Zero Waste Pets

When I make choices about waste reduction for the humans in my family, reducing meat consumption and packaging containers is an easy choice. However, for pets it’s more complicated. For the past 20 years I have worked in veterinary medicine. I’d love share with you the ways that I have safely reduced the waste related to pet ownership.

At the beginning of my zero waste journey, I read a lot of blogs, books and articles that gave advice to; replace heartworm preventions with home remedies, feed home cooked diets, and use essential oils for fleas. The vet med professional in me cringed so hard. So many of these things are dangerous and downright fatal. If you take away only one piece of pet advice from this, any advice you read online is NEVER as good as the advice from your vet. 

Following a homemade diet is HARD WORK, requires a lot of research, a close relationship with your veterinarian, and can be cost prohibitive.  While there are veterinary nutritionists who can help formulate home cooked diets that don’t damage kidneys, bones, the liver or pancreas. (Yes, improper diets can cause a lot of damage), most of us are going to feed commercial diets that are nutritionally complete. All of the macro and micro nutrients for a dog or cat are not ever met by cooking some store bought cuts of meat & veggies. For my personal pets: I choose a commercial diet that meets AAFCO standards, that is veterinarian approved, and then I buy the biggest bag they make. I reuse and repurpose that bag. We use large ones as storage bags, and the plastic woven ones can even be sewn into pretty great reusable shopping totes.

Let me start by saying, don’t use garlic, or all natural heartworm preventions. Garlic is considered a hepatotoxin, along with some other common table scraps. Here in South Louisiana we have fleas & mosquitoes year round, in the house and outside, and your pet needs a reliable, year round prevention. Let your vet know you have concerns about the waste you and your pets make. Depending on heartworm status, age, and overall health, your pet may be able to get an injectable heartworm prevention that keeps them safe from 6 to 12 months. There are flea preventions that you only have to give 4 times a year. These small changes will decrease the amount of multi-layer monthly blister packs. Oh and I’m serious about the garlic ok? It’s toxic and can cause the breakdown of their red blood cells. 

Avoid the frequent pet store trips. Buy sturdy bedding that is built to last. Repurpose that toddler mattress and old pillows. Ask your local coffee roaster for an empty coffee bag & stuff it with unwearable clothing. Unless your pet requires medicated baths, ditch that plastic shampoo bottle and find a greener alternative. Grab a bar of package free dog shampoo, or head to Sans Paquet for a refillable soap that is safe for dogs, safe for the earth AND it smells devine. Find a sustainable dog toy (I love Boba&Vespa), make some from old clothing, and if you do buy toys buy high quality ones that last. Use carrots, frozen green beans and even their regular kibble as treats. 

I saved the stinkiest for last... pet waste. Here are the basic rules; You can’t flush it, you shouldn’t compost it if you’re using the compost in your food garden, be safe because both cats and dogs can carry intestinal parasites. Pet waste is a significant problem in our local rivers, and proper disposal will help keep down the waste amounts in run off. There are in-yard dog waste disposal options available, but make sure you research appropriate depths, and a dewormer. For your feline friends, find a kitty litter that is less environmentally damaging than the silica or clay. These days there are pine, wheat, recycled newspaper and even coconut options on the market.

Let us know if you try any of these, and how it works for your pets.