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If you're like me, your pets are your children in every way. I've written about them on numerous occasions, but if you're not familiar with my two wonderful cocker spaniels, Madison and Bella you likely don't know how they virtually monopolize my life. From morning till night I wait on them like they are queens. I can't help it. They are the cutest little girls and whenever anyone comes to the door, they defend me like it's life or death. But they can also get expensive and just like over consuming ain't great in the realm of the humans, so it goes with your darling pets. So here are five tips for keeping them green and keeping it green when it comes to your pets:
- Make their toys.
Dog toys can get pretty pricey; in fact, I bought my dog a toy for nearly $15 the other day. But I just can't resist keeping Madison and Bella happily occupied while I'm at work. Try an alternative and cut your consumption by using what you have around the house to make your own dog toys. It's cheaper, and you will avoid having to deal with the remnants of those junky plastic toys that you find at the pet store after your pooch tears them apart. You can make great toys with items that you probably have just sitting around the house, like old tennis balls, socks, and rope. Check out my guide to making your own toys. - Treat problems before they occur.
Give your dog the new pet superfood, colostrum. New findings show that a hearty dose of colostrum can also be beneficial to your pooch as it ages. Bovine colostrum is available in capsule form and can help your pet fight numerous ailments. Some holistic vets are calling it nature's miracle. It can help with stomach issues like diarrhea and bloating. Parasites can damage the lining of the intestinal wall and colostrum helps to rebuild the lining. It helps to build immunity in older animals. It can help dogs plagued with skin issues by helping the skin to regenerate faster than usual. Read my guide to colostrum. - Make your own dog biscuits.
After the pet food scare of last year, it became a reality that no matter how much money you spend on dog food and snacks, things can go terribly wrong. So why not make your own? Check out Kelly Rossiter's Peanut Butter Puppy Biscuits. - Whip up some dry doggie shampoo.
Why spend tons of money on expensive doggie shampoos when you can make your own eco-friendly variety with what you have lying around the house? Read how to make you own dog shampoo. - Get rid of fleas naturally.
It's a constant battle against the army of fleas attacking my two puppies. I hate the idea of giving them a heavy chemical pesticide like Frontline, but I don't want to watch them suffer. These treatments are also extremely expensive. Don't wage chemical warfare on your pets if you can avoid it. The environment, indoors in particular, is already highly polluted from the emissions of all the chemicals used in paints, carpeting, and other household furnishings. Here's how to kill fleas naturally.
More on Green Pets:
Ask TreeHugger: Pets and Allergies
Pet Topic: Pet Fashion Week 2008
How to Go Green: Pets
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