If you’re like me, you go to ridiculous lengths to keep your beloved pet safe and happy. Many pet owners tolerate ants year after year because of unanswered questions about pet safe ant control. This complete pet safe ant exterminator’s guide will answer all those questions to keep your pet safe and your home ant-free.
Pet Safe Ant Removal
Pet safe ant removal begins with understanding ants and how they work:
- Ants live in large colonies.
- Colonies can range in size from hundreds to 50,000+.
- So, repelling individual ants without a plan for removing the whole colony can be counterproductive, and result in more chemical exposure over time.
To get rid of ants without spraying a drop, you’ll need to use a bait product. And you need those ants you’re seeing to take ant bait back to the colony.
Check out our step-by-step directions for the best treatment for ants.
Learn Safe Ant Control. 
The Best Pet Safe Indoor Ant Killer
The best indoor ant killer thats also pet safe is always liquid or gel bait. Here’s why:
- Ants on your countertops drink the bait and march it back to their colony.
- Then they “baby-bird” the bait back and forth with ant larvae, which eliminates the colony.
Why Are Baits Safer Than Sprays?
Baits are safe because you only need a tiny amount, and they’re often made up of 5% or less of ant-killer ingredients. The rest is usually sugary liquid or gel.
When placed in secured stations, or into baseboard crevices, or plumbing voids, your pets, kids, or pollinators aren’t likely to be exposed.
Since there is no skin, oral, or inhalation exposure with baits — unlike spray residues — the hazard is low. Even if your dog ate Terro, they’d have to consume a lot to get sick.
All-natural sprays will only disrupt the ants temporarily, and are potentially hazardous to fish & birds. All-natural ant repellent sprays require repeated use, rarely provide lasting results, which results in more chemical use –and exposure– over time.
Is Advion Ant Gel Pet Safe?
Bait products like Advion Ant Gel & Terro Liquid Ant Bait are safe for pets when applied according to the label’s instructions.
Advion ant gel comes in a syringe applicator instead of a pre-made bait station like Terro Liquid Ant Bait trays. So if you’re using Advion for ants, read the label carefully to avoid exposing your pet. Apply between 0.1-1 gram per placement (about the size of a BB), deep into cracks, crevices or wall voids where your pets cannot reach it.
Beware, if Advion ant gel is overapplied, in a place where pets can eat it, it could be harmful.
Use extreme caution if you have pet geckos, as some species of geckos are attracted to Advion ant gel.
Pet Safe Way to Get Rid of Ants in Yard
It’s natural to become alarmed when you’re pulling weeds in the yard and suddently disrupt a large colony of ants.
Most ant species belong out in the yard, and aren’t likely to invade your home.
So the safest thing for your pet is to just take a lap around the perimeter of your house to check to see if any ant trails are going up the foundation into the inside of your house.
Some types of ants that might invade your home are carpenter ants, odorous house ants (sugar ants), moisture ants, pharoah ants, and argentine ants, among others. If you see ants entering your house, you can apply liquid or gel bait in enclosed stations outside, out of reach of your pets.
If ants are bothering or stinging you outside, you can follow their trail to find the colony. Then place an enclosed, pet safe ant bait station at the colony site.
Over the counter exterior ant bait stations can be made even more pet safe by putting them in a weighted, heavy duty enclosed container, with small holes for the ants to access the bait.
*Granular ant baits are also a helpful way to get rid of ants in the yard, and are pet safe when applied according to the label.
Pet Safe Ant Treatment
For the most part, baiting the interior will help you get rid of sugar ants without spraying chemicals.
Remember, most spray products are repellents, and aren’t great for controlling ants long-term. They will only work temporarily unless you get rid of the ant colony.
Pet Safe Ant Prevention
- For pet safe ant prevention, keep all trees, shrubs and grass at least 1′ away from the sides of your home.
- Clear mulch & debris away from siding. Keep good air flow.
- Inspect your home’s foundation for ant trails regularly. Place a granular or liquid bait (according to the label’s instructions) if you notice ant trails going into your house.
- If you have trees or shrubs that touch the side of the home, inspect those plants for ant trails. Ants love to climb up trees and bushes, and then make nests up high in your walls, ceiling or sky lights.
Best Ant Killer Around Pets
The best ant killer around pets is one they won’t eat or be exposed to.
Borate baits, like Terro are lowest toxicity and should be used first. Care should be taken to ensure pets aren’t able to eat the bait.
Ant killer sprays, like Raid or Ortho are generally safe for pets if they are allowed to dry before pets contact the treated areas. Deter them from licking treated areas. But beware. Unless it is a professional “non-repellent” product, it almost certainly won’t get you long-lasting results. So avoid over the counter sprays to prevent chronic pesticide exposure to pets.
Natural ant sprays are usually safe for dogs & cats when allowed to dry. But natural essential oils are bad at controlling the whole ant colony because they’re repellent, and don’t transfer back to the colony. Essential oil vapors may be harmful to fish or birds, or irritating to cats, dogs and other pets who have a more powerful sense of smell than humans.
Professional grade baits like Advion Ant Gel & Maxforce Quantum should be applied by a licensed pest control service to ensure the bait is not over-applied in a way that will risk exposure to pets.
Click to Get Rid of Ants.
Is Borax Pet Safe?
Depends. Liquid ant baits containing borax are pet safe when applied as directed. Borax baits are low toxicity to humans and pets, because they are usually around 5% borax, and 95% sugary liquid.
Powdered borax, like laundry boosters, are basically 100% borax, and should not be used for ant control, unless you’re planning to use it in a homeopathic ant bait.
If smaller pets are somehow allowed to ingest a large quantity of borax, it could make them sick.
Don’t allow your pets to eat ant bait. Always put your ant baits into crevices behind large furniture, behind appliances on your counter, or in closed closets to where you pets cannot get to them.
Learn: How to Keep Ants Out of the House
Ant Extermination Safe for Pets
The main takeaways:
- For the best ant extermination that’s safe for pets, think twice about using repellent sprays, all-natural or not.
- To get rid of ants by eliminating the colony, choose a liquid or gel bait, and place baits out of reach of pets & kids.
- To read more insider advice on getting rid of ants without spraying, click here.
If you live in Portland Oregon and are looking for affordable, expert pet safe ant extermination, please get in touch with Pest & Pollinator today.
Wondering what sets us apart? Learn more about Pest & Pollinator here.
