Lorne
Premium
join:2002-02-10
Fort Worth, TX
| Pet Safe Ant Killer
Our smaller dog just had surgery for a liver biopsy. The Vet was pretty sure it was cancer because the entire liver surface was covered in an odd re-growth. It wasn't cancer but they're still trying to figure out what damaged it (chronic toxic exposure or a repeat chronic infection).
That dog is my wife's baby. And, I have a new problem where two fire ant mounds popped up in the back yard and some small black ants have found their way into the kitchen. I've been banned from using chemicals now. So, what do I do?
From reading around I've picked up 3 different things:
1) »www.orangeguard.com/ Which I can run down the street to Lowes and pick up right now.
2) There's a lot of talk about using normal chemical solutions on mounds and then covering the mound with plastic or such and spraying Bitter Apple (or something) all over it so the dogs don't go near. I already brought that up but got slapped down with concerns about chemicals still sitting in the soil and moving all over the place when the ground gets wet
3) The last thing (interior) is to put the clear liquid types of ant killer on small cardboard pieces and then put those in areas of the house that dogs can't get to - like behind the fridge.
If anyone has any other theories - I'd love to hear them. Thanks. Orangeguard is suppose to be a contact only killer - so I can't imagine it will be able to take out a mound. I don't really know what do do for the outside yet. |
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fgonzalez0
join:2005-03-09
Sterling, VA
1 edit | I have read somewhere that you can pour boiling water into the mound and kill them off that way. I tried this on some near the house (not fire ants) and it does seem to work well. You may need to do it a few times and be careful. They mentioned a few gallons but I just used a tea kettle and a few applications. Edit:typo.
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2nd Ammendment: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. |
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aurgathor
join:2002-12-01
Lynnwood, WA | reply to Lorne
Smash a few small black ants, and smell if they're odorous house ants. If so, you have your task cut out for you. (I had first hand experience with them) |
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R4M0N
Brazilian Soccer Ownz Joo
join:2000-10-04
Glen Allen, VA | reply to Lorne
Forget about it... As long as your wife is paranoid about the dog, you might as well hand the keys of the house to the ants.  |
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Jan Janowski
join:2000-06-18
Skokie, IL
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to Lorne
Try a mixture of honey and boric acid, in a paste, and place it in a pop bottle, and lay it on it's side near the colony. The pop bottle will prevent any pet from getting at it, and ants will eat the mixture and take it in the colony, where it will do it's damage.
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Looking for 1939 Indian Motocycle |
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ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs: | reply to Lorne
I have tried chili powder as a deterrent for the ants with moderate success. It did not kill them.
I use the Home Defense spray outside as it dries quickly and our dog doesn't seem to know it's there. |
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LeeWL
join:2002-11-10
Morrisville, NC | reply to Lorne
Well, Fire Ants swarming all over the dog is probably not going to help it out either, so hopefully you find something.
I know some people use Borate as a natural pest killer and deterrent, but I am not sure if it will work on Fire Ants. |
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FourWheelKid
join:2006-03-03
Broussard, LA | reply to Lorne
Isn't borax pet-safe? (More or less, at least) |
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nightdesigns
Gone missing, back soon
Premium
join:2002-05-31
AZ
 ·Cox HSI
1 edit | reply to Lorne
I found this stuff by Victor. It's made from mint and works extremely well. It smells decent (if you don't mind mint)
and the dog didn't even seem interested about it. We had a heavy infestation of ants coming in from all sides. I hit their sources with a few shots and they were gone within a few hours.
Edit: I found this at my local Ace hardware store with all the other ant sprays.
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This Space for Rent... |
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