16 Pets & family life


12 SEPTEMBER 2022 FAMILY VALUES — AN ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE IN


A recent study by the University of Edinburgh has revealed that the pet food industry produces the equivalent of up to one-sixth of the CO2 emissions of the world’s aviation industry and emits more greenhouse gases each year than Mozambique or the Philippines. Not only that, but an area twice the size of the UK is used to produce dry pet food for cats and dogs each year. So just as people are cutting


down on their carbon footprint, it makes sense that pet parents should start considering how to cut carbon pawprints too, starting with man’s best friend. Here are some tips on how you can be a more eco-conscious dog owner.


BORDER COLLIE SITTING IN A VEGETABLE GARDEN/GETTY Carbon pawprints


While we all strive to live more sustainably, now you can ensure your pets live an eco-friendly lifestyle, too. Here’s how. Words: Annie Lewis


Whether you’re at home or out and about with your pet, if something doesn’t seem quite right with them, Video Vets Now is here for you. We’ve all been there — enjoying


some downtime on the couch or away on a well-deserved break, and you realise your furry friend might need to see the vet. But what if your vet is closed, or you’re not actually sure it warrants a visit to the clinic at all? Video Vets Now offers a flexible


solution to help you and put your mind at ease. Book a video chat with one of its online vets, and they will talk through your concerns. What’s more, thanks to the company’s ‘never pay twice’ promise, if your pet does have to be seen in-clinic within 48 hours, you’ll be refunded the cost of your Video Vets Now consultation. Its online vets are fully qualified


emergency veterinary surgeons, available to video chat seven days a week, from 8am to 11pm. Tey’ll examine your pet and offer advice for care at home, or, in the case of an emergency, help arrange treatment at a clinic. Consultations are available from anywhere in the UK and cost £30.


Choose a plant-based diet for your dog Meat-based diets produce a huge amount of CO2, so the best choice you can make for your dog is to introduce plant-based options into their diet or switch them to plant- based entirely. Dogs are omnivores, like people, and can get all the nutrients they need for a long and happy life without eating meat every day, or even at all. Not only is plant- based kibble for dogs best for the planet, it’s cruelty-free and free from the risk of contaminants. Guy Sandelowsky, a vet and


co-founder of Omni, a sustainable, plant-based dog food manufacturer found that dogs that followed a vegan diet experienced “better gastric health, skin [and] coat”. He explains: “I’ve always believed we need to find healthier more sustainable ways to live our lives. Intensive livestock farming harms the planet by placing a huge drain on our natural resources,


Video Vets Now = peace of mind Book your


consultation with Video Vets Now


at vets-now.com/ videovet for £30


in terms of land and water and its responsible for a massive amount of CO2 emissions (64m tonnes a year). “I knew that by finding healthier


and more sustainable protein solutions for pet food, we’d be able to help dogs live healthier lives whilst we better look after the planet we share,” says Guy.


Avoid beef Beef has one of the highest carbon emissions of all meat products, so switch your pet’s food to something more environmentally friendly, like chicken or fish. Beef produces 60kg of greenhouse gas emissions per kg of food, as opposed to chicken or pork which produce 6kg and 7kg, respectively. Te recent trend towards


premium- or human-grade meat for dogs and cats means that more expensive cuts are being used, thereby more animals are needed, and more CO2 is produced.


Choose compostable dog poop bags According to a 2021 report by Tails. com, a whopping 1,106kg of dog faeces lands in London every day, creating an estimated 23,363 tonnes of methane emissions a year. To help, use biodegradable or


compostable bags that break down faster than normal plastic bags. Products made from corn, vegetables oil or plant starches are your best bet to keep your dog’s poop from sitting in landfill for a few hundred years. If you have the option, compost


your dog’s manure for use in garden beds. You should only use it for shrubs and flowers and never near food humans might eat.


vets-now.com


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