You know those little plastic things you have to pull off of milk and other cartons to open them? Everytime I pull off one of those things, I get angry thinking of all the harm just that little piece of plastic can potentially do to both domestic pets and wildlife.
And then there are the myriad other plastic hazards that are part of our everyday life! I feel guilty that I do not stop using the products that present danger, but the issue is, they are everywhere! I know I cannot directly affect the huge piles of plastic-based garbage that suffocate our oceans, but I can do something about the plastic hazards that threaten my dogs.
Following are a number of hazards that arise from the use of plastic and plastic packaging.
Choking
Everytime I pull off one of those small plastic pieces on cartons of milk or juice, I think about the potential danger should one of my dogs get ahold of it.
Intestinal Blockage
An intestinal blockage is serious and can be fatal if not treated quickly. I once had a pug who ingested something that almost killed him. Fortunately, a good animal surgeon removed a pinecone from his intestines.
Chemicals
Plastic packaging often contains chemicals that can affect a pet’s hormones causing growth, development and reproductive health issues.
Entrapment
Imagine: you are out for the afternoon, and you have left your normally trustworthy dog alone in the house. You come home to find his nose had found its way into one of the holes in the plastic packaging used to hold 6-packs of your favorite beverage together. Although he is panting, both from having his breathing restricted and his anxiety of being trapped, it turns out that after lots of cuddles and a few treats, he is okay. You are lucky.
What Can You Do?
Short of forever refusing to purchase products packaged in plastic, here are a few more practical things you can do:
- Look for products packaged from recyled materials or cardboard.
- Use airtight containers to store foods.
- Be mindful of how you dispose of plastic: cut up any packaging that can strangle or choke wildlife.
- Be vigilant about the potential dangers of plastic packaging for your pets.
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madmuser 