Safety

Is weed killer safe for dogs?

Quick answer

Only when it's used exactly as the label says. Keep dogs and other pets off treated areas for as long as the label directs, usually at least until the spray has dried, store products locked away, and never let pets drink from mixing containers. If your pet may have been exposed, call your vet straight away and have the product label handy.

Why this happens

Weed killers are registered on the basis that they’re used exactly as their label directs. The label’s safety directions and re-entry instructions are written with exposure in mind, including people and animals walking on treated areas. Follow them and you’ve done what’s needed. Ignore them and no product is “safe”.

Before you spray

Read the label first: safety directions, first aid, protective equipment, and any directions about re-entry and animals. Choose the right product for the weed and your grass, so you use as little as possible. In small areas, digging out weeds avoids chemicals altogether.

While you spray

Keep pets indoors or well away. Mix in a spot they can’t reach, rinse equipment as the label directs, and don’t leave buckets, sprayers or spills around.

After you spray

Keep pets off the area for as long as the label says. Many labels say until the spray has dried; some give a longer period. Dogs walk through grass, then lick their paws, so this matters.

Storage

Keep products in their original, labelled containers, locked away from children and pets. Never decant into drink bottles or food containers.

If your pet is exposed

Call your vet straight away and have the product label ready, because it lists the active ingredients. If a person is exposed or has swallowed a product, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (24 hours, Australia-wide), or 000 in an emergency. The Poisons Information Centre is for people; for animals, contact your vet.

What you can do

  1. Read the label before you buyCheck first

    Check the safety directions and any instructions about people and animals entering treated areas.

  2. Keep pets inside while you spray

    Mix and apply with pets indoors or well away from the area.

  3. Keep them off until it's safe

    Follow the label's re-entry directions. If it says until dry, wait until the spray has completely dried.

  4. Store it securely

    Keep products in their original containers, locked away from children and pets.

  5. Consider non-chemical options

    Digging out weeds by hand avoids the question entirely in small areas.

What not to do

  • Letting the dog out onto a lawn that's still wet with spray.
  • Leaving a mixing bucket or sprayer where pets can drink from it.
  • Decanting products into unlabelled containers.

What's next

Next questionWhat weed killer is safe on buffalo?Application guideSpraying safely: PPE, weather, drift, pets, kids and waterways

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Sources

  1. Understanding pesticide chemical labels (booklet), Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)Safety directions and re-entry information on labels. Accessed 4 October 2026.
  2. Pesticide poisoning, healthdirect AustraliaKeeping pesticides away from children; what to do after exposure. Accessed 3 October 2026.
  3. NSW Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), NSW Government, The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network13 11 26 for people. Accessed 3 October 2026.