FOR PETS’ SAKE, GARDEN ORGANICALLY!

Americans love their pets, and if treated with compassion and respect, our pets reciprocate those feelings.   6 out of 10 Americans own pets, while cats and dogs account for approximately 142.6 million being cared for in the United States alone.  Considered some of our closest companions, most of us speak to our pets, include them in holiday celebrations, keep their pictures in our wallets, prepare special meals for them and will even take time off work to care for them when needed.  For most Americans, pets are family members.  No one would intentionally poison a well loved family member, but for many of us, that is exactly what we are doing with everyday home, garden and hygiene practices.  Due to their smaller size,  pets are at greater risk of exposure to toxic pesticides.  Chemicals that may seem harmless to us can be lethal to cats, dogs, birds, horses, rabbits and other pets.  Cancer is now considered the leading cause of deaths for pets, and pesticides have proven to be a major culprit.  Pesticides have also been linked to reproductive problems, birth defects, skin irritations, tremors, hyperactivity, obesity, blindness, respiratory disorders, diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, lethargy, liver, nerve, heart and pancreas damage, excessive salivation, abnormal weight loss and internal bleeding in pets. For almost every pest problem, there is now safe and natural alternatives that will keep your pet healthy and happy.  For pets’ sake, and for the well being of our children, ourselves, wildlife and our environment, we should carefully consider what we apply on our lawns, gardens and pets, and in doing so, become better stewards of our land and families.

A pesticide is considered any substance used to kill, repel, or otherwise control a pest.  These include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and disinfectants.  Pets are exposed to higher levels of pesticides not only due to their smaller size, but also because they come in direct contact with the ground, and can absorb pesticides through their mouth, eyes, nose, paws and skin.  Both cats and dogs use their noses to poke around and explore, and this mucous membrane allows for easy access of pesticides to enter their bodies. Grooming habits will also encourage the uptake of pesticides into pets. Dogs often absorb toxic pesticide residues by gnawing or eating plant materials treated with pesticides.  A 1995 study published in the journal Environmental Research shows a “statistically significant” increase in the risk of canine malignant lymphoma in dogs exposed to herbicides.  Instinctually, cats and dogs are hunters, and it is natural for hunters to pick weakened animals as prey.  Animals that have been poisoned either intentionally or not, are easy targets for cats and dogs because they are effortless to catch.  Cats and dogs often catch and eat rodents that have been poisoned with rodenticides as well.  As our pets consume more toxic prey, the pesticides become more concentrated in their bodies.  Chemical flea, tick, mosquito and biting fly pesticides in the form of collars, powders, drops, foggers, dips and sprays have also proven harmful to both cats and dogs.   A 2003 study by the University of Massachusetts  found that cats that wear flea collars have five times the risk of skin cancers compared with those that do not wear flea collars. Furthermore, pest insects adapt to chemical application and become resistant to the affects, ultimately requiring more potent pesticides to reach the same result.  Lastly, slug baits containing metaldehyde are attractive to mammals due to tasty flavorings, but considered lethal to pets and should be avoided.   Symptoms of pesticide exposure may take months or years to surface, and by then, it could be too late to reverse the toxic affects.  Inadvertently, toxic lawn and garden products are tracked back into our home by our pets where they can persist for long periods, subjecting not only pets, but humans to their devastating affects.  The National Cancer Institute reported that children develop leukemia six times more often when pesticides are used around their homes. According to the EPA, 95% of pesticides used on residential lawns are possible or probable carcinogens.  We can avoid the risk of pesticide exposure and subsequent repercussions to both pets and humans by using safe and simple alternatives that are readily available.

Oceans of research regarding pets and pesticide exposure is now available, which has led to a profusion of safe and natural pet care information and products.  The list below provides non-toxic solutions for pest control.  Please consult with your veterinarian before attempting any pest control measure.  Help reduce the risk of dangerous pesticide exposure to your family, both pets and humans, by trying some of the following:

Parasites-  Garlic or brewers yeast in tablet form, diatomaceous earth applied directly to pets’ fur or applied to any infested area (wear a mask when applying, and vacuum up after a few days), both marigolds and fennel repel many insects if grown against the house,  sticky traps with flea pheromones, commercially available nematodes, groom pets daily with metal flea comb, diluted apple cider vinegar massaged into fur or around ears, vitamin B1 reduces flea bite consistency

Weeds- Smother  and prevent weeds in the garden by applying 10 sheets thickness of newspaper around existing plants followed with a mulch application, water weeds on warm sunny days with horticultural vinegar  product like Burn Out so that it desiccates weed foliage and roots, lightly rake or hoe the top 2”-3” of garden soil to confound weeds, use groundcovers that will occupy voids in the garden.  For lawns, keep grass height at 3.5”-4.5” to smother weeds or apply corn gluten as a natural weed and feed.

Fertilization- Use organic fertilizer such as Marvin’s Organic Gardens 8-3-3 and 3-3-3 on both lawns and gardens, apply 1”-2” of compost on both lawn and gardens annually.

Rodents- Apply granular predator urine product such as Shake Away around perimeters of area in need of protection, scented box shaped glue boards, manual traps, well fed cats make excellent rodent hunters

Slugs and Snails- Use product such as Slug Magic which contains iron phosphate  around any areas affected, place lines of sawdust, crushed eggshell or diatomaceous earth around affected areas, weave copper wire along ground through affected areas of garden

Moles and Voles- Apply granular predator urine such as Shake Away along active mole tunnels, spike or scissor traps installed in active mole tunnels, apply Chase Liquid Mole Repellent over affected areas

Caterpillars- Spray product such as Thuricide at properly diluted rate over all plants affected while caterpillars are actively feeding, this product contains the beneficial bacteria known as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

Other Garden Insects- Apply Insecticidal Soap containing potassium salts of fatty acids, can be used to smother many pest insects such as aphids, mites, adelgids, scale, whitefly and more

Gardens- Carefully select gardens plants that are known to be non-toxic to pets.  Refer to www.aspca.org for a comprehensive list of plants that may pose harm to pets if ingested. Typically, plants native to our area are not toxic to pets.

Ants, Roaches & Termites- Wrap fresh Osage Orange fruit in foil and place in affected areas,  but needs to be replaced bimonthly, improve air flow around house foundation to prevent termites, apply diatomaceous earth in lines around all affected areas such as house foundation or entry points

Fungus- Spray safe and natural fungicides such as Sulphur, Safer Garden Fungicide or Fungus Farm on all areas affected by pest fungus, such products can be used as a preventative measure also, improve air movement in affected areas, reduce irrigation use, apply compost to lawns affected by pest fungus.

For every pest problem there is almost always a natural solution.  Most of the products mentioned above can be found at Marvin’s Organic Gardens.   Often, pesticides that are harmful to pets are also harmful to children.  A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that risk of bladder cancer in dogs is “significantly increased by topical insecticide use.” The American Journal of Epidemiology has recently found that more children with brain tumors and cancers had been exposed to insecticides than children without.  We must consider the health of our families and of future generations in our every deliberation.  Everything that we apply to our lawns, gardens, pets and homes can have long reaching health affects for both our children, pets and our natural environment.  Go Organic! It’s Only Natural.