If you are not already familiar with words such as organic, recycled, biodegradable, and eco-friendly, then it’s time to become familiar. Being green and eco-friendly for our environment is not hard work and everyone can do their part in helping.
I am going to help make taking care of your pets easier and green.
Feeding Your Dog
One of the most important steps of taking care of your pet is their feedings. When buying your pets’ food, find something that is natural. But you have to be careful because on the bag it may say natural but you have to read the ingredients. It may have one natural ingredient and they post a big natural sign on the bag so that you think it is good for your pet.
So just be careful with that and make sure it is natural or organic.
You can find pet foods that are natural at many places such as PetSmart, your local veterinarian, or even Wal-Mart. Brands like Newman’s Own Organics, Nature Organics, Science Diet Nature’s Best, and AvoDerm are all good foods that you can choose from but there are also many others to choose from. Or you make your own dog food or subscribe to human-grade dog food plans. That’s what we use.
For their food and water bowls, skip the plastic bowls and get stainless steel or ceramic bowls. Ceramic and stainless steel is actually better for your dog too as they don’t harbor as much bacteria as plastic bowls do. We personally use stainless steel bowls.
Grooming Your Dog
While giving your pet a bath, grooming, or even just taking your dog for a walk and having to pick up their poop, you can use eco-friendly products.
There are hypoallergenic and organic shampoos that are great for bath time. Products that are hypoallergenic and organic are not only good for the environment but for your pets’ health and well-being also. These products will not irritate sensitive skin and have no harsh chemicals in them. They also have organic flea shampoos that are just as effective as other products and easier on your pet’s skin.
Most of these products will have Vitamin E as a main ingredient and this will actually make your pet’s skin and hair look healthy and can help heal any scratches or dry skin.
Walking Your Dog
![chihuahua dog on leash looking up at man in shorts](https://ilovemychi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/fawn-chihuahua-on-leash-outside-looking-up-to-man-in-shorts.jpg.webp)
chihuahua dog
I know it is a chore to have to take your pet walking and having to pick up poop after them but now you can do it knowing you are being eco-friendly while using biodegradable dog poop bags. You can find them at places like PetSmart, Chewy or Amazon.
Eco-Friendly Dog Toys
While buying your pet’s toys, pick eco-friendly products. Your pet will never know the difference. Eco-friendly pet toys are designed to be recyclable and to create no waste during manufacturing processes.
Instead of automatically throwing out a grody dog toy, ask yourself if it can be washed or repaired first.
Also instead of throwing away dog toys your dog doesn’t like, bring them to your local shelter.
Eco-Friendly Bedding for Your Dogs
When picking a pillow or bed for your pet, find one with eco fabric. Most are comprised of IntelliLoft fibers or post-consumer recycled plastic which is just plastic soda bottles.
Also, you can donate dog beds you don’t need to your local shelter. And your shelter or animal hospital will take your old bedding too such as pillows, blankets and comforters, sheets, and towels. Every time I clean out my linen closet, I take a big bag of stuff to the animal hospital that saved Lucas’ life a few years ago when he was deathly ill. They really appreciate it.
Potty Pads
If you use pee pads, you can buy the washable kind, We have been using them for years and it has saved us money along with being better for the environment.
Final Thoughts
When making things out of post-consumer recycled products, we as a whole can take over 25 tons of plastics out of landfills every year. That is a lot and can probably be a lot more than that if everyone would take part and do their part.
After learning a few new things to try with your pet to make it a cleaner world, you will have an ultra-mutt earth-friendly pooch. I hope everyone learns something new from this article and can spread the word to everyone about being green.
Jane Freeman
Saturday 30th of March 2024
I wonder how people launder the reusable pee pads . I don’t have a yard to hose them off outside before I would place them in my clothes washer. Could you advise me ?
Cathy Bendzunas
Saturday 30th of March 2024
I just throw them in the washing machine with about a cup of white vinegar and detergent.
Sharon
Friday 29th of March 2024
A while back, I had a beautiful Chihuahua and Doberman that were very special to me. I was feeding them Science Diet food cause I saw it at the vet office. Within a year and a half I lost my doberman and my chihuahua was acting sickly. I started doing some researching into the Science Diet food. Here, they were finding ground up dogs that were euthanized. They found the medication used to euthanize the dogs in the dog food. I will never feed them that brand again. The vet was getting a kickback by selling Science Diet food. I'm saying, research your dog food brand.
Cathy Bendzunas
Friday 29th of March 2024
That's horrible Sharon! I'm so sorry you lost your fur babies!
Cody
Monday 28th of February 2022
Will miss reading your Chihuahua site. The Green crazy Zombie followers I can not support. Learn to read and understand what is in the organic dead dog food.
Cathy
Monday 28th of February 2022
I'm sorry you feel that way Cody. I believe this is the first post I have ever done about "going green". It's not like the whole site is about it. But I do believe in it personally.
Jean Baldridge Yates
Friday 25th of February 2022
It’s wonderful to read a great article focusing on eco friendly suggestions for our dogs! Thank you! Also, I loved hearing that you will be getting a visit from your son! Happy Spring! Jean
Cathy
Friday 25th of February 2022
Thanks so much Jean!