Those who love to keep their yards looking great so they can enjoy them more know that this often involves the use of chemicals such as fertilizers and weed killers. This can lead to problems when you have pets.
Some of the chemicals used for yard care can be poisonous to dogs and cats. Pets can become seriously ill or even die if they have been exposed to high amounts of the wrong chemicals. By knowing what chemicals to avoid and what products are pet friendly, you can avoid any unnecessary issues with your pets.
Disulfoton
This highly toxic chemical used to be much more prevalent than it is these days. It is still possible to find, so be sure to check the ingredients carefully when purchasing landscaping chemicals.
Disulfoton is a pesticide that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and even death when consumed by pets. What makes it even more dangerous is when you mix with fertilizers such as blood and bone meal. This makes it practically irresistible to dogs. They will eat it immediately if they come in contact with it.
Metaldehyde
Much like disulfoton, products that use metaldehyde can cause major problems for your pets, but are very tasty to them at the same time. Metaldehyde is typically found in slug and snail baits, which are used commonly to treat gardens and lawns. There are other baits made with different chemicals, such as ferric phosphate, that are much more pet friendly.
Herbicides
These are not as dangerous as disulfoton and metaldehyde, but should still be used carefully if you have pets. Consumption of herbicides can lead to vomiting. We know that products that contain herbicides are very popular with the public, so we recommend that if you do use them, you are careful to keep your pets indoors when applying. Wait until the treated area has had time to dry before letting your pets out again.
Be sure to avoid applying herbicide products on or near your pet’s food bowls or toys. A safe alternative to products with herbicides is corn gluten meal, which is a natural herbicide.
They are still conducting studies about the long term effects of lawn care chemicals on pets. The safe bet is to try and find products that are the least dangerous to your pets and focus on keeping your pets away from these chemicals when you store them.
If you have more questions about keeping your landscape healthy for pets, please feel free to give ABC Scapes a call at 602-404-0568.