Insecticide and Pesticide Effects on Pets
May 12th, 2008 by Teri
Pet owners by now should be aware of how your dog or cat can be harmed by walking on a lawn just sprayed with insecticides.
What is an Insecticide?
An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects in all forms in agriculture, medicine, industry and in the household. Confusing isn’t it?
What is a Pesticide?
An animal is breathing in the insecticides through the air or contaminated on their paws by walking on sprayed lawns. Dogs and cats can also consume these products by eating grass or playing in areas that have been sprayed. If your neighbor uses pesticides do not allow your pet into the areas affected. Do not allow your dog or cat to play in the area, with its toys or bones.
The WHO (World Health Organization) releases much information on the effects of lawn insecticides which have been damaging to the environment and have done extensive research.
Over 13 million human deaths have been attributed to exposure to the toxin in the environment. Pets are particularly susceptible because they are lower to the ground, and sometimes eat grass. Also pets do not get bathed as often as people and their systems cannot detoxify the chemicals which build up in their system.
Signs Your Pet may be affected by Insecticides:
If your cat or dog is :
Drooling or salivating
Stumbling
Seizures
Tremors
Contact a veterinarian as soon as possible and the Animal Poison Control Center in your area.
It is important to know that 99 percent of a sprayed insecticide reaches far away from where it was targeted. This occurs by air, wind and water which carries it to other areas especially contaminating the soil.
The American Medical Association recommends very limited exposure to pesticides and promotes the use of non chemical alternatives. Pesticides present a very real danger to people…that is kids, and especially pets.
Pesticides and pets do not go together very well in fact if you use these chemicals you could be killing your dog with chemicals.
Tags: pesticides, pesticides and pets, world health organization, signs your pet may be affected by insecticides, killing your dog with chemicals, Wikipedia definition.
There is one widely used chemical with some useful information below.
Facts on FIPRONIL :
For more information on this chemical see below:
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/fiptech.pdf
http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/actives/fipronil.htm
Written by: Teri Salvador
