What Are Pesticides?

• Pesticides are chemical agents used to kill or control pests, including insect and animal life. They are often made with a poison that kills the targeted pest. Herbicides are a type of pesticide that kills or controls undesirable plants. Both may be used on grass, either to control weeds or to kill and eliminate grubs, moles, crickets and other bugs that inhabit the soil or turf.
  
  

Use of Pesticides

• According to an EPA study, 888 million pounds of pesticides and herbicides are used in the country each year. That equates to nearly three pounds a year for every person in the U.S. Many people use pesticides in their homes, and homeowners often apply stronger solutions than farmers and professionals do. Children and pets have an increased risk of pesticide poisoning from products that have been "tracked in" from outdoors, as well as those that are used in the home.
  
  

Short-Term Effect on Dogs

• The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) animal poison control center lists insecticides and herbicides as two of the top 10 pet toxins as of 2010. Ingestion by licking or eating grass or insects that have been exposed to pesticides will produce immediate symptoms. These include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, seizures, muscle tremors, lack of co-ordination and excessive salivation.
  
  

Long-Term Effect on Dogs

• The potential effects of the prolonged exposure of dogs to pesticides are not fully documented. However, a 1993 study by Colorado State University found that dogs living near treated lawns had higher levels of 2,4-D, which has been proved to increase the risk of canine malignant lymphoma in dogs. A study conducted by Purdue University found that dogs became susceptible to developing transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder after prolonged exposure to pesticides. Allethrin, which is used on flies and mosquitoes, has been linked with liver cancer in dogs.
  
  

Keeping Your Dog Safe

• Contact your local parks authority and find out whether the parks where you walk your dog are treated with pesticides. Keep your dog off the lawns and edges of houses along the sidewalk, in case the homeowner has used chemicals on the grass. Wipe your dog's feet with baby wipes or a wet cloth and soap after walks and dry them on an old towel. Use alternative methods of pest control on your own lawn, including companion planting and organic weed killers such as vinegar or lemon juice. Overseed the grass with a native species that is hardy and resistant to fungal diseases and insects.