Weedkiller... is Roundup the best I can get?

[Profpointy]

My neighbour poisoned my cat by spraying with agricultural Roundup. The cat survived but was very poorly.

Are you sure about that ? Having used some recently, I did do some reading up first and I gathered it wasn't all that toxic, if at all in "normal" quantities (to animals) as these things go, despite being an organophosphate; a class of chemicals which which does include some astonishingly hazardous compounds admittedly.

I'm assuming here that the neighbour didn't deliberately feed it to the cat or whatever, so it would have been an incidental exposure.

Should also add, that we have a cat, so I was a bit wary before using it, hence reading up on it first.

 

[classic33]

My neighbour poisoned my cat by spraying with agricultural Roundup. The cat survived but was very poorly.

Washing up liquid can poison, as can bleach.

However, all versions of weedkiller(home use or agricultural) come with instructions on how to use them. Amongst them is keep out of reach of all pets/livestock. Curiosity will get the better of them.

If it was the roundup, the cat will have lost anything upto a third of it's body weight.

 

[growingvegetables]

Are you sure about that ? Having used some recently, I did do some reading up first and I gathered it wasn't all that toxic,..........

Two points ...

First, it's possibly not the glyphosate itself that harmed the cat - but any one of the cocktail of compounds added to it, or a particular combination of chemicals.

Secondly, comment on glyphosate is pretty polarised. Simplistically - between the American principle, of "use it until you can see the harm it causes", and the European precautionary principle ("let's be sure what this does BEFORE we use it."); a confusion compounded by manufacturers' marketing-speak.

 

[coco69]

How do you spray it on?

Kettle

 

[furball]

Are you sure about that ? Having used some recently, I did do some reading up first and I gathered it wasn't all that toxic, if at all in "normal" quantities (to animals) as these things go, despite being an organophosphate; a class of chemicals which which does include some astonishingly hazardous compounds admittedly.

I'm assuming here that the neighbour didn't deliberately feed it to the cat or whatever, so it would have been an incidental exposure.

Should also add, that we have a cat, so I was a bit wary before using it, hence reading up on it first.

Absolutely positive. It happened twice and I know the second time was deliberate because the timing was after a big fall out. A couple of days after my cat was poorly and clearly in pain, weeds on my side of the hedge were turning yellow and shrivelling up. This was just one of many run ins with
this obnoxious threatening man.

 

[classic33]

Absolutely positive. It happened twice and I know the second time was deliberate because the timing was after a big fall out. A couple of days after my cat was poorly and clearly in pain, weeds on my side of the hedge were turning yellow and shrivelling up. This was just one of many run ins with
this obnoxious threatening man.

Ever worked with the agricultural version? It leaves a tastes in the air that any animal will do it's best to escape from.
I've dumped all clothes worn at the time, if finished, in a barrel of water outside the house. Then brought them in to wash when done.

Added
There is one liquid you can use, but the source has to be the same.

 

[Profpointy]

Absolutely positive. It happened twice and I know the second time was deliberate because the timing was after a big fall out. A couple of days after my cat was poorly and clearly in pain, weeds on my side of the hedge were turning yellow and shrivelling up. This was just one of many run ins with
this obnoxious threatening man.

Just to understand this, are you saying the neighbour deliberately poisoned the cat? I'm quite prepared to believe this by the way as people do horrible things ... but it is still a world of difference from it being toxic under normal responsible use as directed.

 

[summerdays]

I mostly avoid chemicals and go for repeated attacks! I have dug out so much bind weed, but I'm noticing after 4 years it is getting weaker, and in places if you dig down its like spaghetti undweground, more roots than soil. On the allotment it's a different bind weed that isn't as easy to remove (finer curly roots), but there is less than when we first started.

 

[classic33]

I mostly avoid chemicals and go for repeated attacks! I have dug out so much bind weed, but I'm noticing after 4 years it is getting weaker, and in places if you dig down its like spaghetti undweground, more roots than soil. On the allotment it's a different bind weed that isn't as easy to remove (finer curly roots), but there is less than when we first started.

Use a fork, not a spade or shovel. It'll avoid cutting the roots, leaving less behind.

 

[summerdays]

Use a fork, not a spade or shovel. It'll avoid cutting the roots, leaving less behind.

I get down on my hands and knees and use my hands to pull it out, then go for the next bit and so on... Who knows how many green bins full of bind weed I've chucked since we've moved in but I'm not putting any of it in my compost, and certainly not in that quantity!

 

[classic33]

My neighbour poisoned my cat by spraying with agricultural Roundup. The cat survived but was very poorly.

See http://homeguides.sfgate.com/long-after-using-roundup-can-pets-yard-84614.html for details on the diluted home use version.
"Exposing Animals to Spray
Although the studies reported by the Extension Toxicology Network suggest animals can tolerate considerable exposure to glyphosate, the surfactants in Roundup may cause a number of toxic reactions. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, these include weight loss, lethargy, excessive drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. Moreover, tests show that about 15 percent of dogs that eat grass treated with glyphosate-formulated products develop serious symptoms of toxic reaction. In light of these and other findings, the Roundup label recommends providing any animal that shows signs of toxicity plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and calling a veterinarian if symptoms persist for more than 24 hours."

 

[classic33]

[QUOTE 4305155, member: 9609"]Does anyone get or know anyone that gets any mild side effects in the hours after using Round up ? I do but I suspect it is some sort of psychosomatic nonsense rather than reality; I can't find anything on internet directly similar and I won't say what my symptoms are at this stage as I would be interested to hear an un-prompted similar finding.[/QUOTE]
Suddenly become very "regular", with a taste in the mouth that you can't get rid off?

 

[Beebo]

Yes. I'm in the process of killing off an ivy. You need to scrunch the leaves before spraying it on but for added measure I used a little saw and sawed into the roots and poured the neat Roundup straight in. The whole thing is turning brown now and on its way out. Finally!
I'm also trying to kill a tree with it but this is going to take quite a few applications I think.

I have seen very good results where someone drilled a hole about 1cm wide and on a downward slope into the main stem, and poured the killer into the hole. The hole acted as a reservoir so it was absorbed over a few days.