There are no downsides to trying to reduce waste and eliminate harmful chemicals from your life. Of course, you can also incorporate some more earth-friendly practices into your pet’s care regimen. Using ingredients that are eco-friendly, non-toxic and effective makes a lot of sense when you are controlling odours, dealing with pet litter or giving your pet a bath.
Odours & pet accidents
Completely safe, home-made, green cleaning solutions of baking soda, vinegar, salt and lemon juice, are any day a better option than harmful bleaches, chemicals and toxins. If you haven’t completed your pet’s potty training, or your pet has had an accident, scrub the area with club soda as quickly as possible and let it dry. Then sprinkle the area with baking soda and let it stand to help control odours. Vacuum the rug after about an hour.
If there’s a stubborn stain or discoloration, apply lemon juice to the area generously. Let it soak for about half an hour and then rinse the area well with vinegar and water solution. Let it dry naturally. If the spot is not too big, you could also try to clean the area directly with vinegar.
Pet bedding
Your pet is adorable but the smells it leaves on its bedding aren’t. Washing it in hot water often is a good idea. You can also sprinkle it with baking soda from time to time and then use a vacuum cleaner after that. Do it regularly and there won’t be ‘dog-smell’ in the room.
Repel ticks
Rose geranium essential oil is successful for repelling ticks from dogs. Apply a few dabs to your dog’s collar. A dose of brewer’s yeast mixed with a bit of garlic in dry food daily will help to repel fleas for dogs. Don’t use garlic with cats for it can lead to anemia. You could also rub a small amount of lemon or orange juice from time to time on your pet’s fur to repel ticks.
Dry bath
Pets, whether dogs or cats, hate water and there are times when you need to give your pet a dry bath. Simply sprinkle some baking soda on the pet’s coat and merge it well with your hands. Afterwards, take a coat-combing brush to spread it all over till it’s no longer visible. If you have run out of dog-soap or dog-shampoo, or if your pet reacts to it, then simply use a vinegar and water solution instead and then give a rinse with clear water again.
Don’t flush cat litter down the toilet
Don’t flush cat litter down the toilet. According to experts, cat feces can contain Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can survive in soil for more than a year and also contaminate drinking water and sewage systems. Rather than reach for your clay cat litter, go for litters that are made from wheat or recycled newspaper. These will protect both your pet and the environment. Cat litter should always be bagged and tossed in the trash.
Doggy bags
Use biodegradable doggy bags for the poop. As a responsible dog owner, you know that when you take your dog for a walk you have to clean up the poop. But if you use biodegradable bags, then you’ll be helping out the planet as well as the neighbourhood. They are a more sustainable choice than petroleum-based polyethylene.
Make your own treats
Pets can live on perfectly healthy diets with meals made at home. Consult your veterinarian for advice. Homemade treats are another way to use ingredients you already have while saving a trip to the store and reducing packaging waste.
You can browse websites that have dozens of recipes for homemade goodies for pets that you can whip up in your kitchen.
Toys
Take time to look at the labels when choosing your pet’s toys. Try to pick ones that are made of eco-friendly materials. Because regulations on pet products are not universal, imported playthings could potentially contain unsafe materials. You could make your pet’s toys yourself. Grow your own catnip, and sew little mice out of discarded clothes. You can also make some fun doggy toys from an old t-shirt: Just cut it into strips and braid them. They can make a great rope toy. Look online for more ideas.