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Top Five Earth-Friendly Pet Products

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Make a commitment to go green with your pet in 2012! Good for the planet as well as your trusted companion, these eco-fabulous products for pets are at the top of “Mom’s” list this year!

Top Five Earth-Friendly Pet Products

Planet Dog On the Go Food and Water Bowl

For thirsty canines on the go with their owners, whether hiking or just out for some play at the local dog park, the reusable On the Go Food and Water Bowl is a must! It is collapsible, rollable, stuffable, and very packable, and pops right open for easy access when needed. It comes in two sizes depending on your favorite four legged friend’s needs, and is available in seaside blue, sunset pink, harvest orange, forest green.

Planet Dog Biodegradable “Business Bags”

Walking your dog in your neighborhood means that at some point, your furry companion will have to attend to business. Now you can pick up the mess guilt-free, with no harm to the planet with Planet Dog’s Biodegradable “Business Bags!” Made from real corn, the bags biodegrade completely in just 45 days! So stop taking those unsightly plastic bags with you on walks around the block, and tuck a couple of these bad boys in your pocket instead!

Planet Dog EATS

Fido is going to love these new, all-natural treats from Planet Dog! The new EATS are available in dog-pleasing flavors, and made from 100% natural ingredients that aid in tartar control and offer super nutrients in every bite for optimal health and wellness. Made by their new local baking partner, Polka Dog Bakery in Boston, MA, the treats are are wheat, corn and soy-free and contain no wheat gluten. The new EATS line comes in two flavors that are sure to be a hit – Chicken & Pumpkin Pot Pie and PB & J. What’s not to love about the PB & J flavor – it contains barley flour, rye flour, peanut butter, blueberries, cinnamon!

KIDS ‘N’ PETS Instant All Purpose Stain & Odor Remover

This non-toxic, biodegradable and cruelty-free new stain and odor remover will become your best defense against those inevitable accidents that puppies or kittens will have as they navigate their new surroundings, and will keep carpets fresh & clean from the things that are tracked in from outdoors by Rover after a walk! Messes, poop on paws, litter box disasters – you have probably had one of these happen to you, and the new KIDS ‘N’ PETS cleaner is a must for any home with pets (and children!). It will completely eliminate any odors, not just mask them, so it will keep pets from making a certain spot their bathroom, which is wonderful.

Eco-Me Dry Dog Shampoo

Have a pooch who detests the bath? Try this Dry Dog Shampoo from Eco-Me instead! Just shake the powder onto your pet’s fur or onto a cloth, and brush through the fur or rub thoroughly with a cloth – no water is needed! For any excess, wipe away with a dry towel. For older pets or pets with sensitivities, this innovative planet-friendly shampoo will have tails wagging in no time! Eco-Me Dry Dog Shampoo is available in 4 scents in a recyclable container, including Lavender, Lemon Citronella, Grapefruit Sage and Fragrance-Free. It contains absolutely no dyes, parabens, surfactants, detergents, chemical preservatives or artificial fragrances. Both you and your pet will love this new product! Visit Petco.com.

*Companies generously provided samples and images for this piece.*

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How to Make Homemade Christmas Dog Treats

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How to Make Homemade Christmas Dog Treats

Christmas is only for bipedal beings with opposable thumbs, it is for our four-legged, furry friends as well. And nothing is appreciated more by a canine companion than a good, hearty snack. The perfect stocking-stuffer, some homemade Christmas dog treats will be a delightful delicacy.

Before you conjure up images in your head of exploding cooking pots, mixers widely flinging dough about and smoke seeping out of the oven, take a moment to put down your wallet and put your keys away. There’s no need to head off to the pet store.

All you’ll need is some common household cooking ingredients and you’ll be well on your way to making a lip-licking batch of Christmas dog treats.

Ingredients/Cooking Supplies

• Cookie sheet
• Parchment paper
• Grease
• Medium mixing bowl
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoons
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup brewer’s yeast
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1 tsp. salt
• Small mixing bowl
• 3 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp. garlic
• 1 cup chicken stock
• Cutting board
• Cookie cutters
• 3 cups vanilla white chocolate chips
• Microwave safe bowl
• 1 tsp. vegetable oil
• 1 tsp. vegetable powder for coloring
• Waxed paper

Preparation

Start by pre-heating your over to 400F. While the oven heats-up, take a moment to break out a cookie sheet and some parchment paper. Cover the cookie sheet with parchment paper or you can grease the sheet with a paper towel if you wish.

Place a medium mixing bowl on the counter, along with a measuring cup and spoons. Mix together 2 cups flower, 1/2 cup brewer’s yeast, 1/2 cup wheat germ and 1 teaspoon of salt. In a small mixing bowl, combine 3 tablespoons vegetable oil along with 1 tablespoon of garlic. Now pour in 1 cup chicken stock, then add just 1 cup of the flower mixture from the medium mixing bowl.

Blend the ingredients well-together.

Flour the surface of a counter or cutting board. Place the mixture onto the floured surfaced and knead for 2 minutes. Then, flatten the dough, making it a 1/2 inch thick. Cut up the dough with cookie cutters to form festive holiday shapes.

Place your shaped cookies on the cookie sheet and baked in the 400 degree pre-heated oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

To make the frosting, simply melt 3 cups vanilla white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave the white chocolate chips, then add in 1 teaspoon of vegetable powder for coloring, along with 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. Mix together, and then decorate the baked dog treats as desired.

Place the finished dog treats on waxed paper and allow cooling. You can then wrap them, if so desired or place in a decorative Christmas tin. Anyway you present these scrumptious canine morsels will be welcomed with a twitching nose and wagging tail.

To get the most out of baking the Christmas doggy treats, let your kids lend a helping hand. It will not only be fun, but teach them that buying expensive gifts is not what the season is all about.

About the Author

Kelly blogs for OMDS, the leader in everything that are dog goods.

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Tips on Reducing Your Dog’s Carbon Paw Print

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We all know that we as humans need to be more environmentally conscious and make efforts in our daily lives to “go green.” However, we can do even more by involving our pets in this effort as well. Americans will spend approximately $51 BILLION dollars on pets this year. Many of those billions of dollars contribute to a ton of waste and harm to the environment. It’s important for pet owners to make small, convenient, inexpensive changes that greatly benefit the environment by helping reduce your dog’s carbon paw print. Heidi Ganahl, CEO and Founder of Camp Bow Wow, the nation’s largest pet services company, has come up with several ways that you can eliminate some burdens that dogs naturally impose on the environment.

Tips on Reducing Your Dog’s Carbon Paw Print

Dogs are not a trend: It’s important to understand that when you commit to buying a dog, you commit to Fido for the rest of his life – much like deciding to have a child. People who are not fully committed and purchase a dog on a whim, often give up the animal to a shelter, increasing the population of homeless dogs. Also, a high demand for a breed causes breeders to create a high supply, which leads to the same problem.

Make Fido hippie chic: Purchase products for your pup that are made from sustainable, organic and/or recycled materials. Companies like FetchDog.com are creating eco-friendly dog toys and accessories, such as beds made with organic cotton. For example, you can find collars and leashes that are made from au natural hemp.

Make Waste More Eco-Friendly: A well-known fact is that it takes 1,000 years for a plastic bag to decompose. There are more eco-friendly options available at the grocery store, such as biodegradeable bags made of corn husk that are made specifically for picking up after your dog.

Premium Puppy Chow: When buying dog food and dog treats, always look for organic and/or natural products, which are easier on your dog’s stomach, and helps reduce waste overall. Be sure you recycle the packaging that is used for dog food, such as cans and food bags. To go the extra step, make your own dog food.

Break out the Fine China: For your doggie dishes, purchase stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead of plastic. These materials last longer and don’t have to be replaced as often, eliminating waste.

Groom Green: Use grooming products that are made with natural ingredients instead of chemicals that are harmful to the environment. You should also support groomers that use natural products or ask that your groomer switch to more eco-friendly products. Consider donating some green products so the groomer can see how much better they are than the toxic ones. These organic products are safer for the planet AND Fido. At Camp Bow Wow, dogs are bathed with all natural shampoo and conditioners. In fact, most locations also use “The Bathmaster Animal Bathing System”, which cuts bath time and product usage amount in half.

Help Reduce the Population of Homeless Pets: You’ve heard Bob Barker say it before but here it is again: Spay or neuter your dog. This is not only beneficial for your dog’s health but the planet’s health as well. Humanely reducing the pet population helps to reduce the stress that dogs place on the environment. Instead of purchasing a dog from a breeder, you should strongly consider adoption. Sadly, there are a lot of homeless dogs out there. Camp Bow Wow’s charity, The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, works with Camp Bow Wow franchisees throughout the county to provide foster care and facilitate adoptions for homeless pets.

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Zuke’s Superfood Organic Dog Biscuits

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Who says superfoods are only for humans? Let your beloved family pet reap the benefits of antioxidants, greens, and Omega-3’s with Zuke’s Superfood Organic Dog Biscuits! Available in 3 nutrient-dense varieties, Zuke’s offers your pet the following tasty, healthy options: Mean Greenz™, Health Nutz™, and Very Berryz™. The entire line of all-natural, healthy treats are made in the USA and do not contain fillers, additives, corn, soy or wheat.

Very Berryz™: exploding with the free-radical scavenging powers of antioxidant-rich buleberries, cranberries and raspberries.

Mean Greenz™: a mighty mix of healthy, vitamin-packed greens like spinach, green beans and broccoli. Gives dogs all the benefits of a balanced, whole-food diet … easier than getting your kids to eat their veggies.

Health Nutz™: loaded with protein-packed peanuts to support strong muscles and omega-3-rich almonds to support strong joints and a healthy coat.

Now, “Mom” did not actually put these nutritious treats to the taste test herself, but her cocker spaniel adores the Health Nutz™ variety, which is packed with peanuts and Omega-3 rich almonds.

In addition, each package of Zuke’s Superfood Organic Dog Biscuits are packaged in 100% recycled paperboard and are manufactured by 100% wind energy. For more information about Zuke’s entire line of pet products, visit www.zukes.com.

*Company generously provided samples and images for this review.*

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Going Green with Your Pet

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Going Green With Your Pet

The world is becoming a much greener place these days! And as we make more eco-friendly choices in our lives, we can absolutely extend these to involve our pet’s daily care. There are various ways in which we can reduce how the environment negatively affects our pet, and additionally how our pet can affect the environment.

5 Areas To Help Your Pet Go Green

Diet

• Organic Diets – Owners are increasingly feeding their pets, as well as themselves, with organic food, especially after the recalls of contaminated pet food recalls of recent years. FDA-approved organic pet foods are available that meet rigid standards to be certified in this way. In addition to being nutritionally balanced, these give peace of mind that your pet’s food is free of artificial ingredients, chemicals and genetically-modified compounds.

• Home-Made Diets – Some owners even take the extra step and feed their pet a home-made diet. While this can also help you rest assured that you know exactly what your pet is eating, it is important to ensure that you provide a completely balanced diet in order to prevent nutritional deficiencies. It is therefore always wise to seek veterinary assistance before implementing this – ideally from a veterinarian who specializes in nutrition.

Treatments

Some owners avoid using harsh chemicals on their pets wherever possible. Flea prevention is a good example of an area where more natural methods are being increasingly used. Remember that much of the flea’s life cycle is spent away from your pet, so in addition to treating him, his home environment must be treated too.

• Environmental Control
• Wash bedding
• Vacuum regularly
• Natural products sometimes used to help combat fleas: Borate crystals sprinkled on the carpet or Cedar wood chips sprinkled around his bed.

Treating Your Pet

• Some home-made spray remedies that have been used
• Apple-cider vinegar
• Lemon steeped in water
• Essential oils are also favored by some owners:

Peppermint
Lavender
Cedar wood extract

It is, however, prudent to remember that “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean “completely safe” – even some natural products can be potentially toxic if used to excess. So follow product administration guidelines carefully, and avoid using excessively.

Sustainable Products

• Bedding – Try a pet bed made from organic cotton
• Toys – Many are now being made from recycled materials or sustainable fibers
• Leash and collar – Opt for a combination made from hemp!

Waste

• Poop-scooping after our dogs is a simple way to help the environment. Going one step further and poop-scooping with biodegradable bags is even better – the waste material and the bag can decompose, therefore reducing problems associated with landfill waste accumulation.
• For cats, there are many varieties of organic or biodegradable litter available now, and these are much more earth-friendly than the regular clay-based form of litter.

Population Control

There are some very easy ways for you to further reduce the effect of our pets on the environment – by making conscious choices that help to control the pet population.

• Adopt your new pet from an animal shelter
• Spay or neuter your new pet

Organic, natural and green practices related to pet care are being practiced more and more these days. While we attempt to reduce the size of our carbon footprint on the planet, it’s also essential to remember that our four-legged friends leave their pawprints too! Thankfully there are numerous ways that we can help with this, and even seemingly small changes can make big differences over time to both our pets and the environment.

About the Author

Dr. Susan Wright, DVM is the author of numerous dog care articles and is the lead expert at Dog Fence DIY the dog containment system experts. Susan has over ten years of experience in veterinary practise and is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America.

*Image courtesy of Mey Lau*

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