susanne
dB
I've never been one to trust herbicides or other chemical products, no matter how safe their manufacturers claim them to be. But here in the northwest, slugs and snails can gobble down plants overnight, so when Sluggo came onto the market, it seemed ideal. The active ingredient listed is iron phosphate, which the label says is safe for children, pets and wildlife.
My sister is a dietitian and took many chemistry classes (and is equally suspicious of chemicals in the enivornment), agreed that iron phosphate should be harmless.
Recently my neighbor's Papillion died of unknown causes. In trying to save him, they checked through the neighborhood for anything he may have gotten into. I told him of my caution with using anything, and that the worst things we used were vinegar and Sluggo.
He mentioned this to the vet -- Dove Lewis Emergency Hospital, the best in the area.
The vet told him that they had recently had several dogs die after eating Sluggo. The iron phosphate is safe enough, but Sluggo is not required to list EDTA, a chelating agent that causes the iron phosphate to release its toxins. For some reason, the EPA has not yet declared EDTA to be toxic, so the Sluggo ingredients label reads: 1% iron phosphate, 99% inert material. Guess what's in that 99%?
The vets at Dove Lewis called Monterey, the manufacturer of Sluggo, reported the deaths, and asked them to change their labels.
Their response was: Well, you're not supposed to feed it to them. They said that they WOULD NOT be changing their label to warn users of the risk.
I hate the chicken little alerts often seen on the internet, and I hate to see products condemned with faint evidence. In truth, other slug baits are even worse. Each gardener must make their own choice.
But how can anyone make an informed decision or take the necessary precautions when the label (and most of the internet, gardening websites, forums, publications, etc.) proclaim Sluggo to be safe and the best thing since sliced bread?
I am infuriated most of all by the manufacturer's callous response when a veterinarian presented them with clear evidence that their product was not safe. What would they say if it were a child who died? It is all too possible.
As it turns out, our neighbors do not believe their dog got into our garden, but I am now on a mission to let everyone know that while Sluggo and other iron phosphate slug bait claim to be "safe for children, pets and wildlife," they are anything but. If you must use it, use a cloche or other device to protect those who could be harmed.
I'm embarrassed to say that I let down my guard and trusted that Sluggo was safe. Sadly, my usual suspicions about chemical companies once again has been proven correct. I guess I'll have to go back to beer and copper strips to save my hostas.
My sister is a dietitian and took many chemistry classes (and is equally suspicious of chemicals in the enivornment), agreed that iron phosphate should be harmless.
Recently my neighbor's Papillion died of unknown causes. In trying to save him, they checked through the neighborhood for anything he may have gotten into. I told him of my caution with using anything, and that the worst things we used were vinegar and Sluggo.
He mentioned this to the vet -- Dove Lewis Emergency Hospital, the best in the area.
The vet told him that they had recently had several dogs die after eating Sluggo. The iron phosphate is safe enough, but Sluggo is not required to list EDTA, a chelating agent that causes the iron phosphate to release its toxins. For some reason, the EPA has not yet declared EDTA to be toxic, so the Sluggo ingredients label reads: 1% iron phosphate, 99% inert material. Guess what's in that 99%?
The vets at Dove Lewis called Monterey, the manufacturer of Sluggo, reported the deaths, and asked them to change their labels.
Their response was: Well, you're not supposed to feed it to them. They said that they WOULD NOT be changing their label to warn users of the risk.
I hate the chicken little alerts often seen on the internet, and I hate to see products condemned with faint evidence. In truth, other slug baits are even worse. Each gardener must make their own choice.
But how can anyone make an informed decision or take the necessary precautions when the label (and most of the internet, gardening websites, forums, publications, etc.) proclaim Sluggo to be safe and the best thing since sliced bread?
I am infuriated most of all by the manufacturer's callous response when a veterinarian presented them with clear evidence that their product was not safe. What would they say if it were a child who died? It is all too possible.
As it turns out, our neighbors do not believe their dog got into our garden, but I am now on a mission to let everyone know that while Sluggo and other iron phosphate slug bait claim to be "safe for children, pets and wildlife," they are anything but. If you must use it, use a cloche or other device to protect those who could be harmed.
I'm embarrassed to say that I let down my guard and trusted that Sluggo was safe. Sadly, my usual suspicions about chemical companies once again has been proven correct. I guess I'll have to go back to beer and copper strips to save my hostas.
