Weed Killers, Fertilizers, and Pets.

I received a letter last week from lady who was concerned about having her lawn sprayed with "Weed-B-Gone" to get rid of dandelions. She was afraid her pet cat might get poisoned by licking the sprayed areas, or licking it's feet after walking across the lawn.

A "Material Safety Data Sheet" supplied by the manufacturer states it is "practically non-toxic" even if ingested, inhaled, or contacts the skin. It still should not be ingested or inhaled, and if it gets on skin should be removed by thorough rinsing

As long as label directions are carefully followed, the vast majority of these products that a home owner is likely to find at stores, or that licensed professionals would apply, do not pose a risk for dogs or cats. It is very important to store them properly in a secure area so that cats, and particularly dogs (not to mention children) cannot chew on containers and ingest large quantities.

Some fertilizers can contain enough iron to be toxic if eaten in large amounts and there may be other ingredients in fertilizer that will motivate a dog to eat large amounts. (An overdose of vitamin pills can also cause iron toxicity.)

Disulfoton is a "systemic" insecticide that is absorbed into roses and other plants and kills aphids and other bugs. It can be toxic to dogs and cats that eat enough of the treated plant.

Slug bait can be dangerous to pets, especially if it contains "metaldehyde" which is very poisonous. There are many different brand names. It comes in pellets, powder and liquid, and is often flavored with bran or molasses to better attract snails and slugs. That also makes it more attractive to dogs and cats.

It doesn't take much metaldehyde to kill a dog or cat. Within a few minutes to several hours after ingestion a poisoned pet may become nervous, start panting and drooling, and become dizzy and uncoordinated. There may be vomiting and diarrhea and muscular tremors or seizures. The animal may die within hours from respiratory failure, or in a few days from liver failure.

If you know your pet has eaten slug bait call your veterinarian immediately. He may, if your pet is not yet sick, recommend you induce vomiting at home by giving hydrogen peroxide. There is no specific antidote for metaldehyde poisoning but supportive care in a veterinary hospital can be life saving.

There are weed killers that can be toxic to dogs and cats but they are generally not easy for a back yard gardener or home owner to obtain. Many have been restricted or banned in the United States but may still be found in old garages and barns. "Paraquat" is still available but used only in large commercial farming operations. Like the antifreeze, ethylene glycol, paraquat has been used to intentionally poison pets. Humans have used paraquat in suicide attempts. For these reasons current products containing paraquat have added ingredients to produce a bitter taste and to induce immediate vomiting. Dogs that ingest these products will vomit up most, but not all, of the paraquat, and should still be aggressively treated.

I got most of the information for this column from the ASPCA Poison Control Center. You or your veterinarian can get a consultation from them by calling 888-426-4435. The $55 fee will cover not only the initial call, but also follow up calls on the same case by you or your veterinarian.

Chris Cable at Sun Pest Management in Clarkston was also helpful. "The main thing," he emphasized, "is to read the label carefully and follow the directions exactly."