Snake-A-Way is not safe for pets. Its two active ingredients, naphthalene (7%) and sulfur (28%), are both toxic to dogs and cats if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through skin. Since the product is spread on the ground where pets walk, sniff, and explore, the risk of exposure is real and worth taking seriously.
What’s in Snake-A-Way
The classic Snake-A-Way formula (originally sold as Dr. T’s Snake-A-Way) contains 7.05% naphthalene, 28% sulfur, and about 65% inert ingredients. Naphthalene is the same chemical found in traditional mothballs. It’s spread as granules around the perimeter of a yard or garden, where it sits on the ground at nose level for any curious dog or cat.
Why Naphthalene Is Dangerous for Pets
Naphthalene irritates the digestive tract on contact. A pet that eats even a small amount will typically vomit and lose interest in food. With larger exposures, the chemical destroys red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemia. Symptoms of serious poisoning include pale gums, difficulty breathing, and in rare cases, tremors or seizures.
Cats are suspected to be more sensitive to naphthalene than dogs. And ingestion isn’t the only route of exposure. Pets can absorb the chemical through their skin or inhale it, since naphthalene readily releases fumes, especially in warm weather. A dog lying near a treated perimeter or a cat grooming naphthalene dust off its paws is getting a dose without ever “eating” the product.
Sulfur Risks for Dogs and Cats
Sulfur is sometimes thought of as a milder, more natural ingredient, but the National Pesticide Information Center warns that sulfur in excess can be fatal to animals. Poisoning signs include stomach and intestinal problems, lung irritation, and neurological damage. In severe cases, sulfur causes brain cell death, which can lead to blindness, loss of coordination, seizures, or death.
Sulfur is also a skin and eye irritant. Repeated contact can cause rashes or thickened, callused skin. When sulfur lands on intact skin, most of it doesn’t reach the bloodstream, but it does absorb into the skin itself and remains detectable for up to eight hours. For a pet that walks through treated areas repeatedly, that contact adds up.
What to Do if Your Pet Eats Snake-A-Way
If your dog or cat ingests Snake-A-Way granules, call your veterinarian or an emergency poison hotline right away. Two 24/7 options are the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) and the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). Have the product label handy so you can share the brand name, ingredient list, how much your pet may have eaten, when it happened, and your pet’s approximate weight.
Don’t try to make your pet vomit without professional guidance. Inducing vomiting is sometimes the wrong call depending on the substance and timing, and a veterinarian or poison control specialist can tell you whether it’s appropriate. If your pet needs clinical care, the vet may administer activated charcoal to reduce absorption of the toxin.
Does Snake-A-Way Actually Work?
Here’s the part that makes the risk even harder to justify: the evidence that chemical snake repellents work is weak. A University of Nebraska study tested naphthalene crystals, sulfur, and the commercial Snake-A-Way product on garter snakes. The results were not encouraging. Most wildlife management experts and university extension programs do not recommend chemical repellents as a reliable snake deterrent. You’re exposing your pets to toxic chemicals for a product that may not solve your snake problem.
Pet-Safe Ways to Keep Snakes Out
The most effective snake control doesn’t come from a bag of granules. It comes from making your yard less attractive to snakes in the first place. Snakes follow their food supply, so reducing rodent populations is the single biggest step you can take. Store pet food in sealed containers, clean up after outdoor feedings, and eliminate anything that gives mice or rats shelter.
Habitat modification works because snakes need cover, warmth, and prey. Remove the things that provide those:
- Mow grass short so snakes lose ground cover
- Clear debris like rock piles, firewood stacks, boards, and brush near the ground
- Trim low bushes and shrubs that create shaded hiding spots
- Seal gaps in foundations, sheds, and garages with mortar or hardware cloth (anything a quarter inch or larger is big enough for a snake)
For properties with a serious snake problem, physical exclusion is the gold standard. A snake-proof fence uses quarter-inch galvanized hardware cloth, 36 inches tall, buried 4 to 6 inches underground, and angled outward at about 30 degrees. Support stakes go on the inside, and gates should swing inward to maintain the outward slope. It’s more work than scattering granules, but it actually keeps snakes out.
Another option worth considering: a border of lava rock at least 12 inches wide around the area you want to protect. The rough texture deters both snakes and the rodents they hunt. It’s completely nontoxic, lasts indefinitely, and doubles as landscaping.