How was the study conducted?

Veterinarians from Purdue University contacted owners of Scottish terriers with bladder cancer and asked them to complete a questionnaire about use of lawn care pesticides around their home and access of their dog to their lawn. They also gave the same questionnaire to owners of dogs who did not have bladder cancer. These dogs served as a "control" or comparison group.

What did the study find?

The study found that over half of the dogs with bladder cancer had access to lawns treated with herbicides. Less than 20 percent of the dogs without cancer had access to herbicide treated lawns. Dogs with access to lawns treated with herbicides, or with both herbicides and insecticides, had an increased risk of bladder cancer. The risk of bladder cancer in dogs with access to lawns treated with phenoxy herbicides (2,4-D and its chemical relatives) was four times higher than the risk of this cancer in dogs who used untreated lawns. The veterinarians who conducted the study recommended that "owners of Scottish terriers should minimize their dogs' access to lawns or gardens treated with phenoxy herbicides."

View abstract of the study