If you know me, you know I like to keep things realistic. The truth is, toxins are everywhere. They're in our homes, outside in our environment, in some of the products we use, and even in some of the foods we eat. Now wait a second, before you throw everything away and move into a bubble (which, let's be honest, not many of us are going to do), let's talk about the things we can control and the simple changes that can make a difference over time.

One thing I have always done in my own home is take my shoes off before walking through the door because I know there's some gross, creepy stuff out there that I don't want to track throughout my house. I mean, come on, pet store, I live on a farm, parking lots, dumpster areas, rest stops when traveling, the list goes on. Then one day I thought about my dogs. They don't wear shoes. Every time they walk through the grass, down the sidewalk, or across a parking lot, they can pick up residues from pesticides, fertilizers, road runoff, oil, gasoline, and who knows what else.

Now, am I saying we can avoid every single thing our pets come in contact with? Absolutely not. Dogs need to be dogs. They need to go for walks, explore, sniff every… blade… of… grass, and enjoy the world around them. The goal isn't perfection; it's simply reducing exposure where we can.

Start with the Feet

One of the easiest changes I have made is cleaning my dogs' feet when they come inside. Now, before you say, "Rachel, I love you, but I am not giving my dog a spa treatment every time he walks through the door," I know life gets busy, and sometimes the best solution is the one you can actually stick with. Trust me, I understand; I have four dogs. Yes, I know, that is 16 feet. I am quite aware.

The good news is there are several ways to make this easier. You can use a paw washer or plunger with warm water and a little non detergent shampoo, use a spray and wipe their paws with a towel, keep pet safe wipes by the door, or use a cleaning mitt. I actually keep a mitt in my car because when we're traveling or walking in new places, I have no idea what someone may have sprayed in their yard or what my dogs have walked through at a park.

Supporting Your Pet from the Inside Out

Even when we do everything "right," our pets are still going to be exposed to things we cannot control. That's where supporting their body's natural detoxification systems can be helpful. The liver and kidneys work hard to process and eliminate many substances the body encounters, so I like to support those systems through proper nutrition and certain supplements.

If you've watched my videos, you know I talk about milk thistle a lot because it is one of my favorite ways to support healthy liver function. I rotate milk thistle drops, powders, and other liver support products into my dogs' routine, but I don't use everything all the time. Rotation is important.

I also use organic dandelion tea and make a very weak tea for my dogs that they actually enjoy. Please, please, please make sure it is organic. If you're trying to reduce your pet's exposure to unnecessary chemicals, using a non organic source kind of defeats the purpose. I also rotate milk thistle tea and other kidney and bladder support products into their routine as needed.

The Bottom Line

The goal is not to be afraid of every chemical, every blade of grass, or every product in your home. That simply isn't realistic. My philosophy has always been to focus on what we can control and make small changes that add up over your pet's lifetime.

Maybe that means wiping your dog's feet after a walk. Maybe it means choosing a more natural cleaning product. Maybe it means adding some extra nutritional support. You don't have to do everything all at once. Start somewhere, do what works for your family, and remember that progress is always better than perfection.