Seeing ants invading your dog's food can make your stomach churn. It’s a huge inconvenience and a dilemma for pet owners - should we discard the food, or is there a safe way to remove the ants and still feed the food to your dog?
In this article, we’ll explore some practical and pet-friendly strategies for removing ants from your dog’s food and keeping them out forever. We’ll also examine why these tiny intruders are attracted to dog food.
But first, let’s help you get rid of the problem.
3 Ways to Get Ants Out of Dog Food
Here are three practical ways to remove ants from dog food:
1. Use Corn Starch
Put the ant-infested dog food in a large bin and sprinkle some cornstarch over it. You can even toss the food together to ensure it’s fully coated. Then, wait and allow the ants to detach from the food.
Once the ants have detached from the food, you’ll need to strain it to get rid of them and place the clean food in a new airtight container. This may be tedious since you have to clean the food in small batches, but it’s an effective way to get rid of ants and save your dog’s food.
Also, small amounts of cornstarch is safe for dogs.
2. Freeze the Food
Another method of getting rid of ants is to freeze the infested dog food. When you place the dog food in the freezer, the cold temperatures make it hard for ants to survive, eventually killing them.
Then, remove the dry food from the freezer and pour it into a strainer over a sink to remove the dead ants and leave the clean food.
Freezing cold-pressed dog food may result in harder kibble. Add warm water and mix with a fork to soften and break up the frozen kibble.
3. Use Peppermint Essence
Peppermint essence is a more humane way of dealing with ants in dog food. Mix a few drops of peppermint essence with water in a spray bottle. Then, spray a little of this mixture onto the dog food.
Since ants don’t like the smell or taste of peppermint and should get out of the dog food themselves, the only drawback of this method is that if you spray too much peppermint, your dog might even refuse to eat the food.
Is Ant-Infested Food Dangerous for Dogs?
Whether ant-infested food poses risks to dogs depends on the type of ants and any potential toxins they may carry. Generally, the most common household ants are not inherently toxic for dogs, especially when accidentally eaten in small amounts.
However, you should consider certain factors, including:
- Contamination: Ants might carry bacteria and other contaminants, which can transfer to your dog’s food. This contamination is typically minor in most cases, but it could lead to digestive issues such as vomiting or diarrhea.
- Allergic Reactions: Although rare, some dogs can get an allergic reaction to ant bites. It can result in symptoms such as swelling, hives, excessive licking, whining, etc. If the ant bite leads to anaphylaxis, it will result in severe signs such as vomiting, respiratory distress, weakness, etc. In such cases, you should immediately take your dog to a veterinarian.
- Digestive Distress: Eating a lot of ants can also cause digestive distress in dogs. Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal discomfort.
The above reasons highlight why it's important to address any ant infestations in dog food promptly. It is recommended that you remove the ants from the food or throw it away to prevent any unforeseen situation.
Furthermore, if your dog has accidentally eaten food containing ants, observe them for any signs of illness. If you notice something unusual, you should contact a veterinarian immediately.
4 Ways How to Keep Ants Out of Pet Food For Good!
Keeping ants out in the first place is a more favorable option and there are some preventative measures you can take to help keep ants out forever. Here are a few steps to help you get started:
1. Create a Barrier
You can create a barrier by applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly around the potential entry points or the base of the dog food container. This method is effective because ants find navigating through the jelly's sticky texture challenging.
However, if this sounds messy, you can also draw a chalk line around the pet food bag. The calcium carbonate in chalk deters ants, disrupting their trails and preventing them from reaching the food.
2. Use Air Tight Containers
A properly sealed, airtight container can also create a barrier that keeps the ants out. This secure seal prevents ants from detecting and accessing the dog’s food, ensuring that your pet’s food stays fresh for an extended period.
3. Sprinkle Some Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth is a commonly used pesticide made from the fossilized remains of aquatic organisms. It’s safe for humans and dogs but contains abrasive microscopic particles that can quickly kill pests, including ants.
You will need to buy the food-grade version of Diatomaceous Earth and sprinkle it around any identified ant trails or your dog’s food bag. It’ll help eliminate the ant colony and keep your dog’s food safe.
4. Clean Regularly
Uncleaned areas in a home always attract pests. If you accidentally spill some food around the food bag, it’ll draw the attention of the ants and motivate them to seek out the food source. Therefore, it’s important to maintain a clean space, especially where the pet food is stored or served.
Summing Up: How to Get Ants Out of Dog Food?
You can remove ants from your dog’s food, but it requires time and patience. The three strategies we recommended—cornstarch, peppermint essence, or freezing the food—are all effective.
However, in addition to these strategies, you should ensure your dog’s food is properly stored to prevent ant infestation. These include storing in an air tight container, creating barriers by applying petroleum jelly around the base of the dog food container or by drawing a chalk line around the food bag.
FAQs
Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about getting ants out of dog food:
1. What attracts ants to dog food?
Ants are attracted to the smell of dog food. Leaving the container open or spilling some on the floor will draw ants and lead them to seek out the food source. That’s why it’s important to maintain a clean space, especially where pet food is stored or served, to prevent ant infestation.
2. How do you get ants out of dog food?
There are various ways to get ants out of dog food. You can sprinkle some cornstarch over the food and allow the ants to detach or freeze the food to kill the ants. You should strain the food to eliminate the ants in both cases.
Another way is to mix a few drops of peppermint essence with water and spray the mixture onto the dog food. Since ants don’t like the smell or taste of peppermint, they’ll get out of the dog food themselves. However, you must be careful when using this method because if you use too much peppermint spray, your dog might refuse to eat the food.
3. Will ants in dog food hurt the dog?
It depends on the type of ants and any potential toxins they may carry. Generally, the most common household ants are not inherently toxic for dogs, especially when accidentally eaten in small amounts.
However, ants may also carry bacteria and other contaminants that cause allergic reactions. It would result in symptoms such as swelling, hives, excessive licking, whining, etc. If this situation occurs, you should seek help from your veterinarian immediately.
4. How do I keep ants out of my dog food?
You should create a barrier around the food container by applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly or drawing a chalk line. This method disrupts the ants' trails and prevents them from reaching the food. You can also store the food in airtight containers to prevent ants from detecting and accessing the dog’s food.
You can use a food-grade version of Diatomaceous Earth to eliminate the ant colony. This commonly used pesticide is non-toxic for both humans and dogs.
