Is your yard making your dog sick?
Do you ever notice those little lawn signs warning you that a yard has been sprayed? Fertilizers, weed killers, and pesticides are toxic for dogs. Symptoms vary, including GI distress, organ damage, and neurological issues. Cancer is the biggest concern. Studies show that dogs whose yards were treated with herbicides were up to 200% more likely to develop lymphoma. Glyphosate, one of the ingredients found in weed killers, has been the cause of thousands of cancer-related lawsuits.
Dogs walk, run, play, and roll on grass, barefoot of course, and they often eat it too. Their paw pads are permeable, and they ingest what they’ve stepped on when they lick their feet. They play with toys that have been in the grass, which then go in their mouths.
Like chocolate, cocoa mulch is also toxic. Some dogs love the smell and want to eat it, so it’s best to avoid using it if you have dogs.
Instead of using chemicals, more and more people are choosing to leave their lawns untreated. There are lots of natural landscaping options that look beautiful. Woodchips (untreated) are nontoxic and don’t need watering. Combine them with plants and trees and you’ll create a natural environment that’s safe for your dog, and provides you with a beautiful view each time you look out your window.
In memory
The world lost a wonderful soul over the weekend with the passing of animal advocate Don Juliar. His countless hours volunteering at a humane society helped save the lives of thousands of animals. He had too many accomplishments to list here, but at the top of the list was being the finest human you could ever hope to meet. I wrote about him recently.
Don died days after celebrating his 100th birthday, a milestone he had hoped to hit.
I was lucky to be Don’s friend for the last twenty years. He made the world a better place. I’m going to miss him a lot.
