We are living in a highly toxic manufactured world and we are all concerned about the effects on human health. Our pets are affected in the very same ways but are exposed more to sources that are causing our animals to become more toxic than humans are.
As we learn more about the chemicals and toxins allowed in our environment and begin to protect ourselves with this knowledge, we need to extend this protection to our pets as well.
It is difficult to keep up with new products when some manufacturers are more concerned about money than the health of our dogs and cats. We must stay vigilant by staying well informed and demand that manufacturers bring up the standard of their products or we will not buy from them. Unethical manufacturers work very hard at keeping information from us and government policies are not always in effect to force them to reveal ingredients, particularly potentially harmful ingredients. So we must take it upon ourselves to protect our families including our canine family members.
So let’s share the dangers we are currently aware of to prevent poisoning our dogs, cats and other pets we love.
*If a food is not good for humans, it is not good for our dogs. We’ve learned preservatives such as BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and ethoxyquin are toxic to humans and dogs. Read your labels. Serve organic and free-range pet foods to eliminate exposure to these toxic chemicals.
*Change your cat’s food often to lessen the chance of increased exposure to mercury in seafood.
*Tap water is a game of roulette. Serve your dogs, cats, birds, etc., the same filtered water you drink yourself.
*Be aware of what is in your dogs’ beds. Many fillers are flame-retardant but those chemicals are toxic to your dogs. Educate yourselves and replace your dogs and cats beds with sustainable fabrics and non-toxic fillers. There are some very healthy, mite-free fillers that have been used for centuries.
*We know that wood is treated with arsenic. If you have arsenic treated decks be sure to seal the wood at minimum every 6 months. And don’t clean your decks with power-washers as this erodes the sealant and arsenic is released through touch and in the air. Instead, wash down your deck with mild soap and water. Do not allow your dogs or cats to sleep on or under your deck. The more exposure the higher the toxicity they accumulate in their bodies.
*Many of us have used stain retardant on couches, carpets, etc., to prevent stains from our pets. However, they are full of toxic chemicals and should be avoided. Find other ways to protect your furniture and carpets, such as dog blankets and washable rugs. And clean your carpets as they become stained. Recently I was told that using diluted Listerine on urine in carpets and rugs. I haven’t had the opportunity to test this out yet. As soon as I do, I’ll let you know.
*Did you know that if you cook in an overheated non-stick pan, the chemicals that are released into the air are bad for you but can kill your pet birds? Switch to cast iron. Good for you, good for your home and good for your pets.
*Most of us vacuum often and we should. Use a HEPA filter to eliminate more health hazards that fall to the floor and work their way down into the nap of rugs and carpets.
*We all love green lawns. However our dogs walk directly on the grass and eat grass. If you are treating your lawn with insecticides your dogs’ paw pads absorb the insecticides. Clue: If your dog is continually licking its paws, this is a sign of allergies or insecticide exposure. Also dogs do eat grass now and then and the chemicals have caused neurological damage. Surprisingly, your dogs can even breathe in the chemicals while walking, laying and playing on the lawn.
*Sorry but flea collars are ineffective and jam packed with chemicals. Do not use them. They are a waste of money and toxic to your pets. And sadly, pet food manufacturers are allowed to use euthanized pets in making dog foods and do not bother to remove flea collars before the bodies are added to the “meat sources” they use to feed your dogs. There are better ways to repel fleas, ticks, mosquitos and flies. Ask your vet.
*Pet Products are not required to list any harmful ingredients on labels. Play it safe and use baby shampoo on your dog, even if you use a groomer.
*This will cause an outcry! But the truth has to be said. We need to use kitty/cat litter made from plant sources, such as wheat, buckwheat or recycled newspaper. Clay-based litter may not directly harm your cat, but it does extreme damage to the environment as clay is collected through strip mining.
We must all remain informed, demand higher standards from pet manufacturers and press the government to force manufacturers to follow safe guidelines for preparing products for our pets. These steps will all help in reducing the accumulated toxicity in our pets.
Research shows that dogs are testing at about 80% toxicity as opposed to 39% in humans. Now that we have that knowledge we can begin to protect our dogs and cats from such high environmental poisoning.
Keep your eyes open for new research so we can keep our canine family members as healthy as our human families. And share with others so the information is spread to all of us who need to know to protect our beloved pets.
Pamela Mayer
Noble Canine Pet Boutique
Feb 21, 2011
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About the Author Pamela S Mayer, creator and owner of Noble Canine Pet Boutique is a lifelong dog lover and activist for humane treatment of all animals. It is her passion to locate or design new and unique pet products to enrich dogs’ lives and make pet life more convenient and safe to include your dogs in more family activities. Sign up for the newsletter for the Season’s fashions, Sales and new products. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pamela_Mayer |
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