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Pet friendly Ant killer for inside [Find safe pet options]

pet friendly ant killer for inside

Have you found yourself crushing ants, wondering how on earth they keep getting into your home? Do you often find yourself wondering how to get rid of these pests once and for all?

Have you begun searching for ant killer products such as ant bait or ant sand? But are you worried about the potential harm these types of products could cause your pets? 

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. That’s why we’re here. Keep on reading to find out what the safe ant killer options are for your home.

If your home has food in it, it’s probably already been a target for the many underground colonies of ants nearby. Ants are attracted to small crumbs of food left on the floor, in the bed, or on plates.

ant-in-home

 

However, having an ant problem doesn’t indicate you have a dirty household. It just means they’ve been able to invade your home and discover food. Maybe even freshly baked bread cooling on the side.

Ants are relentless pests; they somehow always manage to find a way into your home, normally near a sugary substance on a surface. We get it, you want them gone for good, but let’s look at the ways to kill ants without harming your pets.

While there are many common forms of ant killers on the market, they don’t always take into consideration every family member in the household. Dogs and cats, for example, will become very ill if exposed to common insecticides.

That’s why, here at Pest Resources, we’ve gathered all the information you need. We’ll talk about choosing ant bait, the different types of ant bait, pet safe ant killer options, and how to kill ants without causing your pets to get ill.

1. Why are Ants a Real Pest Problem in the US?

To briefly explain, having ants indoors can be dangerous and should not be overlooked. Even if you have only seen one ant, more will follow. It’s also an indication that there is a small hole or crevice in your house for them to get into.

And, if ants can enter, so can other uninvited micro-beasts.

There’s three reasons you should be tracking the open source and eradicating the problem:

  • Ants can cause structural damage to your home by tunneling through wooden surfaces
  • Ants, just like most other insects, will bite when threatened. They’ll use their mandibles to pierce the skin. And, depending on the species (e.g. fire ants), can inject poisonous and life-threatening venom or cause allergic reactions.
  • Ants are part of a food chain, meaning they will attract other unwanted guests such as spiders, beetles, snails, and bats.

2. What are the Common Forms of Ant Control in the Home and Garden?

The current forms of ant pest control include the use of insecticides and pesticides. Many pest control and exterminating companies will often use baits with powerful insecticide. These are then consumed and distributed within the colony.

This is a very effective method for eradicating an ant plague in the home and garden. It ensures the insecticide is carried to the queen and larvae, which will kill the colony.

Some people even use common glues to seal any potential cracks in the skirting boards. However, this can only be a temporary measure, and prolonged exposure to the chemicals can cause severe irritation.

3. How Can Pesticides Harm Our Pups and Kittens?

Unfortunately, these effective methods for invading ants can be harmful to those who mean the most to us: our dogs and cats. Most exterminators have set guidelines for a pest problem, and don’t account for using pet safe products.

For example, a lot of bait traps may use peanut butter to initially attract ants. Yet, ants won’t be the only things attracted to the smell of peanut butter. And, while we may have the sense to not lick the trap, our pets don’t.

Not only this, but cats and dogs don’t stand a chance if a non-pet safe spray is used to eliminate or deter ants. Many of them (including the pesticides that poison your pets) use a product called boric acid which causes toxicity. Here’s some of the indications your pet may have ingested non-pet safe chemicals:

  • Lethargypoorly-dog-at-vets
  • Skin Discoloration
  • Infections
  • Lack of Appetite
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
 

4. What Pet Friendly and Safe Ant Killers Can I Use?

There are plenty of natural ant extermination methods out there, with several safe ant killer options available. Many studies show positive impacts of using simple spices to deter an ant’s tracks.

Pet friendly is a term that is thrown around, but can mean many different things. Of course, here at Pest Resources, we want to bring you the best products to take care of your infestation. And we want to do this in the safest and most-animal-friendly manner by promoting natural and organic ingredients.

It must be noted that animal friendly doesn’t mean non-toxic. It also doesn’t mean that there will be no effect on your pet’s health. However, it does mean that small doses of the dog friendly ant killer will not cause harm to anyone other than the ant.

So, we’ve pulled together a list of these natural ingredients you may even have around your home to eradicate your ant problem:

  • Cinnamon
  • Coffee Grounds
  • Citrus Fruits
  • Peppermint Oil
  • Vinegar
  • Black Pepper
  • Chalk
  • Cornmeal
  • Borax
  • Flour
  • Diatomaceous Earth

Place any of these home remedies in the ant’s route and they’ll be stopped in their tracks.

5. Which is the Best Method for Ant Extermination that is Pet Safe?

Here at Pest Resources, our favors reach out to brands that create baits and traps using Diatomaceous Earth.

This is because it is a natural sand made from fossilized algae. It can be food-grade and made to be safe to ingest, even promoting health benefits such as cleansing the digestive tract, but we’ll leave this up to you.

The benefits for ant infestation eradication is that it is a natural drying agent and will swiftly kill the ants. The silica that makes up the Diatomaceous Earth strips the waxy coat of the ant’s exoskeleton. This means the ant can no longer retain water and will simply die of dehydration.

It can be placed around skirting boards, near cracks, or around areas ants have been known to travel through, making this an affordable, safe, and easy to use natural insecticide.

The only downside to using Diatomaceous Earth is that it cannot kill the colony. More ants may return, and an extermination program is required to take care of the ant hill outside.

6. What Can I Spray to Prevent Ants from Returning?

If you’re using dog friendly options to kill ants such as Diatomaceous Earth, you’ll want to find some pet friendly sprays. These will effectively deter the unwanted guests from returning.

You can make your own home-remedy using essential oils that penetrate exoskeletons and kill the ants. The best oils and liquids to use include: peppermint oil, rosemary oil, spearmint oil, vinegar, and d-limonene (orange peel oil). Of course, using some smells may deter more than just ants.

trigger-spray-bottleSimply spray the liquid on the ants and in their trails to kill and deter the infestation!

For some final thoughts, it’s always wise to contact your local pest control service here in the US. This way they can detect, eradicate, and suggest preventative measures. They may even equip some caulk to seal cracks in floorboards, doors, skirting boards, and more.

Otherwise, if you find yourself in the midst of an ant infestation, you should use natural extermination baits. This way you and your pets can remain healthy and happy at home.

Don’t forget to keep checking in to read new tips and tricks about dealing with pests and where to look for products!

Learn more about Ants

If you are looking for other Ant related articles – be sure to check out our other pest guides to help rid you of your Ant problem.

We have some excellent tips to keep ants away here.

Ronald Miller
Ronald Miller

Ronald has 25 years of pest control experience under his belt. He scrutinizes each pest control method, product and process. Each pest resource we list on our website goes through an in-depth fact checking process.

Read more here.

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