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First Dog’s New House
Celebrating Earth Day – April 22, 2009
We Recycle
"Eat Slow" Dog Bowl
New Product – Comfortis
Testing for Heart Disease
America’s first doghouse
America’s first dog, who as of this writing is not yet in residence at the White House, will receive an eco-friendly, non-toxic doghouse manufactured and donated by Sustainable Pet Design. The doghouse is made of  Tennessee aromatic lumber from The Hermitage, President Andrew Jackson’s home. A tornado tore these trees down in 1998 and EarthSource Forest Products reclaimed the wood for lumber. They donated the last of the lumber to Sustainable Pet Design for use in this unique doghouse. The paint used is free of volatile organic compounds so there will be no toxic fumes. The design of the dog house is Greek Revivial architecture, common in Washington, DC. The Sustainable Pet Design company’s doghouses are constructed with green roof technology (or as they like to say, greenrrroof). The roof has a three-inch base of soil and gravel and is planted with locally native plants (also donated). The plants serve as insulation and they also help filter rainwater into drinking water for the dog.
Celebrating Earth Day
We are all learning about and watching our carbon footprint so we thought we’d consider our pet’s carbon pawprint. An environmentally friendly pet begins with adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue group. Adopting pets fits in to the “green” concept of shopping local, and you’re helping your community by reducing the number of pets in the local animal shelter. Spaying and neutering reduces the pet overpopulation problem and a spayed or neutered pet is healthier thus reducing the number of automobile trips to the vet - less greenhouse gases in the environment.
Consider changing to a more planet-friendly litter for your cat. Clay cat litter is stripmined, which is an environmentally degrading process. More than 1.5 million metric tons of clay is mined just to make cat litter each year. Some alternative products to consider include: Swheat (made from wheat), Yesterday’s News (made from recycled newspaper), Feline Pine (reclaimed wood pellets), World’s Best (made from corn), and One Earth (made from corn cobs). There are many other brands and types of non-clay based kitty litter from which to choose. (Please remember that your cat gets to make the final decision on what type of litter you’re going to use. If they don’t like it, they won’t use it and you certainly don’t want that to happen.)
Consider switching to biodegradable plastic bags for disposing of used litter. There are quite a few sources for these bags including many pet stores. We found several other sources on a Google search.
Use biodegradable plastic bags to clean up after your dogs too. Every year our pets create millions of tons of waste. In America alone, dogs produce more than ten million tons of fecal matter. Not cleaning up after your pet does allow the feces to biodegrade but it can contaminate ground water, and it can be a yard hazard before it degrades. Some people use storm drains, but putting animal feces down the storm drains puts it directly into the water supply negatively impacting local fish and wildlife. And it could end up in your drinking water! You can compost your
pet’s waste or make your own below-ground waste composter from an old garbage can. (Remember never to use composted fecal material in vegetable gardens or in areas where children may play.) Or you can buy a doggie septic tank such as Doggie Dooley.
Look for pet foods packaged in biodegradable and recycled or recyclable materials. Buying pet food in bulk and storing it in reuseable containers will reduce waste and save you money. Consider organic pet foods that do not contain antibiotics, pesticides, or genetically-engineered ingredients. Try to find planet-friendly pet supplies such as shampoos, beds, and toys. Many pet stores are carrying beds and toys made of organic or recycled materials. Look for shampoos that are phosphate and sulphate free and ask your groomer to use these eco-shampoos. Homemade toys can be just as much fun as those puchased from a store, and cozy pet beds can be as simple as reused towels or blankets. Look at thrift stores or garage sales for items you can reuse for your pets. If your dog has  destroyed all the toys you’ve ever tried (more waste in the landfills), look at Planet Dog for “indestructible” toys. Look for dog and cat collars and leashes made of organic materials such as hemp.
As you can see there are a lot of ways to go green with your pets. As they say, every little bit helps, so try some of these earth-friendly tips and encourage your friends and family to do the same. You can make a positive and lasting impact on our world.
We Recycle
Several months ago, the staff of East Hilliard Veterinary Services began recycling much of what used to go to the landfill. We are now recycling cardboard and paper products, glass, all plastics numbered 1-7, and steel and aluminum products. Rest assured that we take care to protect our client’s information. Any private information that we are destroying, is shredded. Here at East Hilliard Veterinary Services, our pet waste goes into a biodegradable container that will decompose in the landfill. Also, we have heard that the recycling habit is spreading to many of our staff’s homes too!
"Eat Slow" Dog Bowl
Does your dog practically inhale his food? The new Eat Slow pet food bowl will slow them down. Serious complications can occur in dogs that eat too rapidly. Vomiting, sometimes followed by  “re-eating”, gas, regurgitating, and a potentially very serious condition called GDV (gastric dilitation/volvulus). This occurs when a dog’s stomach fills with air, usually due to eating too quickly. Once the stomach dilates with gas, it can flip on itself, sealing off both ends. This condition requires emergency surgery to return the stomach to its normal position. Many dogs die of GDV due to shock.
This new pet food bowl is available through Handicapped Pets. It comes in metal and plastic and has several sizes to choose from.
New Product for Flea Control - Comfortis
For people who prefer not to use the once-a-month topical flea control products, Eli Lilly company has a new product. It is a once-a-month chewable tablet and it prevents flea infestations in dogs. Comfortis is rapidly absorbed into the blood stream where is circulates and protects your dog for a full month. Comfortis begins killing fleas within 30 minutes so your dog gets quick relief and long lasting protection.
Early Detection for Heart Disease
Many of our dogs and cats have heart disease but many pets don’t show symptoms until the disease has progressed to a more severe stage. Symptoms include coughing, panting, labored breathing, listlessness, exercise intolerance, and loss of appetite but in the early stages there may be no symptoms at all. IDEXX Laboratories is now offering an early heart disease screening test. Ask your veterinarian if your pet is at risk.
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