Ants do not in themselves pose a danger to dogs and cats, unlike baits that are used to get rid of them.
It isin spring and summerthat they can invade the house or leave their nest outside. We see them wavingin single filealong the walls, on the floor, on the windowsills …
Winged ants (flying ants) can come out through cracks in walls or ceilings before trying to fly out of windows. They are not the most numerous or the most invasive.
We can see the comings and goings of ants often always at the same hours and ants can bemore active at night.
Spotting an ant nest in the house is not always easy. And even less to get rid of it.
Some ants arelooking for warmth, others for food placed in cupboards, hence their presence in different rooms of the house.
Why can ant baits be dangerous for dogs and cats?
The baits used against ants are ofdifferent presentations. It exists in the form of. :
– Powdergenerally used outdoors,
– Gelthat is applied to the place of passage of ants,
– Plastic boxeswith holes.
Depending on their presentation, these products may be based on toxic substances such as permethrin, fipronil, etc.
It is on the presentation that will depend the danger of poisoning due to anti-ant baits.
Used as a gel, the dog or cat may be tempted to lick where the ant repellent has been deposited. Thesweet tasteof some ant baits is palatable and therefore naturally attracts animals.
The powder can settle on the hair of the cat that will rub it and ingestion can occur when the animal licks.
The cat is very sensitive to one of the components contained in the powders used to make ant baits: those based on Pyrethroids.
As for the boxes, their shape or even their color canlook like a toy for the dogwho will then nibble it, shred and intoxicate with the substance contained inside.
The risk of poisoning is not zero, although in boxes of anti-ant baits the concentration of insecticide is usually low, which minimizes it.
Insmall dogs, puppies and cats, therisk of poisoning is higher.
The cat is more suspicious than the dog. CAPAE-Ouest (Animal Poison Control Centre) records dozens of calls on this subject and dogs are involved in more than 90% of cases.
Some dogs are sensitive to substances inantiparasiticsused to controlfleas and ticks. They are also used for certain substances that may be contained in ant baits. These include:
-Australian Shepherd,
– Colley,
– Border Collie,
-Shetland…
Anti-ant baits: what are the symptoms of poisoning?
Symptoms vary depending on whether they result from ingestion or skin contact. The symptoms observed are not specific to intoxication, especially since we do not always catch the dog or cat in the act. In case of poisoning with anti-ant bait in dogs or cats, we can notice:
– local irritation,
– salivation,
– vomiting…
Anti-ant baits: what to do in case of poisoning in your dog and cat?
In case of trouble,veteran consultation is necessary as soon as possible.
Notify the clinic of your arrival. Donot induce vomiting or drinking the dog or cat.
The ideal is to be ableto bring the packaging of the offending product. The substance varies from one brand to another and is mentioned on the packaging as well as its concentration. This will help the veterinarian in his diagnosis.
All forms of intoxication are covered and reimbursed by dog insurance: consultation, examinations if necessary, treatments, even hospitalization and follow-up.
How to get rid of ants safe for your dog or cat?
If you use commercially available bait, always place it inplaces that are inaccessibleto dogs and cats.
If you spot the presence of ants entering and exiting through a hole or crack, it is possible to plug them usingsilicone.
What natural repellents against ants?
In a natural way, you can place on the place of passage ofants natural repellents, but without guarantee of good results by the admission of some owners who have tested them. In any case, ants do not like strong odors that can make them flee. Among thenatural repellents against ants, there are:
– Lemon slices,
– White vinegar,
– Cucumber slices,
– Dried mint,
– Cinnamon powder,
– Basil,
-Lavender
– Garlic,
– Cayenne pepper,
– Coffee grounds…
300 biocidal products (gel against cockroaches, baits against ants, stickers against flies, spray against termites…) are not affected by the ban on neonicotinoids which entered into force on 1 September 2018. It is, therefore, necessary to preserve the health of dogs and cats and prevent the risk of poisoning to be very careful when using this kind of product.