Herbicides and Pets

Your pet can be in danger of poisoning through herbicides

You take care of your pets by making sure your dog or cat doesn't get into dangerous poisons or chew on electrical cords. But a serious danger might be under your pet's feet. Herbicides can be highly toxic to pets, and exposing your dog and cat may cause them to get very sick or even die.

Significance

In 2009, the ASPCA's Poison Control Hot Line handled 2,329 calls pertaining to fertilizer exposure and 2,175 cases pertaining to chemical exposure.

Function

Herbicides are intended to kill weeds. While herbicides are not dangerous to pets after they've dried, others are very poisonous.

Identification

One deadly herbicide is paraquat. According to Veterinary Medicine, in 2003 more than seven dogs died in Portland, Oregon, due to exposure to paraquat.

Prevention/Solution

Don't use herbicides on your lawn, or if you must, use those labeled as safe for pets.

Warning

Some herbicides are so toxic that they've actually been linked to cancer. According to the New York Times, dogs whose owners used 2,4-D herbicides had increased occurrences of lymphatic cancer.

References

• ASPCA:Top 10 Pet Poisons of 2009
• Toxicology Brief: Helping animals exposed to the herbicide paraquat
• NYT: Lawn Herbicide Called Cancer Risk for Dogs