March 23rd, 2011
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Many of us hire lawn care professionals to help bring an emerald green shade to our grass. But when that same lawn is used by your pooch for play, rest and a place to potty, then special care needs to be taken to make sure that any lawn sprays used are pet-safe.
Many commercial lawn sprays contain herbicides or pesticides which can be very dangerous. Common fertilizers can also cause allergic reactions in some dogs. As those first signs of spring abound, now may be the time to make the switch to organic fertilizers. Common organic fertilizers include bone meal, kelp, seaweed and ever-popular manure. Fortunately, many landscape companies are becoming more aware of the increasing consumer demand for pet- and people-safe lawns and they are utilizing safe grass treatments. Emma Rachel posts useful information and special promotions to the FidoDogTreats Facebook page. |
The dangers of many of the commercial herbicide products are ridiculously over-hyped. This idiocy began with Rachel Carson’s dishonest, badly researched book Silent Spring.
Laboratory studies that overdose rats have no bearing on actual usage. It is often the case that ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ products are as damaging or as cancerous as commercial products (see Dr. Bruce Ames’ work).
Use the products, and give them a day to be absorbed. Chemophobia is emotion not reason.
The link between use of herbicides containing the chemical 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma have been well documented.
See Withrow & MacEwen, “Small Animal Clinical Oncology, 4th ed.”