EDITOR’S SUMMARY: All sentient beings, animals included, deserve to eat what is best for their immune systems, digestion, and quality of life and longevity. Many pet foods on the market are filled with additives and processed grains, and laden with pesticides. Same goes for medications and pest protection protocols. Also of concern are the grasses and plants in public and private parks, and other land areas, that your pet may be playing in, sucking on, and swallowing. Learn how to determine if those fields have been sprayed with dangerous chemicals.
By Piper Primrose and Rick Rydell
Ask a kindergartener how to take care of a dog or cat, and there’s a very good chance they will mention daily feedings and exercise. But in today’s complicated world, even these simple must-dos can feel fraught with peril. What kind of food? What brand of food or litter? How many toys does one cat need? How far does a dog need to walk? Does he or she need time off-leash to run? Are dog parks safe? Some of these questions are easier answered than others, maybe even inconsequential. But others are truly impactful, and will influence whether or not your pet gets sick—or worse. There are hidden dangers lurking both inside and outside your home for your furry companions, in the form of pesticides in surprising locations. The good news is that you can make smart choices on their behalf by getting familiar with the research, and using discretion. Read on to discover everyday pesticide “hot spots.”
Agency Misses
Pesticides (which include herbicides, disinfectants, fungicides, rodenticides, and insecticides) are toxic substances regulated by the Department of Pesticide Regulations (DPR) in California, following guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While these chemicals are intended to eliminate pests, they also harm non-target species, including family pets and stray animals. Modern pesticides, in use for less than 100 years, are a product of World War II (September 1939–September 1945) chemical warfare. Previously, landscapes and crops were managed naturally, not treated with toxic chemicals. Of course, that often left farmlands vulnerable to infestation, so the invention of pesticides must have seemed like a miracle to a famine-vulnerable population. Clearly, a balance was and is needed. That’s the entire idea behind governmental regulatory agencies, right? So if there is poison in an area in any form, the EPA should have to tell you. In theory, that’s how it works. But in reality, the EPA does not have to ensure that any pesticides (used for things like disease-treating crops or killing weeds) are actually safe for your Fido and Fluffy. So if you’re walking in a park that’s recently been sprayed, and your dog licks blades of grass, that’s direct ingestion of a toxin.
As you would expect, toxins—which not only show up in lawncare and agricultural treatments, but also in literal pet food—can pose serious health risks. Simply reading the labels of pesticides shows that most synthetic pesticides are definitely toxic for pets and people. Furthermore, the U.S. system for pesticide evaluation and registration has legitimate weaknesses. A quick summary of problems with the current process includes:
- It does not allow for a quick response to emerging science.
- It does not assess risk based on real-world exposures.
- It relies heavily on corporate safety data that is not peer-reviewed or available to the public.
But wait, there’s more … Compliance with pesticide label instructions is assumed when calculating “acceptable” risks. In fact, consumers often do not read the labels on pesticide products, and even if they do, they may not fully understand, or follow the label instructions. People who are unaware that a pesticide has recently been applied in a particular area will not know to take precautions. Thus, “acceptable” exposures produced by risk assessment are based on flawed assumptions. In addition, there are serious challenges with enforcement. It is up to state governments to enforce the requirements specified on product labels, which are sometimes quite complex. Unfortunately, state agencies rarely have adequate resources for the job. And even if enforcement were strong enough to stop violations, in case after case, pesticides “applied as directed” have been shown to cause harm. When label instructions for drift-prone pesticides are followed precisely, for example, the chemicals are often detected in air samples taken at nearby schools, homes, and farms—at levels known to cause health consequences and/or crop damage. Even if you follow pesticide directions exactly, in other words, there is a significant chance it will still harm a living creature. In addition, when applied legally, many pesticides leave residues in or on treated foods, such as fruit, vegetables, grains, and other commodities. These residues may remain on ingredients found in your pet’s food. In cases when your dog is feeling ill, and you (or your vet) decide to feed your pooch rice and chicken, be mindful of arsenic in the grain and GMOs from the corn and soy in the chicken feed (look for organic or verified non-GMO).
Risks of the Five Big Pesticides
Here’s what you are facing every time you leash up your fur babies:
1. Fungicides: In the soil, around trees, and on foliage of shrubs.
2. Insecticides: On lawn seed, house perimeters, ornamental shrubs, and in flea and tick treatments.
3. Herbicides: On lawns and around the base of tree trunks. Also a common residue in non-organic food.
4. Rodenticides: Accidental ingestion of poison pellets, or animals that have eaten the poison.
5. Disinfectants: On many public surfaces, such as counters, doorknobs, and playgrounds, etc.
These harmful chemicals are most certainly getting into many animals’ systems. From “Polluted Pets: High Levels of Toxic Industrial Chemicals Contaminate Cats And Dogs,” a study analyzing the urine and blood from 20 dogs found 35 chemicals that weren’t supposed to be there. Felines didn’t do much better; researchers counted 46 toxins in 37 cats. Quite simply, pets are suffering. Research indicates canines have a 200% higher cancer risk when walked in areas that use pesticides. And pet cancer statistics are already scary enough, because one in four dogs and one in six cats will develop cancer in their lifetimes—including 50% of dogs over age 10. This is partially due to products they are given directly, such as flea and tick medications (and non-organic food). Pesticide poisoning occurs more frequently than you may think. According to EPA data, just one flea and tick medication, “Pet Armor Plus,” was the cause of over 1,300 pet poisonings within a 10-year span. Seresto flea and tick collars from Bayer have been linked to nearly 1,700 pet deaths, injuries to tens of thousands of animals, and harm to hundreds of people. And depending on what you use to clean your home and office spaces—thinking you’re doing a good thing—you could also be harming your animals. Chemical disinfectants containing quaternary ammonium compounds (i.e. benzalkonium chloride) are highly toxic to cats, and can cause hypersalivation, hyperthermia, oral ulcers, neurological damage, liver failure, and death.
How to Protect Your Pet
As always, you have options. There are choices you can make to keep your pets away from pesticides. The best way is to remove the junk from your animal’s food: Choose organic, non-GMO nibbles, no matter whether wet or dry. Clean food is the foundation of your pet’s physical and mental well-being. Next, avoid toxic flea and tick medications. Flea combs, vacuums, and diatomaceous earth are the cornerstones of effective, nontoxic flea and tick control. Take note … the healthier your pet is, the less likely they will be to attract ticks and fleas. You can also avoid walking your pet near or on “green deserts,” which are pesticide-heavy landscapes. Overly-manicured lawns with non-native plants often indicate pesticide use. Green deserts provide little to no food for pollinators, and do not contribute to healthy ecosystems. Once you get back from a walk, wash your dog’s paws, especially if you think they may have been exposed to pesticides.
Opt for parks and land areas that have banned or restricted pesticide use. If you’re a Californian, that means Marin County parks, many Bay Area city parks, and habitats in Malibu. Let your city council know you want synthetic pesticides banned, as well as city parks and public works departments to use organic land management practices. A good rule of thumb is that if the park looks too perfect (flawless green grass and shrubs), it probably uses pesticides. Practice what you preach by creating a safe yard. Plant native, pollinator-friendly plants in your garden, and avoid pesticides to foster a vibrant ecosystem. Consider putting up signage to let neighbors know your yard is pesticide-free. On that note, you can also educate those living nearby. Talk about the dangers of pesticide use, and encourage them to adopt pesticide-free practices for their own homes and outdoor spaces. Hold strong the power of individual advocacy. If your workplace uses a landscaping company that employs pesticides, rally your colleagues to demand management switches to an organic landscaping company. Alternatively, be steadfast in suggesting that the current company needs to stop using pesticides in favor of organic systems. Know your state’s laws about pesticide use, and don’t be afraid to report violations. Here are California’s:
- Spraying pesticides on public sidewalks is illegal.
- Application is prohibited in winds over 5 MPH.
- Applicators must carry a safety data sheet (SDS) for any pesticide they’re spraying, and provide the SDS to you upon request.
- A notice of pesticide application must be posted 48 hours before application, and left up for 72 hours thereafter.
There are more proactive steps Californians can take. If you or your pet are exposed to a pesticide (if you can taste, feel, or smell the chemical, you have been subjected to it), it is important to report it:
- Take photos and videos of who is spraying, and what they’re spraying.
- Wash your pet ASAP with warm, soapy water.
- Put contaminated clothing in a plastic bag.
- Take your pet to the vet if they are exhibiting unusual behavior (lethargy, throwing up, refusing to eat/drink, spinning in circles …), or you notice other signs of poisoning.
- Go to the doctor if you feel ill, and ensure they note that you were exposed to a pesticide.
- Contact your county Agricultural Commissioner’s office, the enforcement agency for pesticide use violations in California.
- For more information, visit the Department of Pesticide Regulations.
If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435), no matter the day or hour. Pesticides not only endanger your pets, but also pollute waterways and threaten wildlife. Embracing organic landscaping practices can create a healthier environment for pets, humans, and wildlife alike. By making informed choices and advocating for pesticide-free spaces, you can help foster a safer and more sustainable ecosystem, and help your pets stay in the family for oodles of happy years.
Further Resources
- Beyond Pesticides: The top national organization that has been raising awareness of the harms of pesticides, and helping communities transition away from toxic pesticides for over 40 years. Information on how to keep your pets safe, and what to do if they’re exposed to pesticides.
- Pesticide Action Network: “Pesticides 101”: A detailed explanation on a variety of pesticides; usage and exposure.
- Pet Safety and Alternatives: An excellent reference from Pesticide Action and Agroecology Network (PAN). Contains a number of resources to help you make better decisions to protect your animals from toxic pesticides, as well as a community action toolkit.
- Protect Pets: From the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) for pet owners. It includes valuable lists of harmful and safer pet foods.
- The Institute for Responsible Technology: “Protect Our Pets from GMOs and Pesticides”: IRTs helpful video on how and why pesticides and GMOs are in pet food and what to do about it.
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Published on January 30, 2025.
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