It's the beginning of spring and you know what that means: It's gardening season. You can finally return to your garden and get to work tending to your prized homegrown fruits and veggies. Proper maintenance of your personal crops includes applying pesticides to ward off any hungry and disease ridden pests. You might also be using more mild solutions around your yard to reduce weeds or keep other pests from entering your property.
But as you use these products you have to be mindful – nice weather isn't just a treat for you, it's welcoming for the whole family, including pets. It's easy to tell the kids to stay away from freshly sprayed plants, but it's a different story for your curious pets. Here's what you need to know about pesticides and pets:
Are pesticides dangerous to pets?
Unfortunately, most pesticides are unhealthy for your pets if they ingest them, reported the Pet Poison Help Line. The health problems depend on the type of chemical solutions you use, how many toxins they have been exposed to, as well as the size of the pet, but the concerns can be fairly serious. Higher dosages will affect a smaller animal more than a large one. They are most in danger if they directly ingest the chemical itself, – in fact, it can be life threatening – though it can still be a dangerous irritant should it come in contact with their skin or if it is inhaled.
According to the source, if your pet is experiencing any of the following symptoms after exposure to pesticides, take them to a vet immediately:
- Rashes
- Drooling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Excessive diarrhea
- Shivering
- Trouble walking
- Seizures.
How to keep pets safe from chemicals
The National Pesticide Information Center explained that when you are using pesticides around your home you should be doing so with the utmost caution. Before you use pesticides, take a moment to clear the area of your pets' belongings. Do they have any toys, bowls, bones or bedding in the area? If so make sure those are stored in a safe place away from the chemicals. Once you're ready to spray, make sure your pets are inside or in a secure area safe from exposure. Be sure to follow the instructions on the pesticide bottle – it will vary from product to product – and keep your pets away until they are dry. Until it is safe for them to go back outside, make sure you have kept a safe zone to get out of your home so you can take your pets out for a walk.
