How Pesticides Can Affect Animals

Pests are unwanted plants or animals that can damage your landscape. Pests can carry disease, destroy vegetation, harm animals, cause structural damage, and infest your home. The effects that pests have on your lawn and home can be an eyesore. Pesticides are compositions of things that are made to deter, exterminate, or repel unwanted pests. 

​Types of pesticides and what they are used for: 

Pesticides can be gaseous, solid, liquid, or granulated. Insecticides are used to exterminate bugs. Herbicides are used to get rid of unwanted plants. Fungicides are used to remove unwanted fungi. Larvicides eradicate larvae. Bactericides are used to eliminate bacteria. Lastly, there are rodenticides that get rid of unwanted animals like moles, voles, rats, and mice.  

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Complications of Pesticides in Animals 

Pesticides, however, can be harmful to the animals around you. Pesticides can make your animals irritated or ill when they inhale or consume these chemicals.  Example problems may include vomiting, drooling, nausea, reparatory complications, seizures, arrhythmia, comas, and diarrhea. Some pesticides can even kill your animal if they are ingested or cause complications for hormone production.

​Treatment and Recovery 

​If your animal comes into contact with any harmful pesticides you should bring them to the vet immediately. Treatment for animals depends on how they came into contact with the pesticides. If they came into contact with any part of the fur than removing the residue is important. If it was ingested in any way, you may have to induce vomiting or get prescription medication. If your animal is undergoing any respiratory complications, than they may have to undergo oxygen therapy. Recovery will depend on the amount ingested by the animal. 

How to protect your animals from pesticides: 

​If you are using pesticides be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Make sure that animals are removed from the area before spraying or applying pesticides. Remember not to spray pesticides when it is windy because they can spread to unwanted areas. Biodegradable pesticides are also better for your yard, because there is not as much residue that is left over time.