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Lawn Chemical Safety Tips for Pets

Preparing your lawn for spring and summer often involves fertilizing the grass, but are those chemicals safe for your pets? According to Jack Fry, Associate Professor of Horticulture at Kansas State University, most chemicals are harmless if they are applied according to label directions.

"Most of these products are tested and retested for safety," said Fry. "There shouldn't be a problem if consumers follow the directions on the container. Most lawn chemical products are as safe or safer than many chemicals we use daily inside our homes." Watering the lawn after application is required with some products. Other products may require the grass to dry before allowing pets or people on the lawn. Children and animals should avoid direct contact with the chemical.

"It is strongly recommended that all chemicals be stored safely away from kids and animals," Fry said. "We store medications in medicine cabinets; likewise, these chemicals also require safe storage."

“If a pet does have direct contact with a lawn chemical, the best thing to do is contact the local poison control office and a veterinarian,” said John Pickrell, Associate Professor of Diagnostic Environmental Toxicology Medicine in the Department of Pathobiology at K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"There are literally tens of thousands of lawn chemicals, so knowing the ingredients is a big help to determine what should be done for the animal," Pickrell said. "Most lawn fertilizers are made from nontoxic chemicals and are usually not a threat to animals as long as they are used according to label directions. If the lawn pesticide does include a toxic chemical, immediate attention should be given to reduce potential toxic problems that may develop."

A pet owner may suspect a pet has directly consumed toxic chemicals if the animal appears "sick." Pickrell suspects exposure to insecticides if the animal has an increased mobility of the gut, symptoms such as excessive salivation or urination, watery eyes or diarrhea, or nervous signs, such as tremors. Exposures to high levels of insecticides can lead to heart and lung problems and possibly death. Veterinarians can treat the symptoms and possibly save the animal's life.

Avoid over-spraying the chemical and water the lawn to help break the chemical before allowing the pet on the lawn. Look at the label and follow the manufacturer's directions.

For more information, visit the Pet Health News link of Kansas State University:
www.mediarelations.ksu.edu/WEB/News/NewsReleases/pethealth.html