Solid Waste Management for Dogs

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Help Keep it Green

Wow; is that a compelling title or what?! For some weeks now I've had the pleasure of viewing a dumpster and porta-potty outside my office window. As I watch my neighbors walk by, I frequently see a bag of poop being dropped into the dumpster. That may seem like the logical place for it. It's all trash, after all.

Hmmm....Here's the thing. The dumpster contains pressure treated lumber that was used to build a dock prior to the 1994 removal of this particular product from the market. I won't bore you with all the toxic materials that could have been used on this lumber, but trust me in saying it is long and scary. That said, this dumpster full of toxin-laden wood is pretty dangerous stuff. It shouldn't be burned as firewood (although this is frequently done) because this releases chemicals and toxins into our atmosphere.

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
My Glorious View :(

When I looked up the guidelines for disposal I was appalled to learn that the federal government does not have rules for placing such hazardous building materials in a hazmat (aka hazardous materials) dump. It can actually be taken to any dump that accepts general building materials. Ugg. So arsenic, chromium, copper, creosote and more are likely going to be seeping into the ground for hundreds of years, all due to the thousands...maybe millions...of docks built with these materials before 1994.

One brief statement I found indicated that some facilities provide heavily lined dumps specifically for hazardous building materials. These serve to reduce the seepage into groundwater from such materials. I'm not convinced that they're permanently secure; but they're better than just dropping the discards into the ground. Perhaps this is where our retired electronics also go after all their components are recycled or reused.

New methods of preservation are in use now and today's dock lumbers are much more Eco-friendly. Pressure treated lumber is not the greenest stuff on the planet, even with today's new standards. Recycled plastic bags are now made into decking and this gives new life to these toxic dregs of our modern world. The wood being removed due to disruption by gigantic tree roots is now being replaced and redesigned to retain the structural integrity of our dock. We'll see how this round goes. Check back in 30 years!

Watching the wood piling up, along with the poop bags intermingled in the mix, I couldn't help but wonder about the synergies that would occur when these materials end up decomposing over many years in the same dump. Add the plastic bags that those doggie "doodies" are contained in and we've got a treasure trove of  toxic stuff that would take a chemist to determine the outcome of, say 50 years from now.

I just checked my supply of flushable poop bags and felt a little better. That's one hazardous material (referring to the poop, not the bag, which is made of a dissolvable and biodegradable material) that is being about as properly disposed of as it can be, in our sewer system. 

I hope to add a Doggie Dooley (outdoor pet waste composter) one of these days when there are no more contractors working in the yard, digging and breaking things, almost daily. Add to that I have one of those super pooper scoopers that works for picking up deposits left by our local bear (yes, I'm serious!) that lives in the woods behind our home. Believe me, when he drops it in our yard, it can't be missed or picked up with a XL poop bag. No way. No how.

All this digression was simply to remind you that picking up after your dog goes beyond the bag. Think about the place it goes and what it ends up there with. They all decompose together and chemistry class happens. Let's look out for our Earth. It's the only one we have. If you don't do it for you, do it for them.

Woofing Weight Watchers: A Few Tips for Fido's Figure

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© All Things Dog Blog
Race Your Dog!

Our favorite American pastime seems to be contagious among our pets as well. Eating is intended to be an act of sustenance, but has become one of affection. In reality, truly loving your dog means stopping the treats after training time. Following are a few other tips, that when combined, can lead to waistline whittling and a healthier Fido:

• Before changing your dog's daily diet or activity, be sure to consult his veterinarian regarding his ability to add activity or change foods. With approval from your vet, you may try some or all of the ideas below.
• First and foremost, add a few minutes each day to your dog's walk and continue this uptick as much as possible. Increase it further on weekends or vacations. Do keep in mind your dog's advancing age or disabilities when increasing his activity level.
• Add new and different methods of exercise to use additional muscles and brain power that burn calories: mentally-stimulating games, agility classes, dog park visits, swimming, biking, Fetch and more. Look for a list of additional ideas to change up your exercise routine at the bottom of this post.
• Select a high quality, weight management food. When cutting calories, it increasingly important to make sure all the needed vitamins and minerals are present. Make sure the bag indicates it is AAFCO approved. We like Organix Weight Management, by Castor and Pollux Petworks, which provides a minimum of 70% organic ingredients, assuring more of a chemical-free, healthier source of U.S. produced meats, fruits and vegetables, and sold in an Eco-friendly No. 2 recyclable bag. Locate a store near you at this link.
• Read the feeding guidelines carefully, realizing that most offer a daily serving range. You'll have to gauge where to start in that range by your dog's current activity level and food consumption.
• Splitting up your dog's daily feeding into 2 or even 3 meals a day, when possible, is helpful in staving off hunger pangs in dogs, just as it is with people.
• Be certain to follow transition guidelines when switching foods so as not to upset the delicate balance in your dog's tummy. You want this switch to go smoothly for his digestive system.
• Substitute a small amount of your dog's kibble with fresh, organic green beans. This is, by far, the most nutritious, low-calorie filler you can give him, and most dogs love this addition to their diet. Green beans provide added B vitamins that are essential to good health.
• A second and less frequent supplement may be a small serving of baked organic sweet potato, which adds extra fiber and Beta Carotene.
• Still feel the need to offer daily treats? Try lower calorie ones like frozen broth bombs. Organic chicken, turkey or beef broth frozen in ice cube trays is a delightful Summer treat! 

Need help determining if your dog's weight is normal or not? Three simple guidelines are:

1. Look down at your dog's backbone. Do you see an indentation at the waist area? Is Fido's tummy tucked in on the bottom? If so, these are good signs.
2. Now feel Fido's ribs. If you can differentiate between them, he's probably sporting a comfortable weight.
3. Finally, ask your veterinarian's opinion. Some breeds tend to gain weight in spotty areas and may need expert observation. If you think your dog has a pot belly or too full of a chest, get him examined to find out for sure. Your best friend is worth this extra effort. 

Canine obesity is quickly rivaling our human problem in this area. Yet it doesn't have to be that way. Because you have total control over your dog's diet, you can help him slim down to a healthier, happier hound. Good luck!

The links at the bottom of this post are part of the Blog the Change for Animals Blog Hop, a quarterly posting by pet bloggers with causes they wish to inform and educate on. Enjoy the hop!

Change up your exercise routine with some of these ideas:

• Backpacks Are Not Just for Students and Hikers
• Biking Your Dog for Fun and Fitness
• Why You Shouldn't Walk Your Dog Every Day
• Your Dog's Walk: Changing it Up for More Stimulation
• Dog Jogging Fun for Fido
• Swimming Isn't Just for Lab Lovers
• Teaching Your Dog to Fetch
• Agility Training: Challenging and Oh So Humbling!
• Springer Makes Biking Your Dog Safer and More Fun

       

Be the Change for Animals: Try These Tips for Long Term Pet Health

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Our family lives a largely green and organic lifestyle and, as a result, I get a lot of questions. I share many of my strategies in my blog, but here's a few tips that may help your Fido or Fluffy live a longer, healthier, more robust life.

• Supplement kibble with organic, lean meats and vegetables that have been simmered in your slow cooker--no effort, just great results. A few scoops on top of a lessened amount of kibble means reduced toxins, hormones and antibiotics in your pet's meal. Make it even better by using an organic kibble like Organix.
• Know your pet supplier's savings programs and take advantage of sales by stocking up on the best food you can afford. Read our article at the link for all the big chain ins and outs.
• Check your manufacturer's Facebook page or website for coupons.
• Offer organic vegetables from your local farmers market as nutritious snacks: juice carrots, broccoli, berries, bananas, apples, green beans and more. Mashed organic sweet potatoes make a wonderful filling for a frozen Kong or Busy Bone, alternated with bits of crunchy kibble.
• Watch the savings add up at the vet when your pup regularly gets good checkups with no health issues. Toxin residues eventually add up to illness.
• Try switching to natural pest control for home, yard and pets. No poisons means no poisoned pets. We completely annihilated Xena's hot spots when we switched up to all organic pest and lawn care.

If you missed my April installment, you may enjoy Drown Proofing Your Dog on Blog the Change Day. I'm sure the sweet Pit Bull I save from near drowning will agree; it's a worthwhile read, especially with Summer here. Happy tails!

Drown-Proofing Your Dog on Blog the Change Day

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Can You Swim?

This past week I had a canine visitor. An adorable, calm, friendly, albeit big and stocky, Pit Bull, wandered up while I was outside with Tanner and Oliver. He wore a beautiful leather collar that spoke volumes of the fact that he had a home. But there was no tag to indicate where that home might be. Little did we know that he was about to become the topic of our Blog the Change post today.






Our new friend hung out on our cul-de-sac throughout the day, wandering in and out of my screened porch while the door was propped open for easy in and outs to do yard work and such. Tanner and Oliver greeted him nicely and they had a non-eventful afternoon... until....


Later, while Tanner was on the porch enjoying some fresh air after dinner, he came running inside with great anxiety evident in his body language. He seemed to want to show me something. It was a Lassie moment. You know:

 "What's that girl? The barn's on fire?"

I followed Tanner to the porch only to find our earlier visitor struggling in the pool. He clearly was not a swimmer, even though he apparently lives nearby in this densely waterway-rich area of Central Florida that we call home. I managed to salvage his roughly 60 pound brawn by grabbing that beautiful leather collar and guiding him to the steps where I lifted him, with the help of the water, to the first step. Whew!


At this point the poor fella was spent. I don't know how long he was in the pool, but the evidence of his slip and fall was found at the screen door, which he pushed his way through in order to visit Tanner again--apparently. The fall had to be traumatic, as a chair and a flower pot went into the drink with him.

It took him a while to rest up under my Elm tree before he decided he was ready to head for home, wherever that is. I wanted to attach a note to his collar: 


Needless to say, I would have felt horrible if I had found a drowned dog in my pool, despite the fact that he plunged through my screen door. I hope his owners would have too. 


All dogs need some basic swimming experiences; most do actually. Having some water stamina and the understanding to look for steps in a pool seems critical to those that have water nearby in any form. Even our sea-walls along the lake prevent exit unless you can find a ladder or steps to the surface. This is definitely a learned skill.


My Papillon, Oliver, is no Olympian. He'd probably prefer NOT to swim at all. But with a pool and a lake in his back yard, I have not given him a chance to get his way. As soon as he was old enough and it was warm, we taught him to swim, and to know where the steps were in the pool. 


With some regularity, I place him in the pool at different locations along the edge and tell him to swim to the steps. He always knows which way to go, and can even do a 180 degree turn to head in the right direction. Yay Oliver! At 10 lbs., he could easily be knocked into the pool when he and Tanner play on the pool deck, so drown proofing Oliver seemed a necessity. 


I've linked to my post on teaching Oliver to swim, as well as one about helping him learn to find the steps. These outline my easy-does-it approach for anxious dogs who are not eager to be amphibious. Yet you could take this approach with a young lab as well. Who doesn't like to be taught a scary skill with patience and gentleness? 


This drown-proofing cause is near and dear to my heart here in Central Florida, where lakes are everywhere and swimming pools...ditto. Whether your area has lakes, rivers, retention ponds, or the ocean, your dog should have some basic swimming skills, and be exercised enough to maintain treading water for several minutes until he is able to find a shallow area, steps, or another way out of the wet stuff. Please don't wait till it's too late!


Before I close, let me mention that even Oliver had some thoughts on this topic. He's shared them at "Water Safety for Us Pups" at 5 Minutes for Fido. There's a video there of a dog saving another dog from a swimming pool. Lucky dog. Hopefully it won't be yours.

© Carrie Boyko
Oliver Struts his Stuff!