One popular solution for pest control is liquid ant bait, which targets the queen to stem the flow of ants into your house; however, if you’re thinking about setting up Terro Liquid Ant Bait in your house, you’re probably wondering whether it’s safe for dogs and cats.
The active ingredient in Terro Ant Bait is borax, which isn’t toxic to dogs or cats when consumed in small amounts; however, you should still aim to prevent your dog or cat from licking or eating the gel.
The rest of this article will explore whether Terro Liquid Ant Bait is safe for dogs and cats, as well as how to keep your furry friend away from the gel. Check out the list of the best non-toxic insect killer sprays on Amazon now!
Can I Use Terro If I Have a Dog/Cat?
You are able to use Terro Ant Baits if you have a cat or dog, but you should try to avoid letting your pet consume the gel.
Borax, the active ingredient in Terro, is not toxic to dogs in small amounts, but can be dangerous if consumed in large amounts.
The problem with liquid ant baits in general is that they contain something sweet that is meant to entice the ants to collect the gel and bring it back to the colony and the queen.
The sweetness of the bait makes it enticing to dogs and cats.
Since it usually takes 3-4 days once the ants find the bait for the poison to take full effect, you’ll need to devise some creative solutions to keep your pets safe.
Is Terro Liquid Ant Bait Toxic to Pets?
Terro’s main ingredient is borax, which is a mineral hydrate salt of boric acid.
It is toxic to pets, although not to the same degree as disinfectants or other cleaners.
Most likely, the amount of borax in a Terro Liquid Ant Bait is not enough to cause serious damage.
A dog or cat’s immune system is well-equipped to deal with such threats.
In fact, the greater threat to your dog or cat would be consuming the plastic around the gel.
Still, you want to keep your pets clear of the stuff. Borax can cause skin irritation in both cats and dogs, causing red patches.
It can also lead to digestive issues, causing diarrhea and vomiting, particularly when consumed in higher quantities.
Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which is very dangerous for dogs and cats.
The nervous and respiratory systems also respond negatively to borax, and coughing is a likely side effect if your pet has been ingesting borax.
To avoid this risk as a pet owner, you should avoid borax powder entirely for pest control.
How to Keep a Pet Safe While Using Terro Liquid Ant Bait?
When using liquid ant bait, you should always take precautions; however, the methodology will vary depending on if you’re dealing with a dog or a cat.
Place the bait on a counter out of your dog’s reach, and you’re good to go.
There’s no need to worry about the dog consuming any of the gel that the ants are carrying back. Such a small amount of borax won’t be unsafe.
Cats, on the other hand, are more difficult to deal with when it comes to keeping them away from a trap because as every cat owner knows, cats will go where they please.
To keep them safe, place the trap behind a door that they can’t access or under an item of furniture they can’t squeeze underneath.
You can get creative and use any material you have on hand to create a little protective area around the liquid ant bait to ward off your nosy cat.
Don’t worry about blocking off access for the ants― they’ll find it, sure enough.
By placing the trap out of reach or creating a barrier around it, you can ensure that your pet won’t be able to get to the bait.
What to Do If Your Pet Licked Terro Liquid Ant Bait
If your pet licked or ate an ant bait, stay calm! Most liquid ant traps don’t have enough borax to be dangerous, but you should still take precautions and contact your local veterinarian for instructions.
The most worrying symptom that may follow is dehydration brought on by diarrhea, although stomach issues, vomiting, and nausea may also be caused by borax poisoning depending on how much was consumed.
After the incident, you should monitor your pet’s health carefully to determine if they are having any lasting symptoms and administer any medication that your veterinarian prescribes.
With close observation, your pet should experience few, if any, negative symptoms. Check out the list of the best non-toxic insect killer sprays on Amazon now!
Conclusion
Despite conflicting information online, the amount of borax found in Terro Liquid Ant Baits isn’t hazardous to dogs or cats.
Yes, borax can be toxic in large amounts, but the amount of active ingredient in ant baits is designed to kill ants, not larger animals with more robust immune systems.
As such, you shouldn’t panic if your pet gets to the ant bait.
Call your local veterinarian and monitor your pet’s health carefully for any complications, but the odds are that no ensuing issues will arise.
To prevent the risk of your pet eating the bait, you can place it higher up out of the reach of dogs or behind a door.
Using household objects to make a barrier for the trap is an effective solution as well.
Thankfully, since the ingredients in Terro Liquid Ant Bait aren’t that dangerous to cats and dogs, you can rest easy the next time you need to clear out ants in your home.
My name is Katie, and I have had different pets at home for as long as I can remember. While I can definitely say I love all animals in general, my heart belongs to cats and dogs. I know you are supposed to choose one or the other, but I could never really decide. I’ve also owned hamsters and fish when I was a kid, and they filled my childhood with very delightful memories.
