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Is Pest Control Safe for Dogs and Other Pets?

Written by PestMan Editorial TeamTechnical review pendingPublished Updated

Quick answer

Pest control can be carried out safely around pets when products are registered, applied strictly according to the label, and pets are kept away from treated areas for the time the label specifies. Tell the technician about every pet, including fish, birds and reptiles, which can be more sensitive. Baits, especially rodenticides, must be kept out of reach.

Why this happens

In Australia, pesticides are registered by the APVMA, and the label sets out how each product must be used, including re-entry times and precautions for animals.

Different pets have different sensitivities. Cats are sensitive to certain chemicals, including some permethrin-based products made for dogs. Fish are highly sensitive to many insecticides, and birds are sensitive to airborne particles.

What you can do

  • Tell the pest manager about all pets before treatment.
  • Keep pets out of treated areas until surfaces are dry or for the time on the label.
  • Cover or move fish tanks and turn off aquarium pumps if advised.
  • Remove pet bowls, bedding and toys from treatment areas.
  • Ask where baits are placed and confirm they are in tamper-resistant stations.

What not to do

  • Never use dog flea products on cats unless the label says they are safe for cats.
  • Do not let pets access rodent bait.
Safety first

If you think a pet has been poisoned, contact your vet or an emergency animal hospital immediately. PestMan provides general information and does not replace veterinary advice.

When professional help may be needed

A licensed pest manager should be able to explain which products they will use, how they are applied and how long to keep pets away. If a pet may have been exposed to a pesticide or bait, contact your vet immediately.

Cockroaches

Fast, flat-bodied insects that hide in warm, damp gaps and come out at night to feed. A few introduced species cause most household problems in Australia.

Fleas

Tiny, wingless, jumping insects that feed on the blood of pets and people. Most of a flea population lives in carpets, bedding and yards as eggs, larvae and pupae, not on the pet.

Guide

How to Pest-Proof Your Home

A practical, room-by-room approach to reducing pests without relying on chemicals: remove what attracts them, close the ways in, and make your property less comfortable for them.

Guide

Pest Prevention Checklist

A printable seasonal checklist of simple, low-cost tasks that reduce pests around Australian homes, with the reason behind each step and extra lists for renters, apartment residents, pet owners and Queenslander owners.

Guide

The Australian Guide to Cockroaches

Everything an Australian household needs to know about cockroaches: which species you are seeing, why they are there, how they get in, the health implications, and how to prevent and manage them.

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Sources & further reading

PestMan provides general information only and does not replace licensed pest-management, medical, veterinary or structural advice. Always read and follow product labels. Read our disclaimer.