My dogs and I love spending time playing on our lawn. Every day Kit has to sniff just about ever inch of the yard. In typical Kitsune fashion, he’s been known to taste test the grass every now and then too. One of Fen’s favorite things is to play fetch out in the grass. When he’s done playing, he does adorably epic sploots and just relaxes out in the sun. We don’t use any kind of lawn or garden chemicals in our yard. Most dog owners would probably like to think that enjoying outside time with our pups does them nothing but good. But if you use lawn chemicals to treat your grass that, unfortunately, may not be the case.
Post Contents:
- 1 A number of studies done over years have shown a connection between common lawn chemicals and cancer in dogs.
- 2 These studies were conducted on dogs. But it’s very likely that other types of pets (and perhaps people?) could be impacted as well.
- 3 Of course this doesn’t mean we should stop walking our dogs.
- 4 These issues don’t only impact those of us with yards of our own.
- 5 It stinks that, these days, we can’t even walk our dogs without risking exposure to dangerous chemicals.
A number of studies done over years have shown a connection between common lawn chemicals and cancer in dogs.
A study published in 2012, (Abstract of Environmental Health 112(1): 171-6 (Jan. 2012), concluded that “[a]fter adjustment for age, weight, and other factors, use of specific lawn care products was associated with greater risk of [Canine malignant lymphoma]. Specifically, the use of professionally applied pesticides was associated with a significant 70% higher risk of [Canine malignant lymphoma]…Risk was also higher in those reporting use of self-applied insect growth regulators.”
Another study, performed by the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Purdue University, linked common garden/lawn chemicals to the occurrence of bladder cancer in dogs. Traces of lawn chemicals were found in the urine of tested dogs. Unfortunately, not only in dogs’ whose owners actually applied the chemicals to their yards. Researchers explained that wind can carry herbicides for distances up to 50 feet. Dogs may also come into contact with the chemicals during daily walks. Wherever the exposure takes place, herbicide chemicals can be carried on paws and fur. This makes it more likely that pet owners will be exposed as well.
These studies were conducted on dogs. But it’s very likely that other types of pets (and perhaps people?) could be impacted as well.
Dog breeds who are already genetically predisposed to developing bladder cancers, such as beagles, Scottish terriers, and wire hair fox terriers, are thought to be in increased risk to the effects of this type of chemical exposure. Dogs most commonly come into contact with the chemicals by licking or ingesting treated plants, licking their paws or fur after exposure, inhalation, and trans-dermal exposure.
Of course this doesn’t mean we should stop walking our dogs.
However, pet owners especially are encouraged to eliminate or reduce their use of herbicides. If you must use them, it’s very important to follow the manufactures directions carefully. Do whatever you can to reduce your pets’ exposure!
These issues don’t only impact those of us with yards of our own.
At least in our own direct environments we have some control over what, if any, products are being used. However, exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals can commonly take place while walking our dogs. This is one reason why it can be prudent to keep our pets out of neighbors’ yards. Exposure can also take place in public areas, such as parks, depending on how your local park management teams care for your park. It’s thought that upping hygiene measures, such as bathing your dog often and/or washing his/her paws after walks, may help reduce exposure. If your dog, like my Kitsune, likes to eat grass it’s also important not to allow them to do so in areas that could be treated with chemicals.
It stinks that, these days, we can’t even walk our dogs without risking exposure to dangerous chemicals.
What can we really do about them besides be aware of the dangers and of the potential ways to reduce our pets’ (and our own) exposure to them? What do you think? Comment below! Do you avoid areas if you don’t know whether or not they’ve been treated with chemicals? Or wash your pets’ fur or paws after coming in from a walk? Do you just take your chances and hope for the best? It certainly seems like, these days, more and more things are being linked to cancer and, unfortunately, I think it would be impossible to avoid them all.
27 Comments
Wow! I’ve never heard of this before. This is very alarming but helpful information. I’m a cat person so I don’t own a dog, but it’s so disheartening that even walking your dog in grass treated with pesticides/herbicides can potentially harm your pet. It’s a shame we have to be hyper cautious about our food, our pet’s food, and now where we walk? Even if you do everything right, your neighbor may be unknowingly putting your pet in harms way.(sigh)
Right! Still something to think about even if you don’t have dogs. I didn’t personally do any research yet into how the same chemicals could impact people, but I don’t think it’d be crazy to make the jump that if they’re so bad for dogs they probably aren’t great for people either!
Thanks for sharing all of this helpful info! Our yard is probably 50/50 weeds and grass, because we choose not to treat our yard. When COVID first started, our vet called to alert us that someone in our area had spread squirrel poison in common dog walking areas. Needless to say we haven’t walked our dogs in our neighborhood for a very long time since then. It really is so disheartening that there are so many chemicals that we probably can’t see that could potentially cause harm to our pets. Thanks for sharing and bringing awareness!
Our yard is mostly weeds! We planted grass seeds in some areas so, for now, those areas have a lot of grass but it’s probably only a matter of time before weeds start taking over. I personally don’t mind them, as long as they’re green they look fine to me lol. That stinks about the squirrel poison. We had to deal with something similar when we lived in the city and neighbors were putting out poison for feral cats, which is horrible to begin with, but then I was always paranoid when I was walking my dogs.
Those are sad statistics. We never use any chemicals on our lawn as we worried about the birds. Good to know if any dogs come along they will be safe here.
That’s great! I’ve never been the type of person to really understand the desire to have a perfect lawn anyways. We have a lot of wildlife that comes to our yard so, while I’d probably be greedy and say the biggest reason I wouldn’t use chemicals would be for my own family (dogs included), I’m glad I’m not doing anything that’d be harmful for all the wildlife species as well.
I worry about this every time I walk Layla or take her to the dog park but having no yard makes it harder. I do know that in our dog park they use a fish fertiiziler on the lawns as all the dogs smell of fish when they roll in it LOL. Because of allergies Layla gets a wipe down on her paws plus after each time we are out so I hope that helps
I totally understand that! We didn’t really have a yard for the first 10 years of Kitsune’s life, if we wanted to go outside I pretty much had to walk him in the city. From what I researched I do thinking wiping them down, especially their paws, after walks helps!
Oh boy, I guess I need to check two things: what is that crap our lawn guy puts on the lawn and how bad Bella’s feets are after a walk. I should be wiping them off, I guess. Do you have special wipes or do you use just soap and water?
Back when Kit was a pup I did buy special wipes to clean his paws after walks, honestly more because of his allergies since I wasn’t always aware of this issue. After awhile I just started using warm washcloths and soap/water. I think either would be helpful!
That should be such a no-brainer, shouldn’t it? Chemicals can be harmful. Here is my tip for a wonderful lawn–even though it takes a bit of patience-cutting. Regular cutting of the laws eliminates weeds over time because grass is the only species harty enough to thrive under such conditions and gradually takes over.
Makes sense. I admit I personally get lazy with cutting our lawn on a super regular basis, but I’ve also never been one to care much about the weeds either.
Luckily we live out in the country so normally don’t have to worry about lawn chemicals, but sometimes the county sprays chemicals along the roads so we stay away from them. I can see how it would be a big problem in cities. Wish people were more aware so thank you for the post.
We live in the country now as well – it can still be an issue if you’re walking near neighbors yards or pubic areas. Probably not so much of an issue if you’re just in your own yard and don’t have any neighbors that are too close. Even now I still wipe my dogs’ paws off when we come inside from walks off our own property. It’s easy to do and worse case I’m not doing anything besides maybe keeping the house a bit cleaner lol, best case I’m protecting them from potentially dangerous chemicals.
This is why we refuse to use chemicals on our lawn. Like you, I have a yard full of weeds and other fun surprises but I would take that any day if I know that it means my pets can play in their own back yard safely! Local parks and trails here put up signage if they spray which has helped us to identify which we enjoy exploring and which we are better to just skip over.
That’s awesome that they use signs near you! I’ve never lived anywhere that did that, although I knew they used to use chemicals at the local park in our old city. I wish it would be a requirement everywhere for them to tell people where/what they were using for grounds maintenance. Especially since I’d assume if some of these chemicals are so bad for pets, they can’t be doing humans any favors either.
I would never EVER put anything on my lawn, just because I have my cats and you are so right. It stinks a pup can’t have fun in the open aire thanks to these chemicals.
Like you I am concerned about chemicals and worried at their effects. I am grateful that authorities here have to label lawns and open spaces when they are sprayed (which is a relief) and I don’t think many people are scarily house proud to THAT extent as we don’t live in a super fancy neighbourhood.
When we lived in the city everyone always seemed to want perfect yards. I never understood it myself, personally weeds look just fine to me lol. I wish people everywhere had to label areas where they used potentially dangerous chemicals. The places where I’ve lived didn’t seem to have any type of laws about doing so.
I worry about pesticides and herbicides that people use on their lawns. Years ago, we had a neighbor who had to be hospitalized because of her exposure to the chemicals on her lawn.
That’s scary! Yeah, I was thinking as I was writing/researching this that if these chemicals are so dangerous for pets they can’t be good for people either.
That’s scary. I am glad that at least public places here are labeled if they are sprayed. My area is rural so less people are into extensive lawn care. I personally don’t care a whit about my lawn, most of it is covered with cars anyway (my tenant is a mechanic)
It’s funny, we moved from a city to the country but one of our neighbors is obsessed with their lawn. I think it depends more on the person than where they live. I wish I lived somewhere where areas had to be labeled. I’m seeing other people comment that that’s also the case where they live, but I’ve never lived anywhere where that’s been the case.
Great and informative post! My concern has always been about chemicals and pesticides…I have a habit of always walking my Huskies alongside the road and not on lawns for this reason, and because we’re polite! With our new lawn here, I made sure we followed directions with dogs and kids in our household. And, we found a local company that uses essential oils for pesticide! I’m Pinning this post to share!
Thanks! How have you found the essential oils to work so far (if you decided to go with that company)? I also never walk my pups on people’s lawns if I can help it, mostly because I want to be polite and not upset anyone if Kit or Fen decide they have to use the bathroom during a walk. It’s hard sometimes in our new place because they don’t have nearly as many sidewalks around here as they did when we lived in the city. I wipe their paws and fur off with a damp cloth when we get home from walking around the neighborhood, just in case. More often than not now, though, we just walk around our own yard or the woods surrounding our yard.
I hadn’t heard this before, but it makes sense. I know many people use chemicals on their lawn and probably don’t even think about how it affects their pets.
Indeed. I don’t think those people have any ill intentions, they probably just don’t realize that lawn chemicals can cause issues. That’s why I think raising awareness is important.
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