How to Keep Ants out of Dog Food?

Ants are infamously known to be one of the world’s greatest food-thieving cherry-pickers ever.  Their omnivorous tendencies make them eat anything that sits in their way, from fruits and vegetables to crumbs of bread and meat, ants will feed themselves and their queen with almost everything.  Including your pet’s food. Pet food is packed in protein and is nutrient-dense which is the perfect type of food that they need to better grow their colonies. No wonder ants have no hesitation in scavenging off dog food as soon as they scent it out. So how to keep ants out of dog food? Do the following:

1. Store the dog food in a plastic container that has a lid.
2. Maintain the cleanliness of the feeding area at all times.
3. Set a barrier around your dog’s food bowl.

Here’s how to do this

-Storing Dog Food-

The optimal place to store dog food is in cold storage bins and cans made for the task. These can be anywhere from 2-5 ft tall in height with various capacities. Making sure that dog food is properly stored is very important, so as not to have it spoil over time or be eaten up by a small ant colony. Also Check: Best Bully Sticks for Dogs

-Maintaining The Feeding Area-

It is important to maintain the cleanliness of the feeding space at all times, even the smallest of crumbs will have a small ant patrol hunting it down. This involves:  

• Sweeping or vacuuming the space around your dog’s food container/bowl.
• Washing the storage bin and the feeding bowl regularly with soapy hot water. Clean it thoroughly, rinse, and dry completely before you refill.

-The Barrier-

Creating a small water barrier is a simple way to keep ants free from your dog’s food. Not only can’t they swim, but they will have a hard time finding a way past it. Here’s what you can do.

• Grab a pan, and place your dog’s bowl in the middle of it.
• Fill the pan with water, just enough so that it doesn’t itself seep into the dog bowl, but just enough for ants to drown in should they decide to take their chances.

Instead of a water moat, a thin line of petroleum jelly will also make for an efficient barrier around the base of the dog’s food bowl and storage bin.  Or, with a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball, wipe the surface of the feeding area with the oil. These two alternatives make for great ant repellents. Just be sure your dog doesn’t mind the smells of either repellent, so definitely test their reaction prior. Also Read: How to Soften Dog Food?

-Common Questions-

Can ants in dog food hurt the dog? Ants no doubt still make for a rather annoying meal for your dog to eat through but a few ants shouldn’t hurt if consumed. They might provide some added vitamin C and protein. What attracts ants to dog food? What attracts ants to your dog’s food is all the nutrients contained within them. Given that ants have a strong sense of smell, even the faintest scent of pet food crumbs is enough to attract several ant hordes from hundreds of feet away. Dog Treats? But just like pesky ants can pester a relaxing meal for your dog, harmful additives and processed grains can just as equally pester your dog’s diet.  At Platinum Pet Treats, however, we offer a solution that will not only keep your dog from eating ants out of the bowl but will have them feeling 10x better and healthier.  What better way to supplement your dog’s diet than with 100% natural, single-ingredient, grain-free, and most importantly “ant-free” dog treats to better reward and train them. Check out some of our “ant-free” treats today!