The Lawn Habit That's Killing Your Dog

A lush lawn creates a sense of pride for many American homeowners, but a 2012 study found that utilizing a chemical lawn service to achieve those results is likely causing malignant cancer in many pet dogs. In the study, researchers identified 263 dogs with biopsy-confirmed canine malignant lymphoma (CML), 240 dogs with benign tumors, and 230 dogs undergoing surgeries unrelated to cancer. Then, they asked the pet owners to complete a 10-page questionnaire. Scientists found that dogs with malignant lymphoma were 70 percent more likely to live in a home where professionally applied lawn pesticides had been used. Dogs with the serious malignancy were also 170 percent more likely to come from homes where owners used chemical insecticides to combat pests inside of the home.