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It may shock some people to learn that there are essentially no government safety regulations or
testing procedures in place when it comes to pet products (this is when many of us remember our
siblings or cousins eating dog food on a dare…). Therefore, the burden of education falls entirely to the
consumer. Thanks to conscious organizations like Pets for the Environment, the Organic Authority, and
the many others out there on the web, it’s not hard to find information about quality pet products if you’
re looking for it.
Toys
When you’re choosing toys for your animal pals, make sure they’re of the highest quality. After all, they’
ll spend most of their lives in your pet’s mouth – especially if you have a young puppy. Here are some
to stay away from:
So what’s a pet owner to do? After all, pets love toys! Here are some ideas:
Real bones are great for dogs. Pay a visit to your local butcher and pick up a fresh marrowbone for your
pup. They’ll enjoy it for months! Make sure that the bone isn’t too big or too small.
Treats
When you give your pet a treat – whether as a reward for good behavior of just because – you want
that treat to be a healthy snack. But many conventional pet treats are full of chemicals, preservatives,
and other nasty stuff that can make your pet sick. (if you want to know more, check out my last post,
and read the Natural News Article: The True Horrors of Pet Food Revealed)
If you’re looking for organic treats, here are a couple of ideas.
One caveat: make sure that what you’re buying is really what you think it is. Manufacturers are not
required to declare chemical additives which find their way into ingredients before they reach the
processing plant. This loophole allows unscrupulous manufacturers to label their foods as ‘natural’ and
‘pesticide-free’ when in fact they are not. Certified organic foods must pass a more rigorous inspection.
So always research your company. When you buy from earth-friendly manufacturers, you’re not only
being good to your pet, you’re being good to the planet.
Also, remember that treats are just that: treats. Even the healthiest of pet treats are no substitute for
a meal of nutritious, balanced pet food. Also, animals that are overfed with treats may struggle with
weight issues.
Here are some articles to check out:
testing procedures in place when it comes to pet products (this is when many of us remember our
siblings or cousins eating dog food on a dare…). Therefore, the burden of education falls entirely to the
consumer. Thanks to conscious organizations like Pets for the Environment, the Organic Authority, and
the many others out there on the web, it’s not hard to find information about quality pet products if you’
re looking for it.
Toys
When you’re choosing toys for your animal pals, make sure they’re of the highest quality. After all, they’
ll spend most of their lives in your pet’s mouth – especially if you have a young puppy. Here are some
to stay away from:
- Rawhide is often treated with formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and can cause intestinal
blockage and all sorts of other complications because it digests slowly. - Stuffed toys are okay for cats, since they’ll probably just bat them around a bit, but for dogs they
can be a real problem. Not only will you likely end up with stuffing all over your house, your dog
will end up with a belly full of chemically-treated poly-fill and synthetic fabric, neither of which are
digestible. If your pet will handle a stuffed toy appropriately, make sure it’s made of organic
cotton, and is not treated with the formaldehyde-based chemicals to make it stain-resistant, fire-
retardant, or water-resistant (scarily enough, this rules out most children’s stuffed toys too). - Plastic toys, if they’re not meant to be gnawed on by your canine pal, can splinter, and pieces can
end up lodged in your pet’s intestines. Also, many are made from PVC – a.k.a. vinyl - which is
highly toxic (for more info, go to pvcinformation.org).
So what’s a pet owner to do? After all, pets love toys! Here are some ideas:
Real bones are great for dogs. Pay a visit to your local butcher and pick up a fresh marrowbone for your
pup. They’ll enjoy it for months! Make sure that the bone isn’t too big or too small.
- Organic plush toys, with or without squeakers, are a great choice. Make sure that the dye
process as well as the material itself is organic – dyes are a big part of the toxic load of fabrics.
simplyfido.com has some great toys for dogs, and PurrfectPlay makes toys for cats. - Hemp toys are durable, safe, and constructed from one of the world’s most eco-friendly and
renewable natural resources. Earthdog.com is entirely dedicated to hemp products. EcoAnimal.
com also carries great hemp toys, including rope toys for tug-of-war.
Treats
When you give your pet a treat – whether as a reward for good behavior of just because – you want
that treat to be a healthy snack. But many conventional pet treats are full of chemicals, preservatives,
and other nasty stuff that can make your pet sick. (if you want to know more, check out my last post,
and read the Natural News Article: The True Horrors of Pet Food Revealed)
If you’re looking for organic treats, here are a couple of ideas.
- Organic catnip gives your feline friend all the pleasure without the petrochemical and pesticide
residues. Find it at EcoAnimal.com - Organic dog treats will contain no meat by-products, no meat meal, no synthetics of any kind, and
no pesticide/herbicide residues. You can find them in your local health food store, or at any of
these web sites: naturespet.com, onlynaturalpet.com, karmaorganic.com, organicdogs.com, or
one of the other dozens of web pages out there devoted to providing consumers with quality pet
products.
One caveat: make sure that what you’re buying is really what you think it is. Manufacturers are not
required to declare chemical additives which find their way into ingredients before they reach the
processing plant. This loophole allows unscrupulous manufacturers to label their foods as ‘natural’ and
‘pesticide-free’ when in fact they are not. Certified organic foods must pass a more rigorous inspection.
So always research your company. When you buy from earth-friendly manufacturers, you’re not only
being good to your pet, you’re being good to the planet.
Also, remember that treats are just that: treats. Even the healthiest of pet treats are no substitute for
a meal of nutritious, balanced pet food. Also, animals that are overfed with treats may struggle with
weight issues.
Here are some articles to check out:
- Green Living Journal article: Toxic Pet Toys?
- EarthPaw.org article: 7 Ways to Reduce Your Pet’s Carbon Paw Print
- Listen to this educational clip by Dog Food Secrets author Andrew Lewis at k9obedience.co.uk.
- And don’t forget to sign up for the Pets for the Environment newsletter, and check out the blog
by Eddie the Dog!
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| Eco-Pets Part 2: Toys and Treats |
