Pet-friendly lawn feed: which fertilisers are safe for dogs, cats & co.?

Many concerned dog owners wonder whether lawn fertiliser can be toxic for dogs. Find out which lawn fertilisers are pet friendly and which are better left alone.

The variety of lawn fertilisers is enormous. There are organic lawn fertilisers, mineral lawn fertilisers and organic-mineral fertilisers. The latter can further be split into animal-free fertilisers, like our Plantura organic fertilisers, and animal-based fertilisers. But which of these fertilisers are dangerous for pets, and which are harmless?

Which lawn fertilisers are harmful for dogs, cats & co?

Pet owners should avoid mineral fertilisers – especially lawn fertilisers with added weed killers. After spreading these over your lawn, it is easy for your four-legged friends to ingest the salty fertiliser granules. Worse yet, curious pets may even get straight into the bags of fertiliser. Anyone with experience with puppies and young dogs in particular will know how they will try to get into almost everything. Unfortunately, this can quickly put them in danger.

Tip: If you want to protect not only your pets, but also other creatures that reside in your garden, check out our range of Plantura organic fertilisers. Our fertilisers are safe for humans and animals and promote an active soil life, enabling plants to grow strong and healthy.

Is mineral lawn fertiliser toxic for dogs & co?

Yes, mineral lawn fertilisers are toxic to pets and humans alike. The lethal dose for potassium chloride – a common potassium salt in mineral fertilisers – is about 85 grams for a 30 kg dog. This is equivalent to six level tablespoons.

Many mineral fertilisers mainly contain nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in concentrated salt form. When this dissolves in an animal’s digestive tract, it can cause symptoms of poisoning. It can not only irritate the mucous membranes in the stomach, intestines and mouth, but can also impair the function of haemoglobin in the blood, causing life-threatening oxygen deprivation.

Symptoms of poisoning: Heavy salivation, blood in the stool, vomiting, shortness of breath, weakness and cramps.

Is lawn fertiliser with weed killer toxic for dogs & co?

Yes, the same applies to lawn fertilisers with weed killer. These, too, are toxic for pets and humans. The poisoning symptoms for pesticides and weed killer are the same as those mentioned above, as well as: loss of appetite, restlessness, agitation, muscle tremors, decreased coordination and incontinence. In the worst case scenario, such poisoning can lead to cardiac arrest.

Pet-friendly lawn feed: which lawn feed is safe for pets?

Lawn fertilisers that are largely organic are safe for dogs and other animals. Although they also contain nutrient salts, these are incorporated into organic matter and are therefore found in lower concentrations. Keep in mind that carnivorous pets are quite fond of eating organic animal-based fertilisers! Blood meal, bone meal, ground slaughterhouse waste and other animal-derived ingredients are tempting to our furry friends – so it is not uncommon for them to eat such fertilisers, given the chance. We also understand that animal lovers are generally not too keen on the idea of spreading ground-up animal parts in their garden. For this reason, a animal-free, primarily organic and pet-friendly lawn feed is a better choice not only for those of us who let our cats or dogs roam around in the garden freely, but also for animal lovers generally.

At Plantura, we only make and use animal-free fertilisers with a large proportion of organic ingredients. On top of being sustainable and pet-friendly, our Plantura Lawn Feed also promotes a healthy soil life, providing optimal conditions for growing plants. When it comes time to winter-proof your lawn, our pet-friendly Plantura Autumn Lawn Feed, which contains an added dose of potassium, ensures a frost-hardy lawn for the cold winter months.

Lawn Feed 10.5kg, 250m2 coverage

(5/5)

• Perfect for a healthy & lush green lawn without moss
• Supports your lawn with all the nutrients it needs in spring & summer
• Long-lasting fertiliser that is free from animal products - child & pet friendly

£23.99

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Extra tips for fertilising lawns with pets & co:

• Mow the lawn before fertilising to ensure fertiliser granules fall deep between the blades of grass. This prevents peckish pets from reaching them easily.
• Always keep fertiliser out of reach of animals and children.
• Use animal-free lawn fertiliser without castor bean meal – due to the occasional production error, this can sometimes contain ricin, a highly potent toxin that is lethal to humans and animals even in small doses.
• Animal-free, primarily organic fertilisers, such as our Plantura organic fertilisers, are not only completely safe for dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, guinea pigs and other animals. They also revitalise the soil flora and fauna, resulting in better plant growth.