Watch Out For Poisonous Lawn Fertilizers & Dangerous Toxins This Summer
Lawn fertilizers and several products used to flourish grass and flower gardens can contain toxic elements that can be harmful, and in some cases fatal, to pets. Lawn fertilizer, insecticides and plant foods can cause diarrhea and vomiting in pets if poisonous. Look for organic, natural or pet-friendly fertilizers to green your grass this summer.
Use caution when purchasing lawn and garden products, especially fertilizers, pesticides and weed killers containing harmful herbicides, which have been linked to cancer and other illnesses in both dogs and humans.
Poisonous/Toxic Ingredients:
• Metaldehyde – Often found in snail, slug, ant and roach control products
• Cocoa bean mulch – Contains theobromine (the same chemical found in chocolate that our pets are not able to metabolize)
• Nitrogen – Fertilizers and blood meals containing nitrogen can cause vomiting, diarrhea and severe pancreatitis
• Disulfoton and Organophosphates (OP) – Typically found in rose and plant fertilizers, as little as 1tsp of disulfoton can kill a 55lb. dog. Organophosphates can cause seizures, difficulty breathing, and hyperthermia.
• Iron – Commonly found in fertilizers, iron can cause iron toxicity from ingestion of elemental iron. If your pet ingests iron consult a Pet Poison Hotline to determine if the amount reaches a toxic level. Large ingestions can result in vomiting, bloody diarrhea and potential cardiac and liver effects.
Natural Alternatives:
• Corn gluten – a natural, pre-emergent weed killer and fertilizer
• Caffeinated coffee – coffee with caffeine can kill and/or repel snails and slugs from inhabiting your garden
• Neem oil – A vegetable oil extracted from the Neem tree that repels mosquitoes, insects, mites and fungus
• Canola oil – A green, nontoxic way to control insects
• White vinegar – Full strength white vinegar will stop growth of unwanted grass and weeds between stepping stones, brick walkways, etc. and can also be used as a brick and stone cleaner
• Epsom salts – Helps increase magnesium levels in the soil which will produce greener grass
The most important thing a pet owner can do is become educated on household toxins harmful to pets (both in the house and out in the yard.) Make sure to keep all lawn and garden products labeled and well out of the reach of pets. When using lawn or garden treatments, keep pets away from these areas until the treatments have dried completely and water the lawn after treatment and before pets or children are allowed to play in that area.
*Photo courtesy Auroqueiro
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I have a dog. This tips is really helpful for me. Also the blog was absolutely fantastic, lots of great information. Keep up the good work and I look forward to more of your superb posts.