than plastic, which can get scratched and harbor germs.
Cleaning Up Accidents
We love our pets. Cleaning up after them? Not so much. There is a vast array of pet products on the market that claim to eliminate pet odors and stains, and while some work better than others, there are many natural treatments that can also help and are safe around your pets. The main four "green" cleaning ingredients are baking soda, vinegar, salt and lemon juice. The key in treating pet stains is to clean them up as soon as you find them. Remove any debris, and then blot the area with color fast rags to bring up all the liquid you can, then apply your choice of treatment - for a natural treatment recipe click here. Mrs. Dr. A sadly has many years of experience cleaning up messes, and has found that if she puts a damp, color fast towel over the top of the treated area and puts something heavy on top of it and leave it overnight to dry. This helps to bring the odor and stain out of the carpet, the towel absorbs it as it dries, you may have to repeat this more than once to pull all the stain and odor out.
When you are out and about there are biodegradable poop bags that you can use to pick up after your pet.
Cleaning the Cat Litter Box
No one likes this task. To help keep the box smelling fresh, once a week empty out all the litter, and fill it partially with vinegar, this will help clean the box and kill odors.
Toys
Carefully select your toy based upon your dog or cat's unique characteristics, such as whether they are strong chewers, or like to remove the innards of a stuffed toy. As noted above, it is important to check any toy on a regular basis to help ensure that you pet does not ingest any pieces to avoid a blockage that might require surgery. There are many toys that are made From recycled materials that can be a good option. For cats, to help satisfy their need to scratch, consider a recyclable cat scratcher made from environmentally friendly materials.
Yard Treatments
We recommend natural treatments for yard treatments, this is not only environmentally friendly, but also pet friendly. With traditional treatments, you must keep your pets off your lawn for a number of days afterwards - this is because the chemicals that are used to treat the lawn can potentially harm your pet. When selecting a lawn care company, check and see if they offer natural options.
We know there are many, many ways to help reduce your pet's carbon pawprint, and would LOVE to read any suggestions that you have in the comments section!