If your pet has encountered the dangerous sting of red imported fire ants claiming territory on your lawn, you probably will want to declare war. Fire ants have become a serious health problem for backyard pets and small animals, and learning safe methods to control fire ants will lead to a safer living environment. If your pet is attacked by fire ants, remove it quickly from the source and eliminate any fire ants from your pet. Do not attempt to spray ants off with a water hose because they will hang on with their jaws and sting the animal repeatedly.
Some pesticides can be toxic to pets if ingested, so take special care.
You should always remove your pets from the yard before applying any type of insecticide. If your yard is heavily infested with fire ants, the Two-Step Method can effectively control them. When applied properly, broadcast bait applications are unlikely to harm pets. Wherever fire ants are active, baits are rapidly picked up by worker ants and removed to underground nests, away from people, birds and pets. Step two requires treating troublesome mounds near pets with an approved mound drench, granule, aerosol, dust or bait.