Pet safe way to get rid of ants?

[Laura66]

We have teeny tiny ants coming thru and under the floor boards (one side is the patio slider door) in an area where the dog bowls for food and water are.
They aren't going in the bowls - I think it's just weather is warming up and they're finding their way in. We've really never had a problem before. I don't want to put an ant trap down or spray pesticide that would harm our sweet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Any suggestions or solutions?

 

[lucas]

The only way to get rid of them is by using Terro. The ants have to eat it and take it back to the nest to kill the queen. If you don't kill the queen, you will never get rid of them. Is there a place you can put it down so the dog can't get to it? Or a time when the dog isn't around?

 

[wiigirl]

I have bought those covered ant traps with the liquid ant killer in them. My cat couldn't get to the poision.

Of course my cat would lick up the ants before they could really get there too...

 

[LJSquishy]

I second getting the Terro liquid bait. If you are concerned about the dog getting into the poison, they make outdoor ones that basically only the ant can climb up into. I would tape it to the floor or something so the dog can't move it around. The ants take the liquid back to the nest to feed the queen and each other and die.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I've had great luck with Raid Bug Barrier in the blue bottle. I sprayed outside the door and I saturated every square inch of that door, and patio, making sure I got tons in the cracks.

 

[Laura66]

I could put it out at night when he's sleeping with us? Stupid question? Do ants come out at night?? I'm guessing yes! LoL

 

[Liberty Belle]

No idea if this works, but I just read to put down cornmeal. They will carry it back to the colony and the ants will eat it, but can't digest it and will die.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Terro syrup. It initially attracts them in drives. I've laid on the floor watching them all belly up to a drop Of Terro, knowing they would bring it back to the nest to kill the rest of them. Give it a few days to get them all and replace the syrup each day.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Cornstarch. I put it down every spring by the front door. It'll do the same thing as the terro but it won't attract any more ants than you already have. I just put a thin line in the nooks and crannies by the front door and no one notices except the ants that die.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I had a minor ant problem a week or so ago. I bought Combat "Source Kill Max" and it killed them all almost instantly. They come with six stations to each box.

 

[bedogged]

We have teeny tiny ants coming thru and under the floor boards (one side is the patio slider door) in an area where the dog bowls for food and water are.
They aren't going in the bowls - I think it's just weather is warming up and they're finding their way in. We've really never had a problem before. I don't want to put an ant trap down or spray pesticide that would harm our sweet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Any suggestions or solutions?

I know this one! Use Sevin in the powder form. Just sprinkle a small amount around the area where they are getting in. The ants will be gone in 24 hours. Sevin is safe for animals. It is the main ingredient in flea powder. I have really tiny dogs and birds and never have had a problem. However, do not use it if any of your pets is pregnant.

 

[HannaBelle]

Anteater?

That was my nephew suggestion to my FIL's ant problem. I thought it was a great idea!

 

[Laura66]

Thanks everyone!

 

[dakcp2001]

Anteater?

That was my nephew suggestion to my FIL's ant problem. I thought it was a great idea!

Love this idea

 

[clh2]

I could put it out at night when he's sleeping with us? Stupid question? Do ants come out at night?? I'm guessing yes! LoL

If you put it out at night...the ants will come. Just remove it in the morning when you get it up!

 

[Jaya]

I've had a lot of luck over the years using ammonia. Cut it in half with water and spray wherever you see the ants. Ants follow "scent trails" left by the ants before them and ammonia disturbs the trails. I used to get the little sugar ants twice a year in my kitchen. I'd spray the counters and backsplashes with the ammonia solution. It would kill the ants present and I wouldn't see any more after that. Since I use ammonia for cleaning anyway, it's a win-win solution for me. And you don't have to worry about your dog, because he doesn't want to go near the ammonia, either.

 

[momto2inKC]

We needed something pet friendly last year when we got ants. I read online to put cinnamon down where they were entering at and it worked! They won't walk through it.

 

[momof1princess]

We needed something pet friendly last year when we got ants. I read online to put cinnamon down where they were entering at and it worked! They won't walk through it.

I read the same thing online today about chalk.

 

[Liberty Belle]

A couple of years ago we had an ant problem and we bought those little hexagon things (combat, maybe?). Anyway, we thought we had them where our dog couldn't reach them, but he got two and ate them! Scared us to death! The vet said, though, that it was mostly peanut butter and a little bit of chemical, but the chemical that's used is also used in the flea drops. Our little guy was fine, but boy was that scary.

 

[HannaBelle]

I know this one! Use Sevin in the powder form. Just sprinkle a small amount around the area where they are getting in. The ants will be gone in 24 hours. Sevin is safe for animals. It is the main ingredient in flea powder. I have really tiny dogs and birds and never have had a problem. However, do not use it if any of your pets is pregnant.

TY for posting this about Sevin. I don't like to use pesticides in my yard b/c of my dogs, but Japanese Beetles are eating up my rose bushes this year. I used Sevin this weekend and have kept them out of the yard b/c of the dust.

It rained heavily today so all of the dust is gone and 90% of the beetles. I saw that they now have a liquid version in a spray bottle for more targeted treatments. I am going to grab some of that to use this weekend for the remaining beetles!

DH and I are a big fan of lizards in the garden as well. We almost never have an issue with bugs (ants included). I am looking for a local source of supply to beef up our lizard population in the yard.