Weed killers may pose risks to man’s best friend

By Blake Wilson

Weed killer warning labels caution users against the hazards posed to children, but a new study reveals pets may also be in danger.

A University of Maryland team collected urine samples from 33 dogs whose owners treated their lawn with herbicides and pesticides. The owners who did not treat their lawns, their dogs still had chemicals in their urine. However, the highest levels were shown to be in the dogs whose owners had applied herbicides to their lawns.

Melanie Coulter is employed at the Windsor-Essex County Humane Society and points out that it is important to check into the products to ensure the safety of pets.

“There are so many products out there that it can be difficult to have a lot of detailed information on all of them, but I think it’s important for consumers using any product, that they look into the details of the product their using,” said Coulter.

According to the Animal Poison Control Helpline, pet owners should avoid using Disulfoton pesticides. They are very toxic for dogs and can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and even death. Poison control also suggests owners lock up their pet’s toys, food and water dishes and whatever else might end up in their mouths until the treatment area is dry.

“First and foremost you want to keep them off of any lawn that has been recently sprayed,” said Coulter. “Not using the chemicals in the first place is the easiest way, but if you’re going to use them you want to keep your pet off there for some time after the application to avoid any transfer because they may walk on it and then lick their paws after.”

Kristina Blanchette, a veterinary technician at Clearwater Animal Hospital, said isolating the exposed area is a way to warn pet owners.

“You might want to put stakes around the areas where pesticides are being used. If you see them then you just basically avoid those areas,” said Blanchette.

There are a number of non-chemical alternatives pet owners can use to rid their lawns of unwanted weeds. Pouring boiling water, vinegar or salt onto the area will do the trick and are all harmless to pets. Sugar is also effective. Saturating the affected area with sugar overwhelms the soil organisms, rendering the area temporarily unsuitable for plant growth. Another remedy for weeds is corn gluten or cornmeal, it’s harmless to pets and it works by preventing seeds from germinating.

“Any time you’re looking at a chemical that’s intended to kill species there is potential for negative impact, but there are certainly products that are much more environmentally friendly and it would be something for a pet owner to look into,’ said Blanchette.

More studies are being done to understand the effects of pesticides and herbicides on pets in order to keep them safe and healthy.