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Pets in the Yard After Using Weed & Feed
Pets in the Yard After Using Weed & Feed. The term "weed and feed" refers to products that contain a combination of fertilizer and herbicides. While these products can help nourish your lawn and keep the weeds at bay, they can harm your pets if used improperly.
The term "weed and feed" refers to products that contain a combination of fertilizer and herbicides. While these products can help nourish your lawn and keep the weeds at bay, they can harm your pets if used improperly.
Keep Pets Away
Before applying weed and feed products, water the lawn so that the fertilizers and herbicides will adhere to it. Wait 24 to 48 hours before watering the lawn again after application. During this period, keep your pets off of any areas treated with these chemicals so that they don't get it on their fur or ingest plants treated with toxins. After you water the lawn, the chemicals will be washed from the foliage and absorbed into the soil and roots of plants, making your yard safe for pets again.
Possible Effects of Exposure
If your pets encounter freshly applied powdered or wet weed and feed on your lawn, they could eat the plants containing the toxins or lick it off of their fur. According to a study published in the July 2013 edition of "The Science of the Total Environment," exposure to herbicide-treated lawns can increase a dog's risk of developing bladder cancer. Ingesting these fertilizers or herbicides can cause stomach upset or more severe symptoms in pets, warns the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Visit your vet if you suspect your pet has ingested any weed and feed in your yard.
