by Derrick |
Last Updated: November 18, 2021 Ants and insects are pests that no one wants to have in their home; however, we will probably have to deal with them at some point. Terro Ant Killer is a product that has been on the market for many years. Terro is one of the most effective and famous ant killers among users. However, is Terro safe to use around pets?
Terro is non-toxic to dogs, cats, pets in general, and humans if ingested. Terro has a sweet taste with a maple syrup-like consistency, making it palatable to dogs and cats. If your pet eats it, it may experience symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, but it will not die from intoxication.
Without a doubt, Terro is the most effective and well-known product for eliminating ants and other pests. However, suppose you live with your pets in the house. In that case, it is always natural to investigate more about how these products affect our beloved pets. Today we will learn more about Terro and the safety of using it when we have pets at home.
What Is Terro?
Terro is a poison for ants and other pests based on a compound that resembles pancake syrup. This sweet taste makes Terro very attractive to our pets, which makes them try to eat it. Terro is a safe product for pets as it has low toxicity to animals and humans but not to ants and other pests.
The Ingredients Of Terro
The primary active component in Terro is Borax. Borax is also known as sodium borate, disodium tetraborate, and sodium tetraborate. Borax is a white, granular mineral common ingredient in many household cleaners that we all use daily.
Other ingredients in Terro include essential sugars and gels, which create an effective channel to deliver the poison to the ants.
Understanding What Borax Is
As mentioned above, borax is the main component of Terro. Borax is a natural mineral that you can find in many everyday products. This component is a mineral and a salt of boric acid.
It is usually found in grocery stores next to laundry detergents in the form of a white powder.
Besides being the main ingredient in Terro, Borax is present in many everyday products such as toothpaste, laundry detergents, cleaning products, and makeup products.
Are Borax And Boric Acid The Same Thing?
It is elementary to associate borax and boric acid as the same thing. Still, the reality is that these elements are not. Borax is a mineral that is in the earth and is a form of the compound boron. In contrast, boric acid is a highly processed and refined form of borax used in chemicals.
Borax is a kind of salt that comes from boric acid, used primarily in household products. In contrast, boric acid is much more refined and is a common component in pesticides and chemicals.
Is Terro Safe For Pets?
Terro is one of the best products to kill ants when we are unfortunate enough to suffer an ant infestation. Terro is a product that is non-toxic to humans and animals.
However, keeping pets and small children away from this type of product is recommended as a precautionary measure. Remember that Terra has low toxicity, and the probability of harming the pet is relatively low. Still, taking precautions will never be an excess.
Is It Possible For Terro To Affect My Dog?
If your dog eats an ant trap, there is no risk of poisoning. However, it is essential to know that ant traps contain an oily substance. This substance could make the animal sick and present diarrhea if your dog or pet eats it. If your pet ingests several traps simultaneously, you must take him to the veterinarian since this material can block the intestines.
What Should We Look For In An Ant Killer To Be Safe For Pets?
A common ingredient in ant killers that is safe for pets is diatomaceous earth. This ingredient contains fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms called “diatoms.”
Are Ant Traps Poisonous?
Traps are highly poisonous to ants and other pests, but they are not a source of poisoning to our pets. Most traps do not have enough toxic components to kill a dog or cat. Manufacturers understand that people will place these products in locations where animals and children are highly likely to be present.
Most ant and pest traps contain some poisonous component, which is combined with sweet substances to attract these insects. Even traps containing Borax only have a small amount that will only affect the ants.
The main concern for owners and veterinarians when a dog eats one of these traps is the plastic surrounding it.
What Are The Types Of Ant Traps?
Not all ant traps are the same; this means that each trap may have a different warning label. The main alternatives to traps that we can find are:
- Terro ant traps: this trap contains 5% Borax as its main pest control component.
- Raid ant traps: this trap has 0.05% avermectin for ant control.
- Enforcer ant trap: this trap uses abamectin as its main active ingredient.
- Combat ant trap: this bait contains 0.001% fipronil.
All of the ingredients in these traps are incredibly poisonous in large quantities. For this reason, ant traps have a very low amount of these components to affect only the pests they target. However, although these low amounts cannot be life-threatening to our pets, there is a possibility that they may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and distress. The best decision is to keep your pets away from these traps.
What Do I Do If My Pet Ingested An Ant Trap?
We already know that Terro and other products on the market do not have enough chemicals to harm pets seriously. Despite this factor, there is still some risk. The best thing you can do is to take some preventive measures to help keep your pet safe.
You Can Contact The Poison Helpline
Whenever your pet ingests an atypical product unrelated to its diet or not recommended by your veterinarian, you should contact the Poison Helpline. This helpline has a database of absolutely all the products on the market and how they may or may not affect our pets.
Veterinarians can’t know all the components and chemicals in every product, so seeking support from this helpline is always an excellent resource. The helpline will assign you a case number, which will serve as a bridge between your veterinarian and a group of toxicologists to discuss your pet’s condition.
Contact Your Veterinarian Immediately
When your dog, cat, or other pet ingests a pest or ant trap, always contact your veterinarian as a first step. Regardless of whether the amount of chemical is very low or non-toxic, there are other issues to consider.
When a pet ingests a trap, it almost always eats the plastic that contains it. The chemical in the trap is probably not life-threatening to the pet, but the plastic may be.
Always Be Aware Of The Plastic
The plastic covering the ant trap is the most dangerous part for pets. First of all, the pet can break the plastic into sharp pieces that can cause injury to the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. These pieces of plastic can be painful as they move through the intestine, not to mention causing a life-threatening obstruction.
A Final Thought On The Safety Of Terro In Pets
Terro is a safe product for pets; since it is non-toxic, there is no risk of poisoning our pets. However, prevention must always be present when using these products. One trap contains too little chemical to harm the pet seriously. However, if the animal ingests several traps or the plastic cover, we must go immediately to the veterinarian.
Sources:
https://findanyanswer.com/is-terro-ant-killer-safe-for-pets
https://askinglot.com/is-terro-liquid-ant-bait-safe-for-pets
