Happy Earth Day!

Thursday, 22 April 2010, is Earth Day. It was started by Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, to promote awareness of the overall health of the Earth and the environment in which we all live.

Today, many people are aware of how to 'go green' for themselves by eating organic foods and carpooling to work; but there are now ways in which you can help your pet to 'go green' as well!

Green Food

Most commercially produced pet food has reconstituted animal by-products - the low-grade leftover waste after the beef and poultry industries have finished packaging their products for human sale.

The majority of the actual animal products that are in commercial pet food are classified as "4-D" = "Dead, Dying, Diseased, or Disabled".

Look for pet food that states it contains FDA certified food grade meat as these meat origins were raised in humane ways. USDA guidelines state that pet food should not contain pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, artificial preservatives, artificial or genetically engineered ingredients.

Another option is to make your own pet food or use a dehydrated, natural food such as made by the Honest Kitchen. A good rule of thumb should be to never feed your pet anything that you wouldn't eat.

Green Health Care

It is far better to prevent an illness than to try and treat it once your pet is already sick. Consider using natural pet health products, like Milk Thistle to help cleanse your cat or dog's liver and prevent liver disease in the long run.

PetWellbeing.com has a large array of herbal products specifically designed for the health of cats and dogs.

Green House

Purchase a steam mop to clean your tiled kitchen floor, instead of using chemical disinfectants, as your pet will inadvertently ingest some of these chemicals when they lick their paws later after walking over your clean floors.

Green Poop

As shocking as it sounds, cats and dogs in the USA create roughly 10 million tons of waste each year! Most of it will end up in a landfill or be left on the ground to be washed into the sewer system.

The best 'green' solution is to compost your dog's waste. However, do not use this compost on your vegetable garden because it will not heat up enough to kill pathogens like E. coli. Instead, bury an old, metal trash can and use that as a pet poop composter.

Use biodegradable bags to scoop your dog's poop when out walking. This will prevent it from spending eternity in a plastic bag in a landfill.

Avoid clumping clay cat litter as it is strip-mined, which is very unhealthy for the Earth. Moreover, the clay sediment is infused with carcinogenic silica dust that can actually coat a cat's lungs very quickly leading to chronic respiratory problems.

The actual clumping agent, sodium bentonite, commonly found in grouting and sealing products because it can increase by 15-18 times its dry size, is often accidentally ingested by a cat whenever they groom themselves, and can poison a cat because it acts like expanding cement inside their body.

Look for cat litter that uses recycled newspaper and that is eco-friendly instead.

Green Toys

Give your pet toys that are made with recycled materials and sustainable fibers, such as hemp. Make your own pet toys using recycled pieces of string, paper and cardboard boxes.

Spay or Neuter Your Pet

This is a great 'green' choice for your pet's health, as well as the Earth's environment. Spaying or neutering your pet will not only help them avoid certain health issues but will also help prevent pet overpopulation.

Adopt a Pet

Everyone knows the importance of recycling. So why not do your part too and recycle someone else's 'unwanted' pet and adopt one from your local animal shelter? Give a pet a new lease on life by bringing them home with you!

Photo Credit: Scarleth White