Mary Allen
Ant poison is one way to drive insects out of your home. But what to do if there are dogs in the house?
Is laying out ant poison advisable if you have a dog? Because there is a high risk that your dog will eat the poisoned bait.
Also, ants are extremely useful insects. Scientists find them highly interesting because of their teamwork. The small hard-working creatures also improve our environment sustainably.
For example, ants spread the seeds of plants, they turn over the soil and help break down plant matter. In addition, they eat and fight harmful insects and thus regulate their occurrence.
All of this is probably reason enough to protect the little fellows as best as possible.
However, if ants come into the apartment or house, they can be very unpleasant. And it will be very difficult to get rid of them.
My dog ate ant poison, what to do?
Most ant poisons for dogs are only really dangerous in large quantities.
Despite this, you should not use toxins near pets. This also applies, for example, to chemical agents such as lawn fertilizer.
If your dog has eaten ant poison, go to your vet immediately. As an immediate measure, activated charcoal can bind large amounts of poison.
Be sure to bring the rest of the ant poison and the packaging with you to the vet. Doctors can find the exact information about the poison there and administer targeted antidotes.
There are different types of ant poison
Ant poisons are commercially available in many different forms. The active ingredients also vary.
Common ant poisons are available as:
- spray
- gel
- powder
- granules
- bait boxes
The bait boxes are particularly popular for use in the living area. These cans are positioned directly on the ant trail. This is how the ants crawl in, absorb the active substance and carry the poison into the nest.
There they feed the brood and queen the toxin. The ants are dying.
Other options include gel, sprinkles, or spray. They are also applied in the area of the ant trails and ensure the death of the animals.
Which ant poison is tolerated by dogs?
Active ingredients that are used in ant poison are:
- Permethrin
This active ingredient is an insecticide that has a very broad effect. It is on the market as a contact and ingestion poison. Permethrin is also used in veterinary medicine against pests. It is included in anti-flea remedies. - Imidacloprid
The substance imidacloprid has been used as a pesticide since 1985 and is now one of the best-selling synthetic insecticides worldwide. - Fipronil
Fipronil is an insecticide that acts as a contact poison. The active ingredient hit the headlines in 2017 when chicken eggs contaminated with fipronil landed on supermarket shelves. Fipronil is not approved as an insecticide for food-producing animals. - Etofenprox
Etofenprox is authorized in the EU as an insecticide and plant protection product. - Pyrethrum
Pyrethrum is a natural insect repellent and was already known to the Romans. It is made from dried daisy flowers. As a contact poison, pyrethrum is effective against fleas, head lice, ants, cockroaches, and mosquitoes. - Tetramethrin/Cypermethrin
This active ingredient works against hygiene pests and is no longer permitted in the EU.
The dose makes the poison
All of these toxins can severely irritate the mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive tract. Incidentally, this also applies to humans.
If you not only keep a dog but also a cat, then you have to do without the active ingredient permethrin. It is lethal for cats.
Also, spot-on products or parasite bands for dogs should only be used on dogs and never on cats.
Protect ants
In addition to the negative effects on living beings, it must never be forgotten that all these substances also heavily pollute the environment.
Since ants are really useful creatures and therefore worthy of protection, you should resort to harmless home remedies before using poison.
Fight ants in a dog-friendly way?
Please understand that we do not want to recommend ant poison to you.
A good alternative and completely harmless remedy is vinegar. Spray it diluted on the ant trail. The ants then lose their orientation and look for new paths.
Tea tree oil also works. Also, chalk keeps insects away from objects when simply drawn on the floor.
And before you take any defensive measures against ants, you should make sure that you do not attract the ants with leftover food and sweets.
Frequently Asked Question
What happens when dogs eat ant poison?
If your dog has eaten ant poison, he is likely to get an upset stomach. Depending on the size of your dog and the amount of ant poison he has eaten, it can also be dangerous for dogs.
What is deadly poisonous to dogs?
Cocoa and chocolate are among the foods that are particularly toxic to dogs. This is due to the alkaloid theobromine it contains. Unlike us humans, dogs do not have the necessary enzymes to break down theobromine.
How do you know if the dog was poisoned?
Recognizing symptoms of poisoning in dogs
If the dog is apathetic and withdraws, this can indicate poisoning, but also other diseases. Dogs very often react to the ingestion of toxic substances with vomiting or diarrhea.
Can dogs survive poisoning?
Prompt, correct veterinary treatment can ensure the survival of the patient in many cases of poisoning. However, very intensive, time-consuming, and expensive therapy is often necessary.
What if my dog breaks up white foam?
Does the dog vomit foam? If the dog vomits white foam, the stomach may be overly acidic or the gastric mucosa may be irritated. A foreign body or poisoning can also be the reason.
What binds toxins in dogs?
One of the few first aid supplies that dog owners can self-administer is medicinal charcoal tablets. These bind toxins and transport them away through the intestines. Charcoal works better in a dog with poisoning the earlier it is given.
What to do with home remedies for dog poisoning?
If you have symptoms of poisoning: go to the vet! The only “home remedy” that dog owners can use themselves for various types of poisoning is activated charcoal: it binds toxins in the digestive tract and thus delays their passage into the blood and thus the course of the poisoning.
How much charcoal is for a dog?
The general recommended dose of activated charcoal for poisoning is 1 gram of activated charcoal per kilogram of dog body weight. It is best to calculate the required dose for your dog in a quiet moment (or have it calculated by the vet, for example) and write it down on the package.
