Even though pet food should always be kept in a container that keeps air out, ants can get in there sometimes anyway. This guide will show you how to get ants out of pet food and keep them out. You can easily save your dog food and cat food without having to toss it in the trash!.
Going to feed your pets and finding ants in their food is one of the worst things that can happen, especially at 6 a.m. m. Yesterday, I awoke to that exact issue. When I went to fill up our dogs’ food bowls before coffee, I was only half awake. That’s when I saw hundreds of tiny ants in the dog food bin. I was so angry that I couldn’t even describe it. I had just put a $55 bag of special grain-free dog food in the bin. Two of our Boston Terriers have sensitive stomachs, so we feed them grain-free dog food that doesn’t have a lot of fillers. My first thought was that we’d have to toss their dog food and buy new food. I fed them some chicken that we had in the fridge while I waited to buy more food at the pet store. But first, I called their vet to see if there was a way to save their food. It had to have happened to a lot of people, right? Luckily, our vet knew what to do, and we didn’t have to throw away the expensive dog food. If you have other ant problems, check out my two-ingredient ant repellent spray to keep them out of your home!
It can be incredibly frustrating to go to feed your dog only to find ants swarming in their food bag Not only is it unsanitary, but ants can contaminate your dog’s food, potentially making them sick. The good news is there are several effective methods to get ants out of your dog’s food bag and keep them from coming back
Why Ants Are Attracted to Dog Food
Ants are opportunistic eaters and scavengers by nature. They seek out any food source they can find to bring back to their colony. Dog food provides everything ants need – carbohydrates protein fat, and moisture. Dry kibble emits an odor that attracts nearby ants searching for food. Once a few scout ants discover the dog food bag, they leave a pheromone trail for swarms of ants to follow.
Certain types of dog food seem to attract more ants than others. Foods with citrus, fish or meat flavors tend to be most appealing to ants. Moist dog food is also a target since ants require water. Any spills or crumbs around your dog’s bowl are invitations for ants to invade.
Remove Ants from an Infested Bag
If your dog’s kibble or treats are already infested with ants, you need to act quickly to get rid of them:
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Freeze the food: Place the bags of dog food in the freezer for 24-48 hours. The freezing temperatures will kill the ants. Allow the frozen food to come back to room temperature before feeding to your dog.
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Apply corn starch: Pour dog food into a large container and coat with corn starch. The cornstarch will detach ants from the food. Then strain the dog food through a colander to sift out the ants. Rinse any remaining ants off the kibble.
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Use peppermint oil: Add several drops of peppermint essential oil to water in a spray bottle. Lightly mist the infested food with the natural ant repellent. The strong aroma deters ants. Rinse off the food before feeding.
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Discard infested food: If the ant infestation is severe, it may be safest to discard the contaminated dog food entirely and purchase a new bag. This prevents any risk of your dog ingesting ants or bacteria left behind.
Once the ants are removed, transfer your dog’s food into an airtight plastic or glass storage container to prevent reinfestation. Make sure to clean any bowls or areas around your dog’s feeding station.
Tips to Keep Ants Out of Dog Food
Prevention is key to keep ants from invading your dog’s food in the first place. Here are some tips to deter ants:
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Store dry dog food in airtight plastic or glass containers rather than the original bag. Ants chew through paper bags.
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Place sticky ant traps around pet food bowls or bait stations away from food to trap foraging ants.
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Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the base of containers holding dog food. The powdery substance dehydrates ants.
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Set bowls of food in dishes of water to create a moat barrier ants cannot cross.
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Wipe up food spills, crumbs, and residue where your dog eats to remove ant attractants.
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Use essential oils like peppermint, lavender, tea tree, or eucalyptus as natural ant repellents around pet food areas.
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Feed your dog at the table during meals rather than leaving food out to prevent ants from finding it.
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Store dry dog food in the refrigerator or freezer to make it less detectable to ants.
With some diligence, you can successfully eliminate ants from your dog’s food and prevent future infestations. Be proactive and implement deterrents to keep ants away. If you do find ants in the food, use one of the removal methods to quickly get rid of them so your dog’s meals are ant-free.
FAQs About Ants in Dog Food
How do I know if ants contaminated my dog’s food?
Signs that ants have infested your dog’s food include visible ants crawling around their food bowl or in the bag, small black specks from ant waste in the kibble, and a line of ants trailing to and from the food source. If you see any evidence of ants, promptly throw away and replace the food.
Are ants in dog food harmful if ingested?
While ants themselves are not toxic, they can transmit bacteria and parasites to food sources. Consuming ants or contaminated food puts your dog at risk for intestinal worms, diarrhea, vomiting, or other illnesses. Always err on the side of caution and remove ant-infested food.
What home remedies deter ants from dog food?
Home remedies to keep ants away from your dog’s food include spreading chili powder, cinnamon, black pepper, vinegar, lemon juice, or garlic powder around the perimeter of bowls and storage containers. You can also apply a line of petroleum jelly, chalk, or coffee grounds where ants may access the food.
Why do ants keep coming back to my dog’s food?
If you cannot get rid of ants in your dog’s food, it means there is still an entry point and food source attracting them. Completely cleaning the area, sealing food in airtight containers, using ant baits and removing any moisture sources will help eliminate the issue. Be vigilant in removing any food spills or crumbs.
Should I throw away dog food if I spot a few ants?
If you notice just a few scout ants in the dog food, you can attempt to remove the ants and salvage the food. However, if the food is crawling with ants it is safest to discard it entirely and start fresh with new dog food. Do not take risks with contaminated food.
Eliminating ants from your dog’s food and preventing future infestations requires diligence. But with the right techniques, you can outsmart ants and protect your dog’s meals. Use preventive measures, natural ant deterrents, and promptly throw out heavily infested food.
How to Remove Ants from Pet Food
- Pour the ant infested pet food into a large bin. I used a bin that is long, but shallow.
2. Grab some corn starch…yep, the kind you use for cooking and such.
2. Sprinkle some corn starch onto your ant infested pet food.
3. Toss it all together. The corn starch helps to detach the ants from the food.
4. As soon as the corn starch is on the food, you need to get the ants out of it. There are only a few ants left, so don’t worry if your pet eats them. Let’s get rid of all of them. Grab a kitchen colander or strainer and a dry paint brush. Put the food in the strainer and throw it away while using the dry paint brush to get rid of any ants that are stuck on it. There shouldn’t be many. Most of them are probably at the bottom of the plastic bin. Do this in shifts until all of the dog food is clean. It takes some time, but it’s worth it! Put each batch of clean dog food back in the dog food bin. Corn starch left on the pet food will not harm your pets.
Once the food is clean, follow these steps to make sure that your dog’s food stays free of ants from now on.
