By Grace Bathery
With spring arriving, you can start preparing your garden. This seasonal shift brings an assortment of risks for our furry friends, including garden chemicals and lawn supplies. Many are harmful to pets when ingested, according to Sam Bilko (Dept. of Medical Sciences), a UW School of Veterinary Medicine faculty member and emergency and critical care clinician at UW Veterinary Care. Here are seven hazards Bilko says to look out for:
1. Compost
Compost can be harmful as mold grows in compost piles due to the high heat and moisture content.
“We can see specific toxins present in the compost which cause muscle tremors, neurologic signs, and seizures when ingested,” Bilko says. “Dogs love to eat compost when it is first turned and spread for the season, so keep your dogs away from the pile.”
2. Mulch
Cocoa mulch, which is made from cocoa bean hulls, is sweet and appetizing to dogs but can cause signs of chocolate toxicity when consumed, the veterinarian says. Large mulch ingestions of any kind can lead to bowel impaction and obstruction, requiring surgery to fix.
3. Herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides
In the case of herbicides and fungicides, most are heavily diluted before application to lawns, gardens, or crops, making them less concerning unless ingested in concentrated forms, Bilko says. The most likely negative outcome a dog will experience is vomiting because the chemicals can irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth and GI tract. Eye and skin irritation are also possible.
Pesticides are generally toxic to pets, according to Bilko. Rodenticides are often fatal for pets if not treated right away. When eaten, molluscosides can cause seizures and muscle tremors. Insecticides interfere with the nervous systems of cats and dogs, requiring immediate veterinary care.
4. Fertilizers
Fertilizers are not specifically harmful as they are spread out on lawns and fields in dilute concentrations, the veterinarian says, making risk of toxicity low. Despite this, they can still cause vomiting and bloating if consumed in large quantities.
5. Chemical and equipment storage
Proper chemical storage is another way to keep pets safe. All lawn and garden chemical products should be stored on shelves out of reach of pets or locked away. Additionally, many common pesticides are meant to be enticing to rodents or other animals, so they taste good to pets. Cats tend to be more discriminatory than dogs in what they eat so they are less likely to experience intoxication, Bilko says, but they can also be affected. Garden tools should be stored in a safe area and not left on the lawn where they might be stepped on or seen as toys.
6. Product purchasing
When purchasing products, there are red flags to look out for signaling toxicity to pets. Specifically, any labels with organophosphates will read “phosphate,” “phos,” “phoro,” or “phosphor” somewhere in the chemical name, which are harmful when ingested by pets.
“The majority of chemicals that are meant to kill pests are also toxic to our pets,” Bilko says. “It’s important to be intentional about purchasing and placing any product that is toxic.”
What to do if ingested
If your pet does ingest a harmful chemical, it is crucial to act immediately as the risk of waiting can far outweigh the savings of a preemptive veterinary visit.
“Take a picture of the product packaging to be able to relay the active ingredient to a poison center or your veterinarian for further assistance,” Bilko says. “The type of treatment depends on this, so this is an incredibly important step you can take in your pet’s care.”
Pet owners can explore information about general environmental toxin questions online, or the ASPCA Poison Control center for reliable veterinary information.
It’s also recommended to have the phone number for the ASPCA Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) on hand in case of emergencies.
Finally, know where your nearest emergency clinic is for after-hours and weekend emergencies when your regular veterinarian might be closed.
At UW Veterinary Care, veterinarians have a range of treatment options depending on the toxin. These include decontamination, such as inducing vomiting and administering agents that bind toxins, as well as supportive care like IV fluids and gastrointestinal support. For certain toxins, the hospital has begun offering hemoperfusion, an extracorporeal therapy that circulates blood outside the body through a machine designed to remove toxins before they can be absorbed.