Saturday 20 April 2013
Pesticides and your Pet's Health
Tis the season! It is spring! What does this mean?? We will spend more and more time in our backyards, flower beds and gardens. Let's think how we can limit the amount of chemicals we use on our lawns and gardens. This week, in honour of EARTH DAY, we would like to look at pesticides and how they affect your pet's health.
What is a Pesticide?
A pesticide is any chemical substance that is designed to kill a living thing that is considered a pest. Pesticides refer to insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides.
What are the Health Effects of Pesticides?
Cancer is by far the most rising concern involving pesticides and pets. Recent studies have shown that dogs living in yards that have been treated with pesticides (particularly 2,4-D) have a higher risk of developing canine malignant lymphoma. In certain breeds, such as the Scottish terrier, the risk of certain cancers can rise by as much as 4 times1.
How Do They Affect My Pet?
Whether you’re using a pesticide indoors (eg. raid) or outdoors (eg. roundup), whether you’re spot treating or using a widespread application, your pet is at risk to contact the pesticide. Where a pesticide is applied, the area up to 15 meters in all directions is generally considered contaminated as well. Even small scale applications can contaminate a large area, increasing the likelihood of your pet being affected. By walking on a lawn recently treated with pesticides, a pet can become contaminated. Non-target species, such as birds can also spread the pesticides to your pets. Watch for signs and notices indicating recently treated areas.
Pesticides and Poisoning
It is only logical that pets are at a higher risk from the use of pesticides. Pets, like children, are lower to the ground and they spend a lot of time in contact with areas that may be contaminated. Many things also go into their mouths after being in contact with a contaminated surface. Self-grooming, and playing with toys also increases exposure.
Pets are inquisitive and playful by nature – by simply playing in a yard, park or body of water that has been treated with a pesticide, your pet will be at risk of exposure. Acute symptoms of exposure to pesticides can include strange behaviour, stumbling, excess salivating, vomiting and seizure. Long-term effects can range from liver and kidney damage to neurological damage.
Remember:
Keep your pets off recently treated lawns!
If you do use pesticides, keep your pet off of the treated area for the recommended amount of time.
Applying pesticides in your yard increases their presence in your home.
Pets are at a higher risk of contamination because they are closer to the ground and very likely to lick or chew things, such as toys, that are contaminated.
What Can I Do to Protect My Pet?
Consider not using pesticides in your yard. Cosmetic pesticide use is not necessary and is causing health issues in people and in pets. There are alternatives to using pesticides.
Provincial and municipal pesticide by-laws exist across Canada and are by far the best protection against pesticides.
What is a Pesticide?
A pesticide is any chemical substance that is designed to kill a living thing that is considered a pest. Pesticides refer to insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides.
What are the Health Effects of Pesticides?
Cancer is by far the most rising concern involving pesticides and pets. Recent studies have shown that dogs living in yards that have been treated with pesticides (particularly 2,4-D) have a higher risk of developing canine malignant lymphoma. In certain breeds, such as the Scottish terrier, the risk of certain cancers can rise by as much as 4 times1.
How Do They Affect My Pet?
Whether you’re using a pesticide indoors (eg. raid) or outdoors (eg. roundup), whether you’re spot treating or using a widespread application, your pet is at risk to contact the pesticide. Where a pesticide is applied, the area up to 15 meters in all directions is generally considered contaminated as well. Even small scale applications can contaminate a large area, increasing the likelihood of your pet being affected. By walking on a lawn recently treated with pesticides, a pet can become contaminated. Non-target species, such as birds can also spread the pesticides to your pets. Watch for signs and notices indicating recently treated areas.
Pesticides and Poisoning
It is only logical that pets are at a higher risk from the use of pesticides. Pets, like children, are lower to the ground and they spend a lot of time in contact with areas that may be contaminated. Many things also go into their mouths after being in contact with a contaminated surface. Self-grooming, and playing with toys also increases exposure.
Pets are inquisitive and playful by nature – by simply playing in a yard, park or body of water that has been treated with a pesticide, your pet will be at risk of exposure. Acute symptoms of exposure to pesticides can include strange behaviour, stumbling, excess salivating, vomiting and seizure. Long-term effects can range from liver and kidney damage to neurological damage.
Remember:
Keep your pets off recently treated lawns!
If you do use pesticides, keep your pet off of the treated area for the recommended amount of time.
Applying pesticides in your yard increases their presence in your home.
Pets are at a higher risk of contamination because they are closer to the ground and very likely to lick or chew things, such as toys, that are contaminated.
What Can I Do to Protect My Pet?
Consider not using pesticides in your yard. Cosmetic pesticide use is not necessary and is causing health issues in people and in pets. There are alternatives to using pesticides.
Provincial and municipal pesticide by-laws exist across Canada and are by far the best protection against pesticides.
Wednesday 10 April 2013
Earth Day is coming up folks!!!
Earth Day is an annual day on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Earth Day is observed on April 22 each year. The April 22 date was designated as International Mother Earth Day by a consensus resolution adopted by the United Nations in 2009.
Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more than 192 countries every year.
Earth Day is an annual day on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Earth Day is observed on April 22 each year. The April 22 date was designated as International Mother Earth Day by a consensus resolution adopted by the United Nations in 2009.
Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more than 192 countries every year.
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