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The spring and summer months are a great time to be a dog. Warmer weather means more outdoor time, especially for owners with fenced-in yards or long ropes that allow them to go outside and sniff around to their hearts’ content. However, not every aspect of the warm season is good for a dog.
To keep lawns healthy, most homeowners will employ materials potentially hazardous to a dog’s health — weed killers, pesticides, and fertilizers.
If you’re a dog owner planning to fertilize your lawn this spring, you probably want to know how to keep your dog safe while you work to keep your lawn growing strong. With that in mind, let’s look at the dangers fertilizers can pose, what to watch out for, and determine how long you should keep your dog off the lawn after fertilizing.
There are several different ingredients contained in common fertilizers that are dangerous to dogs, including:
This is just a small sampling of the ingredients found in common fertilizers. Fertilizer, which means plenty of potentially hazardous ingredients fall outside this list. While some fertilizers are generally safer than others, keeping your pet safely away during application is always a good idea — and for a sustained period afterward.
In general, the safest fertilizers for dogs are those that boast natural ingredients and steer clear of the harsh chemicals that might be good for your lawn but are bad for your dog. However, remember that these fertilizers also tend to be more attractive to dogs looking for an outdoor snack, which could lead to ingesting large amounts of fertilizer and lead to an upset stomach — or worse. Even if your fertilizer is pet safe, it’s best to wait until it is fully absorbed into the soil before letting your pup out.
The short answer is: most "weed and feed" products are NOT safe for dogs if ingested or while the lawn is wet. Proper application and waiting time are critical to minimize risk. However, the danger level varies significantly based on the product's ingredients.
Scotts weed and feed are unsafe for dogs while the lawn is still wet. Dogs should be kept inside while applying Scotts weed and fed until completely dried. Once it has dried, the lawn should be safe for your furry friends.
It should be noted that Scotts offers some different options for fertilizer, including natural lawn food, which is less dangerous to dogs.
TruGreen is a popular lawn care company that uses several different chemicals to keep your lawn green and weed-free after an application from TruGreen pets and children should steer clear of the yard until all applications have completely dried.
Now that you understand the general categories of risk, here are the specific chemical names you should look for on the product label. If you see these, you must be extra cautious.
If your dog has been exposed to or ingested these chemicals, watch for the following signs. If you see any of them, contact your veterinarian immediately.
This is an emergency. Act quickly and calmly.
You don't have to choose between a green lawn and your dog's safety. Consider these alternatives:
The length of time your pet should be kept off the grass after fertilization can vary depending on your fertilizer. Liquid fertilizer, for example, only needs to be left alone until it dries. Depending on environmental conditions and the application amount, this will likely take at least two hours but can be more.
Granular fertilizer, on the other hand, must be allowed to soak into the soil for a longer period to avoid ingestion. That means waiting at least 24 hours before letting your dog onto a fertilized lawn.
If you’re uncertain what fertilizer was used or want to play it safe, waiting 24 hours is your best bet to protect your pup. However, if your dog starts to show signs of illness, such as dizziness or vomiting, even if it’s been more than 24 hours after fertilization, contact your local veterinarian as soon as possible.
