Toxic Components That Effect Our Pets

 When our children are small we take great measures to child proof our place of residences to keep them safe from chemicals and hazards that can injure them. I see more and more incidents where people are requesting funds to pay for treatment to their pets resulting from cancer. We apply chemical herbicides/pesticides to either kill unwanted weeds or pests.

There are add's from attorneys on television seeking clients who have had certain types of cancer to collect from manufacturers who have put these carcinogenic compounds together that have shown they cause cancer. Our community and many landowners use herbicides that are even more toxic than the one attorneys are advertising for clients for.

When I challenged our association for using a highly toxic herbicide it was necessary to be very familiar with Amine 2- 4-D, to be effective. While it has a half life of only days outside where the sun breaks down its components if tracked inside and transferred to the carpet it remains potent for one year. It can enter our body or that of our pets up to one year. It can be ingested  (licking paws), absorbed through the skin, or inhaled.

What about carpet shampoo which our fur family on all fours walks on, lays and often eat off. Or window cleaners, bleach, kitchen and bathroom cleaners. Many have components that over time are toxic to our pets. Then there are fertilizers, antifreeze, deicers and detergents. We keep our antifreeze under lock where dogs can't get to it. We don't use fertilizers and detergents and soaps are all safe for our canine family.

Most people know chicken bones, grapes, chocolate, onions, macadamia nuts and alcohol are not good for our fur family. It is also good to keep prescriptions away from our pets. Anything you drop on the floor there is a good chance your pet will find it. Heavy metals are toxic to our fur family. Responsible pet owners owe it to their pets to keep them safe from toxic chemicals, heavy metals and items that they may ingest that  could harm them. Rodent poisons will harm our animals. Also if they eat dead rodents that have been poisoned.

Responsible pet owners will provide their pets the same safe environment as they do young children. Consider the use of other pest control measures that are not harmful to your pets. Some hazardous toxins are dangerous immediately and some are cumulatively over a period of time.  Think before making application for the good of your pets.