As a pet owner, you want to keep your furry friends safe while also maintaining a healthy lawn and garden. This leads to the question – once Roundup dries after application, is it safe for pets to access the treated areas? Unfortunately, while the active chemical glyphosate becomes less potent as it dries, Roundup residue can still carry health risks for companion animals.
In this article, we will cover:
- How Roundup works and lingers in the environment
- Dangers of pets contacting dried Roundup
- Tips to use Roundup safely around pets
- Alternatives to Roundup for pet owners
Understanding how this common herbicide persists and impacts animals will help you protect your pets.
How Long Does Roundup Stay in the Environment?
Roundup contains the active ingredient glyphosate, which works by blocking plant enzymes and killing vegetation down to the roots. While some breakdown occurs in sunlight and soil, glyphosate residue can linger for weeks or months
Factors affecting Roundup’s persistence include
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Application method – Concentrated spray stays longer than dilute or granules
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Weather – Glyphosate breaks down faster in rain, sun, warm temperatures.
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Soil composition – Clings longer in clay versus sandy soil.
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Dosage – Heavier application leaves more residual chemicals.
Research shows glyphosate has a half-life of 2 to 197 days. It can stick around 3-6 months depending on conditions.
While glyphosate starts degrading once dry, it does not become harmless. Letting plants fully absorb Roundup is key, rather than letting it pool on the top of leaves and grass where pets can contact it.
Dangers of Pets Contacting Dried Roundup
While dry glyphosate residue is less potent and absorptive than wet, it can still pose health risks to pets through:
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Absorption through paws – Dogs walking through treated areas get it on their paw pads. Grooming then leads to ingestion.
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Eating grass or plants – Glyphosate adheres to plant materials which pets may eat.
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Drinking contaminated water – Runoff enters outdoor water bowls.
Potential effects of exposure include:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Ulcerative sores in mouth, nose, eyes
- Breathing issues
- Impaired gut bacteria leading to illness
- Organ damage
Pets are lower to the ground in the zone of application. Their constant contact with lawns makes avoiding exposure difficult when Roundup is routinely used.
Tips for Using Roundup Safely Around Pets
If you decide to use Roundup, take these precautions to protect your animals:
- Read and follow all label instructions carefully.
- Use extreme caution around small pets and puppies.
- Spray on dry, calm days to avoid drift.
- Avoid broadcast spraying; use only as targeted spot treatment.
- Keep pets off treated areas until rain or watering thoroughly washes residues away.
- Do not mix or store chemicals anywhere pets access.
- Use pet-safe methods around play areas, pet runs, patios, etc.
- Seek immediate treatment if pet becomes ill after exposure.
While Roundup may be “dry,” it is not inert. Residue can easily be picked up by pets through normal activities. Limit use and take steps to prevent exposure.
Natural and Pet-Safe Alternatives
The safest option for your animals is to avoid Roundup entirely through methods like:
- Vinegar or citric acid spray
- Manual weeding
- Growing native groundcover
- Mulching to block sun
- Maintaining healthy soil
- Mowing higher to encourage grass competition
- Corn gluten pre-emergent in spring
- Flame weeding
- Targeted herbicide gels
You can also find pet-friendly weed and feed fertilizers that use iron-based herbicides rather than glyphosate. Taking some extra effort to control weeds with non-toxic methods will provide peace of mind for both you and your pets.
Exercise Caution When Using Roundup Around Pets
While Roundup becomes less potent as it dries, glyphosate residue can linger for weeks and still be absorbed by pets through normal contact like walking and self-grooming. Limit use around your animals and keep them away from treated areas until the yard is thoroughly washed by rain or watering.
The small size and behaviors of pets put them at high risk for Roundup exposure. Look into alternative weed control methods to protect your furry friends while still maintaining your lawn and garden. When it comes to responsible pet ownership, keeping your outdoor spaces safe is just as important as what goes on indoors.
EPA Decision on Roundup
In 2009 and 2015, the EPA looked at glyphosate data about its effects on human health and the environment. In 2017, it released its findings on glyphosate. The EPA released a temporary interim registration review decision in 2020 after looking at public comments on the findings. It says it will issue a final registration review decision on the safety of glyphosate in 2021.
Once the EPA issues its decision, products containing glyphosate will need to carry a new safety label. In the U. S. Since 1974, when it was first registered as a pesticide, glyphosate has been under regular review by the EPA for safety reasons.
The EPA has said in the past that Roundup, a pesticide that contains glyphosate, is safe to use as long as you follow the directions on the label and that glyphosate is not likely to cause cancer in humans. Even though people are becoming more worried about glyphosate’s safety and research on it is being looked at again, the EPA has said that it is safe to use as long as you follow the directions on the label.
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration ensures pesticide residue on food crops doesn’t exceed the EPA’s safety limits. The EPA tests a pesticide to make sure it’s safe for people to use as directed on the label. Based on that test, they set a tolerance level.
It is up to the EPA to decide what level of pesticides can be used on food crops grown in the U.S. S. , including corn, soy and grains. The FDA then tests crops to ensure they don’t contain pesticide residue levels greater than set tolerance levels.
While the U. S. has no national glyphosate ban, some states and municipalities restrict its use. Globally, countries prohibiting glyphosate-based products include Germany and Saudi Arabia.
Bayer has faced Roundup lawsuits claiming glyphosate exposure caused their diagnoses of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Bayer has agreed to pay plaintiffs billions of dollars, and courts have merged thousands of cases into one big case.
In response to this litigation, Bayer has said it will remove Roundup products from the U. S. residential market in 2023. Bayer continues to sell Roundup products, however, as of summer 2023 and without a cancer risk warning label. People still like the broad-spectrum pesticide that is used to kill weeds in food crops, public areas, and home gardens.
Is Roundup Safe For Pets?
Dogs spend a lot of time outside and come into close contact with plants and grass. They may be exposed to Roundup that was just used. Cats that go outdoors can have similar high exposure levels. When pets lick their fur they can ingest glyphosate.
Some vets tell pet owners not to use chemical pesticides on their pets, but if they do use Roundup, they should keep their pets off the grass for 48 hours afterward. Also, dog owners shouldn’t walk their dogs on flat, weed-free grass because it’s likely been treated with chemicals to kill pests or weeds.
Dr. Most of the dogs that Lauren Trepanier of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine tested for pesticide exposure had weed killer chemicals in them, and many of them had very high levels. Pets are smaller than humans, meaning they’re more vulnerable to “ground-level toxins,” said U. S. Humane Society veterinarian Dr. Barbara Hodges.
Pets can also become sick after ingesting glyphosate. Ingesting a small amount of glyphosate may lead to nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Consuming larger amounts can cause drooling, lethargy or even death. Roundup may also cause skin irritation, itching or swelling of a pet’s nose, eyes or paws.
Is Roundup Safe for Children and Pets? | Video | Roundup Weedkiller
FAQ
How long after applying Roundup is it safe for pets?
How long is Roundup toxic after spraying?
Is dry Roundup safe for dogs?
Is Roundup safe once dry?
Is Roundup safe for dogs?
When it comes to lawn and garden care, the health risks for your pets can be quite high and even lethal, depending on the products you use. Millions of homeowners and commercial farms use Roundup and other products containing glyphosate. But
How long can you keep a dog off grass after using Roundup?
Some vets advise pet owners against using chemical pesticides, but pet owners who do use Roundup should keep pets off grass for 48 hours after application. Owners should also avoid walking dogs on uniform, weedless grass because this grass likely has had chemical pesticide or herbicide treatments.
How long should a dog stay away from Roundup?
This includes using the recommended amounts and not over-applying. Keep Pets Away: After application, ensure your dog (and other pets) stay away from the treated area for at least 24-48 hours or until the product has dried completely. Store Safely: Keep RoundUp and other herbicides in a secure location where pets cannot access them.
Can dogs eat roundup & Glyphosate?
Roundup’s primary ingredient, glyphosate, is generally considered harmful to dogs if ingested or with external contact when it’s still wet (for short-term toxicity). However, major animal welfare organizations and professional veterinary associations in the U.S. haven’t taken a stance on Roundup or glyphosate as toxic for pets.