Tech Mahindra_Issue_I_52 pages_3

family
30 wellness
Eco-friendly Pet Care
There are no downsides to trying
to reduce waste and eliminate
harmful chemicals from your life.
Of course, you can also incorporate
some more earth-friendly practices
into your pet’s care regimen. Using
ingredients that are eco-friendly,
non-toxic and effective makes a lot
of sense when you are controlling
odours, dealing with pet litter or
giving your pet a bath.
Odours & pet
accidents
Completely safe, home-made,
green cleaning solutions of baking
soda, vinegar, salt and lemon juice,
are any day a better option than
harmful bleaches, chemicals and
toxins. If you haven’t completed
your pet’s potty training, or your pet
has had an accident, scrub the area
with club soda as quickly as possible
and let it dry. Then sprinkle the area
with baking soda and let it stand to
help control odours. Vacuum the
rug after about an hour.
If there’s a stubborn stain or
discoloration, apply lemon juice to
the area generously. Let it soak for
about half an hour and then rinse
the area well with vinegar and water
solution. Let it dry naturally. If the
spot is not too big, you could also
try to clean the area directly with
vinegar.
Pet bedding
Your pet is adorable but the
smells it leaves on its bedding
aren’t. Washing it in hot water often
is a good idea. You can also sprinkle
it with baking soda from time to
time and then use a vacuum cleaner
after that. Do it regularly and there
won’t be ‘dog-smell’ in the room.
Repel ticks
Rose geranium essential oil is
successful for repelling ticks from
dogs. Apply a few dabs to your
dog’s collar. A dose of brewer’s
yeast mixed with a bit of garlic in
dry food daily will help to repel
fleas for dogs. Don’t use garlic with
cats for it can lead to anemia. You
could also rub a small amount of
lemon or orange juice from time to
time on your pet’s fur to repel ticks.
Dry bath
Pets, whether dogs or cats, hate
water and there are times when you
need to give your pet a dry bath.
Simply sprinkle some baking soda
on the pet’s coat and merge it well
with your hands. Afterwards, take
a coat-combing brush to spread it
all over till it’s no longer visible. If
you have run out of dog-soap or
dog-shampoo, or if your pet reacts
to it, then simply use a vinegar and
water solution instead and then give
a rinse with clear water again.
Don’t flush cat litter
down the toilet
Don’t flush cat litter down the
toilet. According to experts, cat
feces can contain Toxoplasma
gondii, a parasite that can survive
in soil for more than a year and
also contaminate drinking water
and sewage systems. Rather than
reach for your clay cat litter, go for
litters that are made from wheat
or recycled newspaper. These
will protect both your pet and the
environment. Cat litter should always
be bagged and tossed in the trash.
Doggy bags
Use biodegradable doggy bags
for the poop. As a responsible dog
owner, you know that when you
take your dog for a walk you have
to clean up the poop. But if you use
biodegradable bags, then you’ll be
helping out the planet as well as the
neighbourhood. They are a more
sustainable choice than petroleumbased
polyethylene.
Make your own treats
Pets can live on perfectly healthy
diets with meals made at home.
Consult your veterinarian for advice.
Homemade treats are another way
to use ingredients you already have
while saving a trip to the store and
reducing packaging waste.
You can browse websites
that have dozens of recipes for
homemade goodies for pets that you
can whip up in your kitchen.
Toys
Take time to look at the labels
when choosing your pet’s toys.
Try to pick ones that are made of
eco-friendly materials. Because
regulations on pet products are not
universal, imported playthings could
potentially contain unsafe materials.
You could make your pet’s toys
yourself. Grow your own catnip,
and sew little mice out of discarded
clothes. You can also make some fun
doggy toys from an old t-shirt: Just
cut it into strips and braid them.
They can make a great rope toy.
Look online for more ideas.
yourwellness.com • Volume VI • Issue IV • September 2017