By Cindy Leacox of CL-Wanderings.com

I have a loving, kind character of a dog named Oliver.  I was lucky enough to adopt him when we was 8-9 years old.  His teeth were bad when I got him and they continued to decline since then.  “Dog breath” does not begin to describe how bad his breath was.  We started having trouble with chew bones and I added water to his food; he wasn’t having any trouble eating.

He gets regular veterinary care and I think he had 11 teeth extracted during 2 dental cleanings.  I consulted Oliver’s vet and friends that are veterinarians and decided to consult with a veterinary dentist...I didn’t even know such a specialty existed but it was time.  While it was expensive, we agreed it was time for him to have all of his teeth removed due to the state of his teeth, gums and bone.  Within a week of having his teeth extracted Oliver was more active than he had been and was playful and happy.

I had to start him on soft dog food as a result of the extraction and before to reduce any pain Oliver was having.  I asked Olivers vet and she recommended some food that would be good for his age.  I purchased a couple of kinds and Oliver was in heaven!  He couldn’t wait for meal time, not that he didn’t eat before but now he was excited to get his measured amount of food.

I didn’t feel good about all of the containers, plastic or cans. I did some online research and found ways to make dog food.  I tried a couple and Oliver loved them and is thriving.  It is quite simple and only takes about an hour.  I make large batches and freeze them in reusable containers.

Making dog food is a simple new eco-action I’ve taken to reduce waste going to the landfill or being recycled and bonus...Oliver loves it and is healthier because of it.

Simple eco-actions make big difference when we do them collectively.