Pet Safety / Compounds / Copper naphthenate (wood preservative)

Is Copper naphthenate (wood preservative) safe for dogs and cats?

Low risk for pets

Dogs that chew treated wood may ingest copper — GI upset possible but low toxicity.

What is copper naphthenate (wood preservative)?

The IUPAC name is 5-(methylamino)-2-phenyl-4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furan-3-one.

Also known as: Flurtamone, 96525-23-4, Fluortanone, BACCARA.

IUPAC name
5-(methylamino)-2-phenyl-4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furan-3-one
CAS number
1338-02-9
Molecular formula
Variable (Cu salt of naphthenic acids)
Molecular weight
333.3 g/mol
SMILES
CNC1=C(C(=O)C(O1)C2=CC=CC=C2)C3=CC(=CC=C3)C(F)(F)F
PubChem CID
91755

Risk for dogs

Low risk

Dogs that chew treated wood may ingest copper — GI upset possible but low toxicity.

Risk for cats

Low risk

Low concern.

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Copper naphthenate (wood preservative). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA—Registered wood preservative pesticide under FIFRA. General use (no restricted use classification)
AWPA—American Wood Protection Association standard P8 — copper naphthenate treatment specifications

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where pets encounter copper naphthenate (wood preservative)

  • Consumer Wood Treatment — Fence posts and garden stakes, Raised bed garden timber treatment, Deck post cut-end treatment, Log cabin preservation
  • Utility Infrastructure — Utility pole preservation, Railroad tie treatment (supplemental)
  • Marine — Marine timber pilings, Dock/wharf wood preservation

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Copper naphthenate (wood preservative):

  • Alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ)
    Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Copper azole (CA)
    Trade-offs: Removes 95-99% of dissolved contaminants including metals, PFAS, nitrates; wastes 2-4 gallons per gallon produced (improving with newer systems); removes beneficial minerals; $0.05-0.25/gallon; requires pre-treatment for longevity.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Naturally durable wood (cedar, redwood)
    Trade-offs: Alternative approach; specific tradeoffs depend on application context, scale, and regulatory requirements. Full hazard assessment of alternative recommended before adoption to avoid regrettable substitution.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is copper naphthenate (wood preservative) safe for pets?

Dogs that chew treated wood may ingest copper — GI upset possible but low toxicity.

What products contain copper naphthenate (wood preservative)?

Copper naphthenate (wood preservative) appears in: Fence posts and garden stakes (Consumer wood treatment); Raised bed garden timber treatment (Consumer wood treatment); Utility pole preservation (Utility infrastructure); Railroad tie treatment (supplemental) (Utility infrastructure); Marine timber pilings (Marine).

See Copper naphthenate (wood preservative) in the pets app

Look up products containing copper naphthenate (wood preservative), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (1)
  1. — expert_curation

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →