Ants are a common household problem for many people. They usually are attracted to sweet things and can make a huge mess when they invade your home! For this reason, many people turn to ant traps to control ant problems and to keep ants out of their houses. But what happens if a dog licks an ant trap?
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Has your dog licked an ant trap? Are you worried the ant trap will make your dog sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be concerning when your dog does something like this.
In this article, we’ll take a look at ant traps and whether or not they can make your dog sick. Let’s get started!
What are Ant Traps?
Ant traps are devices that contain food that ants are looking for but combined with insecticide. The traps are usually in a plastic housing that contains the food bait.
Some people mistakenly believe the traps are meant to trap the ants and kill them. Instead, they’re meant to attract ants with bait and then have the ants take the poison back to their nest.
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Ant traps are very popular because they’re so easy to use. You just place the traps in areas where you’ve found ants, and that’s it. They’re also easy to find and buy at stores and online.
But what happens if a dog licks an ant trap?
Ant Traps & Dogs
Why on earth would a dog be attracted to an ant trap? If the trap contains sweet bait, then this is usually what the dog is after. Dogs love sugar, which is often used as bait in ant traps.
Ant traps may also contain borax (also called sodium tetraborate) which can kill ants. The good news is that this chemical is only used in very small amounts in the ant trap. If a dog happens to lick this chemical, he should be OK. The dog would have to eat several traps in order to become sick from the borax.
If your dog has only licked one ant trap, chances are he will be just fine. The only other danger the ant trap could cause is if your dog has eaten the entire trap. This could lead to an intestinal blockage, which can be deadly if not treated.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSumming It Up
So, if your dog has licked one ant trap, he should be OK! However, if your fur baby shows any concerning symptoms after licking an ant trap, then do call the vet right away.
Julie
Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.
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