Environmental Dangers
Going green is all the rage these days, and there's a very good reason for this natural phenomenon. The contaminants in air, water, soil, and food are affecting not only the environment, but human and canine health as well. Indoors and outdoors, there are toxic gases and pollutants that cause a host of medical problems.
Household Toxins
While there are some dangerous substances in the environment that are difficult to avoid, you can remove others from your own home, including asbestos, automotive and paint products, cleaning supplies, poisonous plants, dust, and mold. In addition, some common household items and foods should be kept out of your dog's reach. These include mothballs, fabric softener sheets, onions, chocolate, raisins, and products sweetened with xylitol, such as sugar-free gum. Prevention is the first natural defense in safeguarding your dog's health.
Contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (
Avoid using hazardous household cleaners by using natural methods to clean your home. Baking soda is a great scouring powder that doesn't scratch delicate household surfaces, and lemon juice fights odors, helps remove stains, and works as a glass cleaner.
Garden Pesticides
Pesticides don't remain in one location for very long, and they can travel from outside to inside the home without your realizing it. In one study, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that twenty-three types of pesticides in dust and air were tracked into homes on the soles of shoes.
Since your dog goes outside a few times a day, the pads of her feet also pick up dangerous chemicals. Not only does she track them into your home, she ingests them when she licks her feet.
To avoid the chance that your dog will come in contact with pesticides, try cutting the lawn before weeds go to seed, which will prevent them from spreading. To create a healthy ecosystem, avoid using any synthetic fertilizer or pesticides in your organic garden and learn what plants grow best alongside one another and what plants may help repel pests. For example, basil encourages tomato growth and repels flies and mosquitoes.
Are pesticides safe for dogs to be around?
A study by the National Cancer Institute found that dogs from homes that used the common pesticide known as 2,4-D had double the chance of developing malignant cancer; in yards treated by lawn care companies, dogs were 30 percent more likely to have canine malignant lymphoma.
Be sure to dispose of pesticides and chemicals you no longer use by contacting local waste-management facilities about their hazardous waste collection programs. Talk to your neighbors and discuss your concerns with the pesticides they may be using. Maybe they're not even aware of the effect these dangerous substances have on their pets.
Blue-Green Algae
It may look like great fun to let your dog dash through a refreshing pond or lake for a healthy dose of exercise. Many spaniels and retrievers love nothing better than fetching a stick from a shallow watering hole — but this activity can be deadly if they ingest the blue-green algae that lurks in the water.
Algae are a natural part of any watery environment, but when the bacteria bloom they produce deadly toxins that turn the water green or blue-green and produce a musty or earthy smell. Resembling pea soup or pond scum, the toxic algae may even look foamy or appear bright green, brown, or red. If you don't know whether a pond or stream is safe, it's best to avoid it completely.
If your dog comes in contact with blue-green algae, she will suffer a toxic response within minutes to hours. Neurological symptoms include stumbling and falling, elevated heart rate, foaming at the mouth, and seizures. Wash her off immediately to prevent self-cleaning contamination and transport her to the veterinarian as quickly as possible.
