Healthy Living with Indoor Pets

In loving memory of "Arnold"

Winter months mean spending more time indoors.  

How can you achieve the healthiest indoor living conditions

not only for you and your children, 

but also for your four-legged family members? 

MAKE A SMALL INVESTMENT IN—  HOUSEPLANTS!

Plants purify the air.

Plants can absorb airborne toxics!  These toxins come from electronic devices (TV’s, video gaming, stereos, etc.), flame retardants found in furniture and carpets and from freshly painted rooms.

Safest air purifying varieties for indoor pets: 

Areca Palm, Money Plant, Spider Plant, Moth Orchids, variegated wax plants.

Plants put moisture back into the air. 

This is especially beneficial in the winter months.  Moisture wards off colds, dry scratchy throats, and sore throats.  Consider plants to be nature’s humidifier!

Safest moisture inducing varieties for indoor pets:

Bamboo Palm, Boston Fern (Boston Fern is best overall—purifies air too!)

Plants increase oxygen levels in the air.

We all know that plants give off oxygen and take in carbon dioxide, but some plants give off more oxygen than others.  With homes closed up in the winter, the fresher oxygen indoors, the better!  

Safest oxygen rich varieties for indoor pets:

Lilyturf and Barberton Daisy.

source: from Tailsmart

CLEAN YOUR HOME only with 100% ALL NATURAL GREEN CLEANERS

Chemically based household cleaners DO leave residues on surfaces and toxic fumes!

The best way to protect your pet’s paws from those harmful residues and their sensitive noses, is to clean your home with 100% all-natural, non-toxic household cleaners! 

Brightly Green Wood Floor Cleaner is completely toxic free, 100% all natural and safe wood floor cleaner for pets.  Which is good news as Fido spends most his time on your floors and loves to lick up droppings off floor surfaces. *Not just for floors!  Use Brightly Green Wood Floor Cleaner on wooden furniture too!

For noses that love to press against the window on “look-out duty,” choose 100% all-natural, non-toxic glass cleaner by Brightly Green.

When your toilet bowl becomes the watering hole, there is no need to freak out that your dog or cat has just ingested poison when you use Brightly Green’s 100% all natural, non-toxic, Bathroom Cleaner in the toilet bowl and on the toilet surfaces.

Rule of Thumb:  If the warning label simply says “Caution” (as do Brightly Green Cleaners) the cleaners are safe.  If the warning label reads “Danger” don’t use it!  It is probably corrosive or caustic!

Are you washing your pet’s bedding in a 100% all natural laundry detergent?  If not, your pet can get skin irritations from chemical based detergents.  Fido or Fluffy may be ingesting detergent residues if he tends to lick or chew his bedding. 

In fact, every Brightly Green Cleaner is 100% all natural and non-toxic making it THE cleaners of choice for safe & healthy homes for people and their pets!

CLEAN DOGS HELP MAINTAIN CLEAN HOMES:

Brush. Brush. Brush.

This is imperative to keep fur, hair, and dander off surfaces and out of the air.  Although you cannot eliminate all hair and fur, you can minimize it through frequent brushing.  If possible, brush your dog outdoors.

Have a “wiping down station” just inside your door.  All you need is a small container of room temperature water and a small towel.  Wipe paws with dampened towel or dip paws in water and then wipe paws.

Bathing your dog twice a month as opposed to just once a month will also help keep him healthier and keep your home cleaner and not smelling like a wet dog!

How frequently are you washing the pet’s bedding?  If it bulky and won’t fit in your washing machine, perhaps you need to think about different bedding or get a blanket you can put over the bed and wash the blanket weekly. 

Where there are pets, there will be accidents!  Make an “accident” tote that you can take to any room in a hurry!  Put in it:  Brightly Green Carpet and Spot Remover, disposable rubber gloves, paper towels and a small bag to put the “oops” in!

Creating a safe and healthy indoor environment for your pet also involves food choices and the treats we like to give them.

FOODS TOXIC TO DOGS:

Xylitol (found in gum, toothpaste, artificial sweeteners), chocolate, caffeine, grapes, raisins, avocados (skin and seed), garlic, onions and macadamia nuts.

Foods Safe for Dogs:

Most vegetables are good just give in small portions.  Apples sliced and skinless, bananas (frozen in coin shapes—so as not to be mushed on the ground).

BE WARY OF RAWHIDES:

Animal hide has been used for decades if not centuries as a treat for dogs.  Why stop using them now?  It all has to do with how they are manufactured.

Rawhides found in most stores have been bleached and whitened with chlorine bleach and hydrogen peroxide, then they are wiped with glue to hold their shape.  Some rawhides have been dipped in a red dye to give them a meaty appearance.

Safe chew toy alternatives:

100% all natural rawhides, naturally shred antlers, Bully Sticks, Nylabone, Kong Toys, or even carrot sticks.

Healthy living with indoor pets is achievable.  It’s all about choices:

Choosing 100% all natural household cleaners over chemically based cleaners. 

Improving indoor air quality with the addition of safe for pets- houseplants.

Maintaining a brushing, bathing and grooming routine for your four-legged family member.

Feeding your pet healthy snacks and giving him safe, chewing toys.

Top it all off with lots of loving!

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