Is herbicide safe for dogs? Researchers are again sounding the alarm about a common yard product after discovering a potential link to cancer in dogs, calling it ‘highly toxic.’
This isn’t news to most of us. We’ve been hearing about the dangers of lawn pesticides and herbicides for decades. We know that Round-Up (glyphosate), despite still being a popular weed killer, is seriously harmful for our health, our animals’ health, and the overall health of the planet. It’s really an undisputed fact at this point.
Yet, despite the known health risks, it’s still being used on crops, in parks, and maybe even in your own backyard.
Here’s what you need to know.
2,4-D: The Most Dangerous – and Common – Weed Killer
One of the cheapest and most common weed killers in the country has a name you’ve probably never heard: 2,4-D. Developed by Dow Chemical in the 1940s, this herbicide quickly became incredibly popular, promising (and delivering) the clean, green, pristine lawns of postwar America, ridding backyards everywhere of aesthetic undesirables like dandelions and white clover.
But 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, as it’s known to chemists, is bad news. There’s a mountain of scientific evidence that the chemical poses a danger to both human and pet health and to the environment.
2,4-D is part of a group of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors. These are substances that interfere with the body’s hormone systems. Lab studies show that 2,4-D may disrupt estrogen and androgen function and, most significantly, thyroid hormones. Numerous studies – spanning human populations, animals, and lab experiments – have linked 2,4-D to thyroid disorders. The pesticide attacks the roots and leaves of weeds by making the unwanted plant’s cells grow out of control – it’s sort of like inducing cancer in the plant to kill it or drastically slow its spread.
And that analogy is appropriate, since research is showing a link to cancer…
Research: Is Herbicide Safe for Dogs
Is herbicide safe for dogs? No. There’s really no way around it. (It’s not safe for humans, either).
Chew on these:
- In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified 2,4-D as a possible human carcinogen, citing its ability to damage cells and cause cancer in animal studies.
- The International Agency for Research on Cancer also classifies 2,4-D as “possibly carcinogenic” to humans.
- The World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer calls glyphosate “probably carcinogenic.”
Research has long raised concerns about these dangers to our adored beasts. Back in 1991, a study found that dogs living in homes where 2,4-D was used were up to twice as likely to develop lymphoma. Although a later industry-connected study attempted to dispute the findings, a 2012 study reaffirmed the increased risk. Another study in 2013 revealed that Scottish terriers exposed to herbicide-treated lawns had up to a 7X higher risk of developing cancer.
“Cancer is becoming increasingly common in dogs—and alarmingly, it’s showing up at younger ages,” says Dr. Barbara Hodges, program director of advocacy and outreach for the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. “Even dogs that aren’t part of breeds typically linked to specific cancers are still at risk for developing them—or other types of cancer.”
Of course, there (somehow) remains debate, and companies are quick to reassure people that their products are safe. The evidence is gradually building, but it’s not yet definitive. Opponents say studies lack the scientific rigour needed to draw solid conclusions. But how much research do we need before we choose to make safer decisions for our animals? “The evidence isn’t strong enough to say for certain,” explains Jennifer Sass, senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, “but it’s wiser to take precautions now to help prevent possible cancers rather than wait for absolute proof.” We agree.
How to Protect Your Pet
Really, the safest way to protect your animal is to NOT use it. Like, ever. And to avoid any places that use it, or that you suspect might use it. A good guide is to look for dandelions, wildflowers, or other ‘weeds’ – those lawns are far less likely to have been treated than those with pristine, green grass (and nothing else).
You can ask your town whether they use 2,4-D in specific parks. You can also visit the website of the National Pesticide Information Center, which has easy-to-read fact sheets on 2,4-D and most other pesticides.
These products do provide recommendations for ‘safe’ use, warning people and pets to stay off freshly treated lawns for a few hours. But studies show that herbicides persisted on lawns for at least 48 hours after application, and a 2001 study found that herbicide 2,4-D drifted into the air and onto the surfaces of homes after application.
Our canine companions (and felines, too) come into direct contact with the ground. They walk on it, play in it, and roll around in it. And the skin absorbs. So, too, do the mucous membranes in the mouth when they later groom themselves. If exposed, these chemicals are getting into our animals and wreaking havoc.
We know that the risks are there. The research proves it. So, even if there is some debate, does it not just make sense to be cautious? Science will get there, but we can protect our animals now. Skip the chemicals and change your perspective. Welcome Mother Nature in all her glory and let the wild weeds grow – it’s beautiful, and way safer for our animals (and ourselves).
