Reducing our pets’ environmental pawprint

As veterinary professionals we care deeply about animal welfare; but we have a parallel responsibility for planetary welfare too. Pets enrich our lives, but we can’t hide from their environmental impact - from the food they eat to the waste they produce.

The good news? Most of the steps that reduce a pet’s environmental impact are already part of responsible, preventative care which vet teams are already successfully and proactively engaging with pet owners on. We can further take the lead in consult room conversations and practice communication platforms to support owners with making simple and sustainable choices throughout a pet’s life.

Why this matters

Sustainability isn’t a standalone issue; it’s part of good clinical advice. Healthy pets with good preventative care need fewer carbon costly interventions. Owners who feed the right amount, choose appropriate breeds, and avoid unnecessary products reduce both environmental impact and health risks. It’s not about perfection or pressure - it’s about giving clients the tools to make better choices.

Practical actions for practices

Here are five ways you and your team can promote sustainable pet ownership:

1. Start small in the consult room

• Pre-purchase advice: talk about the long-term health implications of breed choice and where the pet comes from. Avoiding high-risk breeds can significantly reduce their lifetime environmental impact.
• Nutrition chats: emphasise correct portion sizes and avoiding overfeeding. This reduces obesity and food waste. BVA’s evidence-based diet choices for cats and dogs policy is a great resource to share with owners here. 
• Preventative care: reinforce the value of vaccinations, parasite control, and dental health - not just for welfare, but to avoid resource-intensive treatments later.

2. Use your practice newsletter

Include a regular feature or quick tip on sustainability. Topics could include:

• How to reduce pet food waste
• Eco-friendly toy and accessory choices
• Safe disposal of parasite treatments
• Encouraging enrichment over buying more stuff
• Pet poo impact on biodiversity and ways to avoid

Make it easy for clients to take action and link to BVA’s new owner guidance for more information.

3. Make social media part of the solution

Your social channels are perfect for sharing bite-sized, positive messages. A few post ideas:

• “Three ways to reduce your dog’s carbon pawprint this autumn”
• “Sustainable toys your cat will love”
• “The eco-benefits of keeping your pet at a healthy weight”

Keep it light, supportive, and actionable. Where possible, highlight the link between good care and lower environmental impact.

4. Empower your whole team

Everyone in the practice - from reception to nursing to clinical staff - can play a role in normalising these conversations. Make it a routine part of:

• Puppy/kitten chats
• Weight clinics
• Dental checks
• Parasite treatment discussions

Keep messaging consistent and focus on the shared goal: healthy pets, healthy planet.

5. Lead by example

Review your own environmental practices in-clinic. Consider:

• Reducing single-use plastics
• Reviewing energy use
• Promoting longer-lasting, sustainable products in your retail area

Even small changes send a strong message to clients that sustainability is something you care about - and they should too. If you’re not sure where to begin, why not start a practice Green Group and use BVA’s greener veterinary practice resources and checklists to create a plan and take the first steps.

Keep the tone positive

Most pet owners want to do the right thing. Our job is to make it easier for them by offering practical, non-judgemental advice. Emphasise that sustainability often goes hand-in-hand with better welfare: fewer unnecessary products, better feeding habits, healthier pets.

We have the platform - let’s use it

As trusted professionals, we have multiple touchpoints with pet owners. Let’s use them - consults, newsletters, websites, and social media - to help shift the conversation.

BVA’s new How to reduce your pet’s environmental impact FAQs are a great resource to share and discuss. BVA members can also download additional resources, including a practice poster and social media graphics, to help aid conversation on this. Add the link to your practice emails or posters in the waiting room. Make it part of your messaging. 

Sustainability in pet care shouldn’t feel like an add-on. It should be part of the culture we promote as a profession.

Let’s lead the way

By taking the initiative now, we can help shape a future where sustainability is simply part of what responsible pet ownership looks like. That’s better for pets, better for clients, and better for the planet.

Let’s keep it simple, practical, and positive - and most importantly, let’s keep the conversation going.