Saturday, September 24, 2011

What to Do if Your Dog Eats Ant Posion

We caught Sadie gnawing at a Raid Ant Bait this morning. First thought: another ER visit? I Googled the issue and apparently dogs quite frequently find and eat these sugary traps.

This article from eHow, "What to Do If a Dog Eats Ant Killer" allayed my fears.

"A quick response may save your pet's life, but depending on the chemical involved, home remedies may be all you need," explains writer Mary Earhart.

Her advice? Read the label. Avermectin is one of the more common and least threatening to your dog's health when ingested in small amounts. Avermectin accounts for just 0.01% of the contents of the sugar-laden bait Sadie had in her mouth. And avermectin is not all bad: It is an active ingredient in Heartgard to treat heartworms in dogs. So, it seems the situation is not critical.

Just to be sure, I phoned Sadie's vet. Sadie weighs 60 pounds and had not actually eaten the trap. She chewed it like a toy. The fact she had not swallowed the trap whole is yet another reason not to worry too much, he explained. His advice? Keep an eye on her and watch for lethargy and any foaming at the mouth. If that happens, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, which is best suited for walking pet owners through necessary steps to diagnosing and troubleshooting poisoning. Here is the number (note: there is a $65 fee, but it's cheaper than an ER visit): 888-426-4425

We'll have to do a better job of hiding these traps. Or find a dog-friendlier alternative.



8 comments:

  1. Thanks for this awesome post. Internet is full with tons of contents about ant killing, and dog care. But, article like this is not available. I like you nice work.

    house ants

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://www.peststrategies.com/pest-guides/chemicals/abamectin/

      Do NOT use Avermectin if you have dogs or cats (unless in ant-traps only; no gel, powder, etc). Sounds like it’s the opposite of what I’m seeing here unless they’re just giving the ok to traps. Hope this helps

      Delete
  2. We have smaller dogs (Italian greyhound/chi mix and a shih-chi). We returned home from a date to discover a roach bait destroyed (avermectin). We were very concerned, though they seemed fine. This is a great help. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://www.peststrategies.com/pest-guides/chemicals/abamectin/

      Do NOT use Avermectin if you have dogs or cats (unless in ant-traps only; no gel, powder, etc). Sounds like it’s the opposite of what I’m seeing here unless they’re just giving the ok to traps. Hope this helps

      Delete
  3. Yes - thank you for the information. Your article, along with 3 other ones I found on the internet, confirmed that our 90 lb. dog should be OK.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://www.peststrategies.com/pest-guides/chemicals/abamectin/

      Do NOT use Avermectin if you have dogs or cats (unless in ant-traps only; no gel, powder, etc). Sounds like it’s the opposite of what I’m seeing here unless they’re just giving the ok to traps. Hope this helps

      Delete
  4. nice bLog! its interesting. thank you for sharing....
    FUMIGACIONES

    ReplyDelete
  5. https://www.peststrategies.com/pest-guides/chemicals/abamectin/

    Do NOT use Avermectin if you have dogs or cats (unless in ant-traps only; no gel, powder, etc). Sounds like it’s the opposite of what I’m seeing here unless they’re just giving the ok to traps. Hope this helps

    ReplyDelete