Over my years in the field, I’ve seen countless homes invaded by tiny armies of ants. These persistent creatures have an uncanny ability to locate even the tiniest entry points in your home’s structure, swiftly establishing highways that lead straight to your pet’s food bowl.
Given half a chance, these industrious insects will track down the mother lode — your pet’s food storage — contaminating entire bags of kibble.
Through extensive experience and research, I’ve developed an arsenal of effective strategies to keep these unwelcome guests from crashing your pet’s dinner party and turning your home into their personal buffet.
What To Do if You Find Ants in Your Pet’s Food Bowl
Finding a scurrying swarm of ants inside your pet’s food bowl is an awful experience. You should first see if the ants have already made their way to your pet’s food bag. If not, place the food bag away from where the ants are swarming, preferably somewhere elevated or inside a cupboard.
If the ants have made their way into your pet’s food supply, it’s best not to try and salvage it; instead, throw it away. Place the food bag and everything in your pet’s food bowl into a trash bag. Then tie the top of the bag tightly and throw it directly into your trash bin.
You’ll then want to begin cleaning your pet’s food bowl and the area around it. If ants are still scurrying about, kill them with your shoe or use a pet-safe insecticidal spray. Once the area is ant free and clean, you’ll want to begin taking steps to prevent the ants from returning. Once ants know food is in your home and can get in, they won’t stop, so you’ll want to take steps to prevent them immediately.
How Are Ants Getting Into Your Dog and Cat Food?
The first and most effective step for preventing future ant incursions is finding their entry point. Most pests get into your home from the outside via small cracks in your foundation and siding, gaps in windows, holes in door screens, or slipping in under doorways. If you have serious ant problems, it’s always a good idea to give your infested rooms a good look to find any entrances that pests use.
If you don’t see any obvious entry points on the inside, they’re likely sneaking in through an outside crack. Once pests find a way into your walls, they can slip through openings in baseboards or other hard-to-spot areas.
To secure most outside entrances to your home from pests, I recommend the following:
- Using outdoor-grade silicone caulk to fill all cracks and gaps in your foundation and siding. Anything one-quarter of an inch or larger should be filled.
- Installing a door sweep for any doors with visible gaps in the bottom.
- Patching or replacing any window or door screen that has gaps or holes.
- Looking for gaps around wires, utility lines, pipes, and vents. These gaps can be safely filled with silicone caulk.
Will Ants in Dog Food Hurt My Dog?
As a professional who’s dealt with countless pest scenarios, I’m often asked about the potential harm of ants in pet food. The good news is that in most cases, a few ants in your dog’s food are unlikely to cause serious harm. Most common household ants are not toxic to dogs if ingested in small quantities.
However, there are several reasons why you should still prevent your dog from eating ant-infested food:
- Discomfort: Some ants, like fire ants, can bite or sting, causing discomfort in your dog’s mouth or digestive tract.
- Allergic reactions: While rare, some dogs may have an allergic reaction to ant bites or ingesting ants.
- Food contamination: Ants can carry bacteria on their bodies, contaminating the food.
- Change in food quality: A large ant infestation can alter the taste and nutritional value of dog food, making it less palatable and beneficial for your pet.
- Potential for larger issues: If you notice ants in your dog’s food, it could indicate a larger pest problem in your home that needs addressing.
While a few ants likely won’t cause harm, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. If you notice ants in your dog’s food, remove the contaminated food immediately and follow the steps outlined earlier in this article to clean the area and prevent future infestations.
If you’re concerned about your dog’s health after eating ant-infested food, or if you notice any unusual symptoms, it’s always wise to consult with your veterinarian.
Remember, the best approach is prevention. By implementing the strategies we’ve discussed, you can keep your pet’s food ant-free, making sure your furry friend enjoys every meal without unwanted guests.
Steps For Keeping Ants Out of Your Pet’s Food Bowl
Now that your outside entrances have been addressed, there are additional steps you should take to prevent ants from getting in the house. Moisture can draw in ants scavenge homes searching for food sources and. So, if you want to keep ants away, you’ll want to clean up any messes that will provide food and seal off access to damp areas.
Keep the Food Bowl’s Area Clean
Most pets don’t have impeccable table manners. It’s not uncommon for many pets to make a mess of things while they eat, and they can sling food pretty far. Keeping your pet’s feeding area clean is always a good idea. Take the time, at least twice per week, to sweep up all the crumbs and wash the floor with hot soap and water.
Thoroughly washing this area down is about more than just good housekeeping — ants have a powerful sense of smell, using scent trails to tell the rest of the colony where to go for food. Cleaning this area helps remove the scent from the ant trail, reducing the chance of them returning in the future.
This rule applies even more so for pets that eat outside. Outdoor food debris can attract much more problematic pests like mice and cockroaches and other critters like raccoons and possums.
Store Pet Food in Sealable Plastic Containers
Most dry food for pets is sold in simple paper bags. These bags are incredibly ineffective at keeping pests out, as they typically don’t reseal, allowing pests to crawl right in. Worse yet, some pests, like weevils and rodents, can chew right through pet food bags. The best way to keep your pet’s food safe from invasive pests is to store it in sealable, plastic, airtight containers.
Use Pet-safe Insecticides
Ants are extremely small and can squeeze through cracks that are easy to overlook. As a result, it can be almost impossible to spot the exact crack or crevice ants use to get inside. I recommend using pet-safe repellents and insecticides to remove ants once they find a way indoors. Some of the most effective DIY, pet-friendly insecticides include the following:
- Vinegar-based bug spray: Vinegar-based bug sprays are a mixture of one part vinegar to two parts water, with about a tablespoon of dish soap. Add this solution to a small spray bottle and apply it directly onto ants, killing them quickly. This solution is great for ants inside your home but won’t kill an ant colony outright.
- Diatomaceous earth: This mineral extract is taken from sand and is the remnants of fossilized seaweed. When using this mineral as a pesticide, be sure to buy the food-grade options, as it’s extremely lethal to all insect pests but is completely safe for humans and pets.
- A mixture of baking soda and sugar: Mix one part sugar and one part baking soda to create a lethal, pet-safe mixture that, when ingested, will kill ants. This lethal mixture will also be carried back to the colony and, over time, slowly put a stop to an ant infestation.
About Essential Oils
Many online blogs and publications tout the benefits of essential oils as an insecticide and deterrent for stopping ants. While some (specifically peppermint oil) are shown to deter some specific pests (mostly spiders), the vast majority don’t work, and if they do, they must be reapplied often. Therefore, I can’t recommend using them as a pest prevention tool.
Products and Tricks to Ant-proof Your Pet’s Bowl
If your pet’s food bowl is outside, and ants are a consistent problem, there are some products and tricks you can use to safeguard your pet’s kibble.
Ant-proof Pet Bowls
Some entrepreneurial companies have produced handy ant-proof food dishes, like this one from Amazon. These bowls typically use the water moat method (see below) and are designed for indoor or outdoor use. These products are extremely handy and help your pests eat in peace by keeping ants away.
Anti-ant Moat Trick
If you don’t want to buy separate products, you can make an anti-ant moat at home. Take an old skillet or saucepan in which your pet’s food bowl fits. Fill the gap between the two with a cup of water. Remember, you don’t want the water to come up the lip of your pet’s bowl or spill inside.
The water creates an impassable moat for ants to cross over (they can’t swim), and they’ll move away once they realize the path to the food is impassable. Some online blogs recommend smearing petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on the outside of the moat to deter ants further, but I find that this only makes a mess and doesn’t help in keeping ants out.
Washing and Storing Pet Bowls While Not in Use
One of the most effective ways to make sure your dog’s food bowl is not menaced by ants is to, after your pet eats, wash and put the bowl away. While this might feel like a hassle, it will remove any chance of ants being attracted to the food bowl.
This method is especially effective for homeowners who use outdoor food bowls where ants are common. Cleaning and storing your pet’s food bowl will make sure your pet is free of bothersome ants while you work toward exterminating these troublesome pests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep ants away from cat food?
To keep ants away from cat food, start by storing it in airtight containers to prevent attracting pests. Regularly clean the feeding area to remove any food residue that might lure ants.
Consider using ant-proof bowls or creating a water moat around the dish. Establish set feeding times and remove any uneaten food promptly. You can also apply pet-safe ant repellents around the feeding area for added protection.
How do I stop ants eating my dogs food?
Stopping ants from eating your dog’s food involves similar strategies. Use sealed storage containers for the dog food to keep it fresh and inaccessible to ants. Be diligent about cleaning up spills and crumbs immediately after your dog eats.
Elevating the food bowl or using ant-proof bowls can create barriers for ants. Feeding dogs on a schedule and removing leftover food helps remove constant food sources. Applying food-grade diatomaceous earth around feeding areas can also deter ants effectively.
Why are ants attracted to pet food?
Ants are attracted to pet food for several reasons. The high protein and fat content in most pet foods is very appealing to ants. Many pet foods also have strong odors that ants can detect from a distance. Some pet foods contain sugar, which is particularly attractive to certain ant species.
Pet food often presents an easily accessible and consistent food source, especially if it’s left out for extended periods.
What is the best way to store pet food to avoid ant infestation?
The best way to store pet food to avoid ant infestation is to use airtight, sealed containers specifically designed for pet food storage. These containers help preserve freshness while creating a barrier that ants can’t penetrate. Look for containers made of durable plastic or metal with secure, tight-fitting lids.
When storing pet food:
- Transfer dry food from its original packaging into the airtight container immediately after purchase.
- Keep the container in a cool, dry place, preferably elevated off the floor.
- Clean the container thoroughly before refilling it with new food to remove any residue or crumbs.
- If possible, store the container in a pantry or cupboard rather than leaving it out in the open.
- For extra protection, consider placing the container on a tray lined with diatomaceous earth or surrounded by a natural ant deterrent like cinnamon.
- Always ensure the lid is tightly sealed after each use.
- If you have large bags of pet food, store unused portions in a sealed bin or container, and keep only a week’s worth of food in a smaller, daily-use container.
By following these storage practices, you’ll significantly reduce the likelihood of ant infestations in your pet’s food, keeping it fresh and safe for your furry friend.
What can I put around my pet's food dish to deter ants?
To deter ants from your pet’s food dish, you can try several methods. Creating a water moat around the dish is an effective barrier. Sprinkling food-grade diatomaceous earth around the feeding area can repel ants without harming your pet.
Some pet owners find success using double-sided tape as a barrier ants won’t cross. Natural deterrents, like a line of cinnamon or black pepper, or placing bay leaves around the feeding area, can also be effective. Remember, while these methods can help, the most comprehensive approach combines proper food storage, regular cleaning, and addressing any underlying ant infestation in your home.
Final Thoughts
From making sure your home is clean to pet-friendly insecticides and ant-proof food bowls, there is no shortage of ways to keep your pet’s lunchtime ant-free. Most ants are an annoying nuisance, but they can cause serious problems if allowed to grow into a full infestation.
I recommend contacting a pest control company if you’re experiencing severe ant problems. Industry professionals quickly find and seal common entry points used by pests and spray the perimeter of your property, eliminating infestations at the source.
