When visiting rivers, keep your dog out of the water if they have recently been treated with a topical flea treatment. These are essentially pesticides which can leach into the water and cause harm to aquatic wildlife, like dragonfly, beetle and Mayfly larvae.
If the site you're visiting allows dogs to swim, encourage your dog to stay in the water rather than climb in and out repeatedly, especially if there are bankside plants at risk of being trampled.
Bare soil erodes easily, releasing sediment into the river which is harmful to the insects and fish that live there. You might not know that severe erosion can even lead to bank collapse! Use areas of hard standing if there are any - some sites even have specially-installed 'dog dips' providing access points to the water which don't contribute to erosion.
Use safer Flea, Tick and Worm Products
Recently, there has been a growing concern about the potential harm that parasiticides used on pets might be having on our environment, particularly in our new push towards year-round prevention of fleas, ticks and worms for dogs. Several global researchers and even the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations are now focusing on the occurrences of these parasiticides being found in rivers and their effects on our ecosystems. The British Veterinary Association also has advice on responsible use of parasiticides on their website. Consult your own veterinarian as they will be a good source of which treatments are really needed in your region and how often these are required.
Clean Up With Pet Safe Products
From all-purpose spray to carpet cleaner, eco-friendly brands offer a range of products that refrain from using harsh chemicals and solvents that get washed down the drain and into our rivers, streams and oceans. These plant-based products are also safe for use around kids and pets. Alternatively, mixing baking soda and vinegar to form a paste makes a great non-toxic abrasive for scrubbing surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom.
Dog Shampoos are often filled with chemicals that are harmful to your pet, yourself and the water supply. Several eco-friendly biodegradable, organic shampoos are now available at your local pet supply store.
Buy planet-friendly pet food
If your dog eats a plant-based diet, the main area you should focus on is packaging. If you can buy food loose, carrying it using your own reusable containers, is the best way to avoid packaging. Otherwise, try to find food with recyclable packaging, or buy in bulk as long as you can be sure that the food will be used before its expiration date.
Meat is resource-intensive to produce, can be a source of pollution, and carries a significant environmental footprint. For dogs on meat-based diets, pick food with a lower impact using meats like chicken and try to stay away from beef, whose carbon footprint far exceeds that of any other meat. If you’re after fish-based food, make sure it’s certified sustainable.