Rapeseed

RAPESEED

As I was driving back from exercising my dogs today the fields are aglow with the yellow of rapeseed flowers.

Although beautiful to look at the rapeseed crop can have some hidden problems for us and our pets.

When I was working in Vet practice, I recall a little terrier type dog being rushed in who had been walked through a field of rapeseed. He was so very poorly, he was covered in pollen, he was having trouble breathing, his eye lids were so swollen he couldn’t see, his skin was bright red and bleeding he was agitated and clearly in distress. He had never had allergy problems before.

I remember bathing him and although I had protective gloves and a mask on, I was itching too. He was treated by the Vet team and after a stay for observation, he was discharged. He suffered no further health issues as a result of his walk through the fields and it was a happy ending for him and his guardians, however not all dogs are so lucky.

Rapeseed has been known to cause:

Sneezing
Skin Lesions
Haemolytic Anaemia
Eye problems and Blindness
Nervous System Damage
Digestive Disorders
Breathing Problems
Acute Allergic Reactions

To save your dog the agony of some of the above conditions please consider not walking through fields of rapeseed. It is heart breaking to see your dog suffering particularly when it can be avoided.

Also consider if you are walking through planted fields in general that, at this time of year, a lot of spraying of pesticides and fertilizers are taking place. These also at best may cause skin issues but have been linked to on going health conditions and some cancers.

If you have to walk through planted fields please stick to the footpaths, keep your dog on lead to minimize exposure to possible chemicals (and protect the crop) and wash your dog’s underside, legs, feet and face to remove anything carried on the coat as soon as you get home.

The best way to minimize exposure is to find a different place to walk just for a few weeks until the crops are harvested.

Another tip - take water with you for your dog to drink, drinking from puddles or standing water may contain chemical run off and cause vomiting and or diarrhoea.

Better to be safe than sorry.