Pest control with pets

Sprays, dusts and foggers indoors

• Remove pets and their toys, chews, food bowls and bedding before you start.^[1]
• Keep pets out until the pesticide is completely dry and the area is well ventilated. Professional labels say the same thing, for example: 'Do not allow contact with treated surfaces by people or pets before spray has dried.'^[1][5]
• Cover fish tanks so liquid and vapors cannot get in. If you use a fogger, turn off the tank pump.^[1]
• Do not spray or store products near pet food or water dishes.^[2]
• Never put a house or yard product directly on a pet. FDA's advice is to follow the directions exactly, including how often to apply.^[7]
• Move pet birds out before using an aerosol. NPIC rates permethrin low in toxicity to birds but notes that some permethrin aerosols contain other ingredients that can harm birds if they breathe them.^[4]
• Keep products in their original containers with tight lids, stored where pets can't get to them. If something spills, keep animals out until it's cleaned up.^[2]
• Diatomaceous earth is a dust, and NPIC says breathing it can irritate the nose and nasal passages. Only some products are labeled for use on dogs and cats. The diatomaceous earth page has the details.^[15]

Lawn and yard

Granular lawn products may require keeping pets off the treated area for 24 hours or longer while the granules dissolve and the area dries. Check the label.^[1]

If you hire a pest control or lawn company, ask what products they use and the risks to your pets.^[1]

Liquid sprays outdoors follow the same rule as indoors. A professional bifenthrin label, for example, says not to let people or pets touch treated surfaces before the spray has dried.^[5]

Ponds need extra care. That label calls bifenthrin extremely toxic to fish and tells applicators to avoid fish and reptile pets in and around ornamental ponds, and NPIC rates permethrin highly toxic to fish. Don't spray on windy days, when drift can reach water that animals use.^[5][4][2]

Rodent baits and secondary poisoning

Baits often contain food ingredients that attract pets. Place them where pets cannot reach them, and remember that pets dig up buried baits.^[1]

Pets can also be poisoned by eating a rodent that ate poison (secondary poisoning). Choose a product with lower secondary-poisoning potential; NPIC can help compare products.^[1]

NPIC notes that rodenticides act the same way in any mammal, dogs and cats included, and that the flavorings that draw rodents also draw pets; dogs will work hard to dig baits up. Use ready-to-use bait stations, and pick ones rated for pets as well as children. The bait station guide explains the ratings.^[10]

To cut the risk of secondary poisoning, NPIC says to search for and collect poisoned rodents, wearing gloves, and keep trash lids secure so pets can't reach the carcasses.^[10]

• Anticoagulant baits cause internal bleeding that may not show. Signs include weakness, lethargy and trouble breathing, and less often coughing, vomiting, black tarry stools, paleness, bleeding gums, bruising and seizures. NPIC says signs can be delayed up to five days, so call a veterinarian right after a pet eats bait, not when it looks sick.^[10]
• Bromethalin: muscle tremors, seizures, sensitivity to light or noise and over-excitement, then loss of control of the hind legs. After a lethal dose, NPIC says signs can begin 8 to 12 hours or several days later.^[10]
• Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3): vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite and depression within 12 to 36 hours, then thirst and heavy urination. NPIC says the kidneys may fail within one or two days and survivors can have lasting kidney damage.^[10]
• Zinc phosphide: vomiting, sometimes within an hour, though signs can be delayed 4 hours or longer than 18. The vomit may smell like garlic.^[10]
• Some baits contain a blue or green dye, which can show whether a pet has handled or eaten them.^[10]

Slug and snail baits

Pets are drawn to slug and snail baits just as they are to rodent baits, so NPIC says to place them where pets can't reach or dig them up.^[1]

The active ingredient matters. A study of 1,500 reports to NPIC from 2001 to 2011 found 35 dog deaths linked to metaldehyde baits and none to iron phosphate baits. The same authors warn that iron phosphate can still cause iron poisoning in dogs, so it is safer, not safe. Call a veterinarian if a dog eats either kind. The slug and snail guide compares the baits.^[17]

Ant and roach baits, boric acid and mothballs

EPA's rule for any bait is to make sure animals can't get at it while it's in use. Boric acid, sold as baits, dusts and other forms for insects indoors, is low in toxicity when eaten according to NPIC, but it affects animals the way it affects people, and signs in an animal that eats it can start within 2 hours.^[2][14]

Mothballs are a bigger worry. NPIC says they contain very high concentrations of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene and are made to be used only inside closed, airtight containers, where the risk to people and pets is low. Left in the open, they can harm pets that touch them, eat them or breathe the vapors, and pets may eat them because they look like treats. Dogs that ate naphthalene mothballs have had lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite and tremors.^[11][12][13]

Flea and tick products on pets

EPA's veterinarians reviewed incidents with spot-on flea and tick products. Most were minor, but some pets died. Small dogs were affected more than large dogs by some products, so the dose must match the dog's weight.^[3]

Cats are harmed when dog products are used on them, because cats are more sensitive to certain pesticides. EPA found that label warnings against this were not working well enough.^[3]

Permethrin, common in dog products, is a major example: cats break it down slowly.^[4]

NPIC describes what permethrin exposure looks like: animals with it on their skin may flick their paws, twitch their skin or ears, or roll on the ground, and those that lick it may drool or smack their lips. Cats accidentally exposed to products with 45 to 65 percent permethrin may seem anxious, walk abnormally, tremble and have seizures, and some have died. The permethrin and cats page covers this in depth.^[4]

• Two agencies regulate these products. FDA approves those given by mouth or injection, such as pills and chews; EPA, with some exceptions, regulates those put on the skin or fur, such as spot-ons, collars, shampoos, sprays and powders. FDA products carry an NADA or ANADA number, and EPA products an EPA Reg. No.^[8]
• Match the product to your pet's species, life stage and weight. Don't use a puppy or kitten product unless the label allows that age; for animals too young, FDA suggests a flea comb and a tick remover.^[7][3]
• With more than one pet, treat one at a time and keep the treated animal apart until the product dries, so the others can't groom it and swallow the chemical. FDA says this matters most when a dog-only product is used in a home with a cat.^[7]
• Wear gloves or wash your hands right after applying, and read the label each time, since directions and warnings can change.^[7]
• Isoxazoline flea and tick drugs (fluralaner, lotilaner, afoxolaner, sarolaner and esafoxolaner) have been linked to muscle tremors, unsteady walking and seizures in some dogs and cats, including animals with no history of seizures. FDA still considers them safe and effective and says most pets have no such reaction; it asks owners to review the pet's medical history with a veterinarian before choosing one.^[9]
• Watch your pet after any treatment, especially the first time. FDA lists dizziness, wobbliness, poor coordination, poor appetite, depression, vomiting, diarrhea and heavy drooling as signs to report; some animals have had seizures or died.^[7]
• If a pet reacts, take off a flea collar at once and call your veterinarian, who may tell you to bathe the pet with mild dish soap and plenty of water.^[7]

Essential oils and "natural" products

Some plant-oil products, such as those based on cedar, citronella, lemongrass or mint oil, are minimum risk pesticides. NPIC explains that these are exempt from EPA registration, may contain only listed ingredients, and can't claim to control pests that affect health. Many states still require them to be registered. NPIC's advice is that natural or not, all pesticides should be used with care.^[16]

A review of 2006 to 2008 cases at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center found adverse effects in 44 of 48 dogs and cats exposed to EPA-exempt essential-oil flea products, and 37 of the animals had been treated as the label directed. Most signs began within 24 hours. Agitation and drooling were common in cats, lethargy and vomiting in dogs, and three animals died or were euthanized.^[18]

Pure tea tree oil is a separate hazard. In 443 dog and cat cases from the same center, most owners had used 100 percent tea tree oil on purpose, and signs such as drooling, lethargy, weakness, unsteady walking and tremors came on within 2 to 12 hours and lasted up to 3 days. Young and small cats were the most likely to become seriously ill.^[19]

After a reaction: who to tell

Keep the package. Its registration number identifies the exact product better than its name, and FDA suggests holding on to the packaging so you have the manufacturer's contact details and lot number.^[8][7]

• For pills, chews and other FDA-approved flea and tick drugs, report to the drug maker or to FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine.^[8][9]
• For EPA-registered products, report to the manufacturer, to EPA, or to NPIC at 1-800-858-7378.^[8]
• If the pet needs care now, call your veterinarian, an emergency animal clinic or an animal poison control line first.^[8][6]

Common questions

How long should my dog stay off the lawn after it's treated?

Until the product has dried, at minimum, and longer if the label says so. NPIC notes that granular lawn products may require keeping pets off for 24 hours or more while the granules dissolve and the area dries.^[1][5]

My cat licked my dog's flea treatment. What should I do?

Call your veterinarian or an animal poison control line right away and have the package with you. Cats are more sensitive than dogs to some of these pesticides, permethrin in particular.^[7][3][4][6]

Are flea pills regulated differently from spot-ons?

Yes. FDA approves flea and tick products given by mouth or injection, and EPA generally regulates those applied to the skin or fur. Look for an NADA or ANADA number or an EPA registration number on the package.^[8]

Are essential-oil flea products safe for cats?

Not reliably. In one poison-control review, most dogs and cats exposed to EPA-exempt essential-oil flea products had side effects, often after label use, and full-strength tea tree oil has seriously sickened small and young cats.^[18][19]

Sources

1. National Pesticide Information Center, “Pesticide Use Around Pets.” npic.orst.edu/health/pets.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Read the Label First: Protect Your Pets.” www.epa.gov/pets/read-label-first-protect-your-pets (accessed 2026-11-10)
3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “EPA Evaluation of Pet Spot-on Products: Analysis and Plans for Reducing Harmful Effects.” www.epa.gov/pets/epa-evaluation-pet-spot-products-analysis-and-plans-reducing-harmful-effects (accessed 2026-11-10)
4. National Pesticide Information Center, “Permethrin General Fact Sheet.” npic.orst.edu/factsheets/PermGen.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
5. U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Bifenthrin TC (Bifen I/T) label, EPA Reg. No. 53883-118 (EPA-stamped, September 1, 2026).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/053883-00118-20260901.pdf (accessed 2026-11-10)
6. ASPCA, “ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.” www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control (accessed 2026-11-10)
7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Safe Use of Flea and Tick Products in Pets.” www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/safe-use-flea-and-tick-products-pets (accessed 2026-11-10)
8. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “How to Report Problems with Flea and Tick Products.” www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/how-report-problems-flea-and-tick-products (accessed 2026-11-10)
9. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, “Fact Sheet for Pet Owners and Veterinarians about Potential Adverse Events Associated with Isoxazoline Flea and Tick Products.” www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/fact-sheet-pet-owners-and-veterinarians-about-potential-adverse-events-associated-isoxazoline-flea (accessed 2026-11-10)
10. National Pesticide Information Center, “Rodenticides Topic Fact Sheet.” npic.orst.edu/factsheets/rodenticides.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
11. National Pesticide Information Center, “Mothballs: Naphthalene and Paradichlorobenzene.” npic.orst.edu/ingred/ptype/mothball/index.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
12. National Pesticide Information Center, “Mothballs: Frequently Asked Questions.” npic.orst.edu/faq/mothball.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
13. National Pesticide Information Center, “Naphthalene General Fact Sheet.” npic.orst.edu/factsheets/naphgen.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
14. National Pesticide Information Center, “Boric Acid General Fact Sheet.” npic.orst.edu/factsheets/boricgen.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
15. National Pesticide Information Center, “Diatomaceous Earth General Fact Sheet.” npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
16. National Pesticide Information Center, “Minimum Risk Pesticides.” npic.orst.edu/ingred/ptype/minrisk.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
17. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, via PubMed, “Buhl, Berman and Stone (2013), Reports of metaldehyde and iron phosphate exposures in animals and characterization of suspected iron toxicosis in dogs, J Am Vet Med Assoc.” pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23600781/ (accessed 2026-11-10)
18. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, via PubMed, “Genovese, McLean and Khan (2012), Adverse reactions from essential oil-containing natural flea products exempted from Environmental Protection Agency regulations in dogs and cats, J Vet Emerg Crit Care.” pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22805458/ (accessed 2026-11-10)
19. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, via PubMed, “Khan, McLean and Slater (2014), Concentrated tea tree oil toxicosis in dogs and cats: 443 cases (2002-2012), J Am Vet Med Assoc.” pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24344857/ (accessed 2026-11-10)