Dog Owners - anything you use to repel ants from dogs? (house, organic)

[Miskolci]

We live on many acres and have that lovely sugar sand "soil". Even though we treat as many acres as we can with insect repellent, the ants are back in days.

My dogs are large and have thick coats. They like being outside with us, and will lay down near us when we are working in the yard. The ants must have a special code for "dog flesh" because my dogs seem to be intensely bitten up at least a couple times a month.

These ants have sent us to the vet twice already this year for antibiotics and salves for the areas where the dogs have licked away their fur due to irritation.

My vet says there is no repellent for ants, but keep using the Seresto collar and heartworm/flea tablets so that at least that isn't an issue.

Haven't seen any fleas but those dang ants are everywhere!

So, Floridians that have many more years of experience with this issue than I do, what do you use to protect your dogs from ants? My dogs are not understanding that ant hills are not for laying on, so is there any repellent I can put on their thick coats to protect them from those nasty red devils?

[kyle19125]

Diatomaceous Earth is your best bet for fire ants. It's effective, all natural and safe to use on the dogs as well. https://www.amazon.com/Harris-Diatom...10204050&psc=1

[Miskolci]

Thanks! I will give it a try!

[Nicholas_Martin]

Originally Posted by Miskolci

We live on many acres and have that lovely sugar sand "soil". Even though we treat as many acres as we can with insect repellent, the ants are back in days.

My dogs are large and have thick coats. They like being outside with us, and will lay down near us when we are working in the yard. The ants must have a special code for "dog flesh" because my dogs seem to be intensely bitten up at least a couple times a month.

These ants have sent us to the vet twice already this year for antibiotics and salves for the areas where the dogs have licked away their fur due to irritation.

My vet says there is no repellent for ants, but keep using the Seresto collar and heartworm/flea tablets so that at least that isn't an issue.

Haven't seen any fleas but those dang ants are everywhere!

So, Floridians that have many more years of experience with this issue than I do, what do you use to protect your dogs from ants? My dogs are not understanding that ant hills are not for laying on, so is there any repellent I can put on their thick coats to protect them from those nasty red devils?

Spreading diatomaceous earth around you house and all over your yard is a wise choice, though you'll need a couple of bags of it for sure.

[bmw335xi]

There are a lot of pest/fertilizer companies that can spray your yard for ants, pests, etc.

[Nicholas_Martin]

Originally Posted by Miskolci

These ants have sent us to the vet twice already this year for antibiotics and salves for the areas where the dogs have licked away their fur due to irritation.

My vet says there is no repellent for ants, but keep using the Seresto collar and heartworm/flea tablets so that at least that isn't an issue.

And your vet is right, there are no ant repellents which are designed specifically for dogs, though there pet safe ant killers which can be used both indoors and outdoors. They are based on organic ingredients such as peppermint and rosemary, which are often used as a natural insecticide. But, obviously, you shouldn't spray your pet directly and only use it near possible nests locations.

[k350]

There is not much past the DE which is hit and miss.

Yea you can spray it, but I would not want my dog, nor myself, walking around in it then.