Is GrubEx safe for dogs? What the label says
Short answer: apply to a dry lawn, water in with about 1 inch of water, and keep pets off until the grass has dried. That is the label's re-entry rule.
What the EPA-accepted label says
- Product
- Scotts GrubEx (GrubEx III / GrubEx 1)
- EPA Reg. No.
- 538-306
- Active ingredients
- Chlorantraniliprole 0.08%
- Form
- Granules applied with a spreader
- Signal word
- None required
- Label version
- Accepted by EPA January 11, 2012
“Apply to dry lawn. Water in thoroughly (~ / approximately 1 inch) to activate.”
“People or pets may re-enter lawn once grass has dried.”
“KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN”
Exact wording from the EPA-stamped label (label PDF). This is the most recent label PDF in EPA's system for this registration, accepted in 2012. "~ / approximately" is the label's own alternate-wording notation. Compare with your bag. Match the EPA Reg. No. printed on your container before relying on this. Last checked November 4, 2026.
What this means in practice
- Pets stay inside while you spread and while you water.
- The label's re-entry rule is once grass has dried, not when the sprinkler stops.
- Sweep granules off hard surfaces onto the lawn. The label says this keeps product on the grass.
"No signal word" explained
EPA labels use Caution, Warning, or Danger based on acute toxicity. GrubEx's label carries none. EPA's label training lists the signal word for Toxicity Category IV, the lowest acute toxicity category, as "None Required". That is about a single exposure to the product as sold. It is not a promise that eating granules is harmless.
Dogs vs cats
The label treats all pets the same: off until the grass has dried.
Kids
Same rule as pets: off the lawn until the grass is dry after watering in.
Granules
NPIC says granular lawn products may require keeping pets off for 24 hours or longer while granules dissolve and the area dries, and to check the label for specific instructions.
Questions people ask
How long after GrubEx can my dog go on the lawn?
The label says people or pets may re-enter the lawn once grass has dried, after you water it in with about 1 inch of water.
Does GrubEx have a warning signal word?
The EPA label we checked has no signal word. EPA's label training says no signal word is required for Toxicity Category IV, its lowest acute toxicity category. The label still says keep out of reach of children. No signal word does not mean no risk.
My dog ate GrubEx granules from the bag.
Call your vet or a pet poison line with the bag.
Sources
- EPA label, Reg. No. 538-306, accepted January 11, 2012. Checked November 4, 2026.
- EPA: Label Review Training, Parts of the Label (signal words). Checked November 4, 2026.
- NPIC: Pesticide Use Around Pets (updated April 14, 2026). Checked November 4, 2026.