Lawn Chemicals and Dogs link - Page 1

I thought I would pass this link along. I am sure we all know this but just in case.....
We used to spray our lawn many years ago, now I guess I know why my dogs never went past 8 or 9 years and died from cancer. 
Oh, what I know now and wish I knew then....

http://news.discovery.com/animals/pets/dogs-absorb-lawn-chemicals-130508.htm

 

Thank you for this information.

Good article. Thank you for sharing. I know people who spray their yard every month for pests and also use fertilizer and weed killers regularly. The manufacturers claim these products are only toxic until they dry, but I don't believe it. I don't think it is only what we out on our lawns that is causing the problem. It's also the other toxins we put on and in our dogs and sometimes the food they eat and the water they drink (there is believed to be a link between chlorine and cancer). There's also a hereditary/ genetic component. 

Eldee, Don't blame yourself for the premature passing of your dogs. There is no way to know what the cause was. I'll bet there are plenty of dogs that were exposed equally as much as your dogs to various toxins and lived long lives. There is still so much we don't know about what causes cancer. All we can do is the best we can do with what we know and hope for the best. Over the years I've become extremely careful about everything- homemade diet, purified water, only sprayed yard for pests  once in 15 years, flea and tick prevention only when needed, no vaccinations except rabies after three years of age and i do other things as well.  Only time will tell if any of this pays off regarding the longevity and health of my dogs. My last GSD passed at age 7 from DM in February  and my Shiloh Shepherd is almost 9 and still in very good health, but who knows what tomorrow will bring. For your sake I hope your present dog lives a long healthy life. It's painful enough to lose them, but to lose them when they are relatively young makes it even harder to accept. 

Personal note.  The chemicals could also very definitely be another source for your pet's allergies.  I had a rescue mix and one of her allergies was any man made chemicals on grass.  I never found out what was the common thread, but anything on my lawn but water and rain would cause her allergies to flare up.   Having her was my beginning to looking into non-chemical alternatives for gardening and treating pets (even us) for most ailments.  When it comes to health, I am still working on the balance between natural and medical treatments.

I know what you mean, as I stare at my new package of Advantage multi for fleas and worms. I guess there are just some things that only man made chemicals can get rid of effectively. I wish there was an alternative but I don't think there is. I have been told about pumpkin seeds and lemon spray, but I need to cure the problem not mask it for awhile. Please forgive me Maya.

It is an impossible choice, walks in the forest and ticks and TBDs or walk on the street and inhale tons of pesticide. I don't put anything on my lawn, but everyone else does. Two houses from me, a 3 yo golden retriever was just diagnosed with nasal cancer and has about a month left. My next door neighbor lost her cat at 16 from throat cancer. Makes me wonder. But what do you do? I cringe when I put the tick preventative on him, I cringe when he sticks his nose in the grass and sniffs for 5 minutes...you do the best you can with what you have. I guess having a shorter but great life is better than having long and boring one.

Yep, I know what you mean! It's very challenging . I just gave my dog his first Heartworm preventative for the year and I cringed as I watched him chew and swallow it. My vet told me that studies ave shown in can effectively be given very 8 weeks. Dr. Jean Dodds says it can be given every 6 weeks, so that is what I do. When I go the mountains, where I do lots of hiking in the summer I will put a tick preventative on my dogs.   I fortunately haven't had to treat for fleas in almost a year. 

Up here in Ontario, we can no longer spray with chemicals. I have gotten quite used to dandilions on everyone's lawns. I am noticing more honeybees, snakes and birds on the farm then ever before.I keep wondering what Maya will do when she comes across this garter snake that lives by the house. Since she chases anything that moves, it will be quite interesting. I hope I have my camera when that happens.

I like dandelions :) Honey bees, non- poisonous snakes and birds are nice too. I wish there were more restrictions here in the US.