Lower Your Pet's Carbon Paw Print!

Unfortunately, literally every product you purchase for your pet is likely to have a negative effect on our environment, whether it is made from crops grown with pesticides or produced in a factory that sucks electricity and spews pollution into the air.  But there are ways that you can ensure your pet lives a long and healthy life even as you promote the same for the planet that supports us all.

1.       Ditch the dog food.

Etta Says - All Natural Dog Treats

The first offender in pet products is non-organic pet food.  It is made from cows, chickens, and sheep that have been stuffed full of hormones and antibiotics as well as crops grown with pesticides and chemical fertilizers.  Now, wouldn’t you much rather make your own organic dog food?  Just consult your vet ahead of time so that you can meet all of your pet’s dietary needs.

If you do want a green option for your pet food then make sure it’s an all natural product such as the delicious treats made by Etta Says!

2.       Forget plastics.

From feeding bowls to toys, plastics are neither good for your pet nor the planet.  The factories that make these items are constantly under attack for the emission of greenhouse gases.  And the public is only now becoming aware of the dangers inherent in drinking and eating from plastic vessels (which may transfer harmful chemicals into your body…or in this case, your pet).

3.       Learn to sew.

Tuggie MacQueen - Handcrafted Dog Clothes

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on beds and toys made from synthetic fabrics (or support the toxic industry that manufactures them).  Take a crash course in sewing and you’ll soon be whipping out your own pillows and playthings for Fido or Socks.

For inspiration why not visit Etsy and search for handcrafted pet clothes such as those made by Tuggie MacQueen.

4.       Opt for sustainable.

Fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo are a great choice when it comes to making a pet bed, while locally-grown, organic produce will keep your pet healthy, support family farms, and ensure that fewer chemicals are entering the environment at the hands of man.

5.       Wash with care.

Earthbath Pets - Natural Grooming Products

Instead of using products laden with parabens and other harmful toxins that will only get washed down the drain, see to your pet’s hygiene with one of many natural pet-grooming products.  They’re often made with natural plant oils and as such, are safe for your pet to lick.  They also send fewer chemicals out into the world.  Just make sure to read labels since the term “natural” is not regulated.

For easy dog grooming we recommend the fantastic grooming products by Earthbath Pets.

Sarah Danielson writes for Pitbulls where you can find information on training, health, diet, and food for the popular and often misunderstood breed.

Today we decided to give our three big dogs baths but in the cold and wet outside conditions I wanted an easier alternative to the hosepipe and soap method!

A quick visit to our local pet store and I found some great grooming wipes made by a company called EarthBath. They won’t get a dog as clean as a full bath but I was just aiming to freshen them up a bit!

The wipes came in a 100 wipe dispenser which was the biggest size I could find so they should last a while. They are all natural, hypo-allergenic, fragrance-free and lanolin free which is important to us because our pitbull gets bad allergies and has very sensitive skin.
The packaging says they will wipe away dirt and odors and brighten and shine coats.

I got started with our 50lb hound named Boston. He stood still for me and actually seemed to enjoy the wipes. Straight away I could see his coat looking shinier and the wipe was removing lots of dirt. The dogs had been playing in our dirty yard for a while so Bostons paws were particularly dirty.

The end result was great! I cleaned Boston then our Labrador named Brody and finally our Pitbull named Huckleberry and they all looked, and smelled, like new dogs!
My favorite things about these wipes are the ease of use and the fact that zero water is used. Washing the dogs with a hose and soap uses lots of water and can take a long time. I’ve already used the EarthBath wipes several times today because our yard is especially muddy. You can see the collection of dirty wipes below!

I would thoroughly recommend the EarthBath grooming wipes to any dog or cat owner, we now have a house full of clean good smelling dogs.

Find more info on these wipes at the EarthBath website;
www.earthbath.com

View our video review of how we use the EarthBath wipes below;

Berney and Gracie

The other night Sharen and I were watching TV, (you know, something educational), So You Think You Can Dance, and while watching TV, Sharen dropped a seedless grape. Of course, Berney, (our overweight Yorke who eats any and everything), was there to devour it. She let out a yell to Berney to stop him from eating it and jumped up to grab the grape before Berney ate it, she succeeded. Sharen scared me when she yelled and jumped. I didn’t know what was going on. She said that grapes are poisonous to dogs. I said she was crazy, after all, I’ve never heard that before. She said that she had always heard that and for me to look it up. So, me being one of those husband’s that seems to always be wrong, I decided to looked it up, perhaps to prove her wrong for once. Well, while she was watching the show, I grabbed my laptop to investigate foods that are poisonous to dogs. Filled with excitement; I knew this was my chance, there was no way she could be right, I pulled up a website that listed things that were poisonous. DANG IT! there it was, along with Chocolate, (I knew that one), Garlic, Onions, Macadamia Nuts and GRAPES!

Wow, I didn’t know anything about garlic being poisonous. We used to give our dog garlic powder, because we were told that it would help with tick’s and flea’s. Onions, I only knew of one dog that would eat onions and I didn’t think he was that smart anyway. Onion breath on a dog is just as bad as a dog with fish breath. YUCK!!! Garlic and Onions contain sulfoxides and disulfide’s, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions. Then there are those grapes and their dried up cousins, Raisins. The information in the article stated that they don’t know why, but a toxin in the grapes or raisins can cause kidney damage or even kidney failure.


Macadamia nuts were also listed, which I also thought was weird, they contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.  Although I was wrong once again, I did learn something in the process, that being, do not feed grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, onions and garlic to dogs.  We love our dogs, and would not want to do anything to harm them. Although foods that we eat might seem OK for dogs, I have learned that they are not. However, I’m still not sure what it is that makes women right almost all of the time. I will continue to delude myself that one day, I will succeed in being right about something. And when that happens, I WILL BLOG ABOUT IT TO THE WORLD!!!!!

There are a lot more things you should not feed your dogs, check out the following web site for more information:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1661&aid=1030

Sigh

Our Everyday Earth – Pets and Animals Blog

With the unconditional love of a family, pets are endless sources of entertaining that do not require batteries. Please enjoy our “tails” of these Texas pets and the families who love them. While it is true that a pet will not simplify your life, they are a wonderful source of renewable energy, endless love and boundless fun. Our families at Our Everyday Earth firmly believe that dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.