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Pet Article
DOGS, CATS AND TOXINS
The Summer is almost upon us and like most people on weekend morning I often awake to the
sound of lawmowers, weedwhackers and roto tillers. Most of us are hard at work in our yards
and gardens, using the usual gardening tools and weed killers. Like most pet owners, we share
our gardens and yards with our cats and dogs, but how many of us stop to think about the
hazards we could be causing to our pets by using weed killers and fertilizers.
If we want a nice lawn or a delicious vegetable patch we do have to use these products, but
by reading the label and using the products properly, including storing the products out of
harms way, is the key to keeping our cats and dogs safe as well as having a nice garden.
Most lawn care products fall into three categories: fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides.
If you use these products correctly and read the label, most really do not cause a problem.
In general, most residential use products have low toxicity. But everybody makes mistakes.
It's not unheard of for a person to grab a bottle of herbicide instead of the flea spray and
accidentally douse the cat. With these yard products, any direct exposure can be a problem.
If you find your pet rolling or walking in a recently sprayed area or spray him by accident,
immediately wash the substance off with a mild dish soap, such as Dawn, and contact a
veterinarian.
Insecticides tend to be more toxic to pets than herbicides or fertilizers. There are a few
insecticides for use in the garden, especially those for roses and molluscicides for snails,
that can be very toxic. People need to be especially careful with these products around
animals.
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Your pets will thank you for following instructions and using common sense with lawn care
products. So, put your animal in a safe place, away from the area of application. Store all
fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides where pets cannot gain access. Keep all products in
the original container and make sure the label is intact and readable before using. Then,
always read the label and follow directions exactly. And finally, make sure a treated lawn is
completely dry after waiting the maximum period recommended on the label. To be extra
safe, consider watering down the lawn after application and letting it dry before allowing
pets into the area.
If you notice your dog or cat acting strangely, stumbling, salivating, vomiting, or having
seizures and especially if you have recently applied a lawn care product, call your
veterinarian or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
National Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4 ANI-HELP) immediately. Don't forget to
have the product in hand so you can tell a veterinarian what chemical your pet may have
been exposed to.
For the latest information and advice about the pet friendliness of specific lawn care
products and less toxic alternatives, consult your veterinarian or the ASPCA National
Animal Poison Control Center.
Mark Woodcock
1 Flea Control
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