Is Raid Safe To Use Around Pets?

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If you have pesky pests around your home, you may be thinking about taking the sticky situation into your own hands and killing them with an insecticide or insect killer, such as cockroach or ant spray for indoor use. One pest control product is Raid, which kills ants, roaches, bedbugs, crawling insects, and flying insects.

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While you'd love to use Raid Ant & Roach Killer spray, Raid Max, or another Raid bug spray around your home, you aren't sure how your pet will react to it, and you don't want to bring anything into your space that could be toxic to them. Before using Raid, it's best to discover how it could be harmful to your pet and what you could do to ensure your pet doesn't get hurt or have to go to the veterinarian for treatment.

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Is Raid pet safe?

It might seem surprising, but Raid is pet safe.‌ Raid is one of the pesticides that is not toxic to your dog or cat unless they ingest a large amount of it. Some signs that your pet has ingested it and is ill include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, coughing up blood, collapsing, a racing heart, strange behavior, and pale gums. Don't try to induce vomiting or treat them yourself. Instead, take them to the veterinarian immediately for examination and treatment.

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However, even if your dog or cat didn't ingest Raid, they may still be allergic to the ingredients in it. The active ingredients in Raid are cypermethrin and imiprothrin. Other ingredients include ammonium benzoate, isobutane, isopropanol, petroleum distillate, propane, sorbitan oleate, water, and fragrance (in scented products). Ingredients in each Raid product will vary somewhat depending on the product type and scent.

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Contact with Raid could cause your pet's skin to become irritated. If you notice your pet is scratching or has a rash, call your veterinarian for advice on what to do and be sure to tell them the specific product you used, such as Raid Essentials Ant & Roach Killer or any other Raid product.

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Spray Raid repellent away from pets

Even though Raid would be generally considered safe, in general, when spraying insecticide, do it while your pet is outside or in another room. Keep the windows open when spraying, as the chemical smell can be strong. Protect yourself from inhaling it as well. When you get Raid Ant & Roach Killer or another Raid pest control product, make sure you first read the label to learn how to use it. When you're finished, exit the room and return with your pets after at least 15 minutes. If you're going to use a fogger, you and your pets will need to vacate your home for at least four hours and air it out afterward for at least 30 minutes. Never spray bug killer directly on a pet.

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There is no need to wipe up the treated area where you sprayed unless you see that your pet is licking up the product or it is causing skin irritation. You should only wipe it up if you used it to successfully kill a few bugs, you spilled it, you sprayed it in the wrong place, or you or your pets could potentially slip on it. Check to be sure that large concentrations of the aerosol spray have not accumulated in crevices around windows, doors, and hardwood floors.

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If you're using bait traps, keep them out of the reach of pets. Place them in areas where your pet can't go, such as inside a drawer, behind a stove, in a closet that locks, or underneath furniture. When storing your products, also keep them in a locked cabinet. In addition, you should keep any unused product out of the reach of any children and pets so they don't accidentally ingest it and become ill.

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Other solutions for getting rid of bugs

Instead of buying Raid or other insect or ant killers, you could hire an exterminator who is familiar with pet safety. They will let you know how to protect your pet against a spray or some other type of insecticide. Additionally, you should seal up any areas of your home where bugs are getting in to avoid having to use the spray inside your house altogether. Make sure your pet food is sealed in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid and that no other food sources are available to pests.

The bottom line

Sometimes, you simply can't avoid insects getting into your house. By taking a few precautions, you can avoid your pet getting sick from the chemicals in Raid and other products. Raid is toxic to pets only if your pet ingests a lot of it. They may also have an allergic reaction if their skin comes in contact with it. If you suspect that your pet has ingested Raid or is having an allergic skin reaction, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

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