Pamper Your Pet the Green Way

by Andrea Millar — May 9, 2008

You may be fortunate enough to have a furry friend to keep you company in your life. Studies have shown that having one around can decrease anxiety and hypertension, which are certainly not things you want to be carrying with you. So, if you want to do something nice to pamper your pet as Spring rolls in, consider cleaning up their diet.

The first thing you may want to check out is your dog's or cat's organic food options. If you've gone organic in your lifestyle, why not his? Yes, it is slightly more expensive, but you may actually save when it comes to vet bills by keeping his system as pesticide-free as possible. Delicious salad-dressing and vegan-Oreo-esque cookie maker Paul Newman makes an organic variety that'll keep your cat or pup's palate happy...and if they don't, well, you could eat 'em. (OK, I don't recommend that unless you're four and have extremely permissive hippy parents). Raw food for animals, especially dogs, may also be worth considering after you consult with your vet. Enthusiast Bee Prive has a Bones and Raw Food (BARF) Web site with all the questions answered that you could possibly have about making the transition to raw foods for your four-legged family.

If you're vegan, kudos to you! That takes time and dedication and manifests a much smaller footprint than the average American diet. You may also be thinking of your options as a vegan pet owner. Be advised that the vegan pet, while possible, is all about research. You will want to keep your veterinarian very involved in the processes, and be especially aware of your cat. As their sharp teeth indicate, cats are predators. In fact, they need the usually-animal-derived protein taurine to survive. Vegan cat foods now supplement this, but it's important to clear everything with your veterinarian both before and while the diet is maintained.