Pets

If your pet is anything like my dog Rider, she’s a great friend and constant companion. As you transition to a greener lifestyle for yourself and your family, please don’t forget to show the same love to your pet. Pets are so easy to please and they never complain, which is why it’s up to us to anticipate their needs and do the right thing by them.

Pay attention to your pet’s health and make responsible eco-friendly choices when it comes to food, flea collars, even poop bags! Look for minimally processed pet food, and shop organic, if possible. Organic pet food is free of synthetic preservatives like butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and ethoxyquin–which the FDA considers safe but some suspect is linked to liver damage and other health problems in dogs.

If you are a vegetarian, remember that your dog or cat’s needs are not the same as yours. Consider what’s best for your pet. A meat diet may not make you happy, but it can keep your pet healthy. Lots of pet food includes meat byproducts, which are loaded with vitamins and minerals–but byproducts may make you a bit squeamish. If they do, avoid them and look for plain old chicken, lamb, or beef as the first ingredient on the list. And if you have time and want to make sure to avoid byproducts, fillers, and preservatives altogether, consider a raw diet. Choose a vet with a holistic approach, and educate yourself on what will work best for you and your pet.

Take an environmentally friendly approach whenever possible. Cleaning up after your pet is not only a considerate thing to do, in many places, it’s the law. When you do, use a biodegradable dog waste bag–most plastic bags can take over 100 years to decompose!–which is also compostable and affordable. If your pet is scratching, consider a gentle, synthetic-free herbal flea powder. And remember, dogs love to romp, run, and roll on the grass, so avoid lawn pesticides–another possible reason for an itchy coat, or worse. These are the resources I turn to:

Eco Dog – Healthy Living for your pet

Read more from NATURAL BEAUTY 101:

Why Go Green
My Mission
How To Shop Green
Ingredients to avoid
Skin
Makeup
Hair
Nails
Sunscreen
Water
Food
Household