Getting hugs and giving grooming sessions are not enough to show real love for your dog. Taking care of their food is just as important. These tail-wagging buddies are more than just animals; they are family. That’s why you should never blindly offer them anything to eat.
What if ants are found in your dog’s food? Ignoring it would mean you are not being a serious pet parent. Ants can harm your dog’s health if eaten. So, you must remove them before your dog takes a bite. But how you can get ants out of your dog food?
Let’s dive into the simple steps to fix it!
Why are ants in my dog’s food bowl?
Before we start discussing how to remove ants, it’s important to understand the reason behind this problem. So, ants love your dog food because of three main reasons.
First, the strong smells from the meat, fats, and proteins in dog food easily catch their attention. Since ants have a strong sense of smell so, they can find these scents even from far away.
Second, if your dog’s food has any sugars or sweeteners to make it tastier, ants will quickly come for it since they are naturally drawn to sweet things.
Third, even if you don’t notice, small crumbs or spills around your dog’s bowl can bring ants. They will follow these tiny leftovers and create a trail straight to the food.
How to remove ants in dry dog food?
Here are some effective ways to get these small pests out of your puppy food:
1. Use Corn Starch
If you spot ants in your dog’s food, using cornstarch is a simple way to remove them. For that, start by placing the dog food into a large container or bin. Then sprinkle a generous amount of cornstarch over the food.
Now, gently mix or toss the food so that the cornstarch covers all of it. After coating, let it sit for a little while. The cornstarch makes it harder for the ants to hold onto the food, and soon they will start falling off.
Once you notice that the ants have detached, use a strainer or sieve to separate the ants from the food. Give it a good shake to ensure most of the ants are removed. When you are sure there are no ants left, its time to safely return the food to your dog’s bowl.
Always double-check before feeding.
2. Freeze the Food
Freezing the food is another best ways to get the ants out of dog food. It’s the simplest it has ever been.
First, place the food in the freezer and let it stay there for a few hours. The cold temperature will kill any ants in the food. After that, take the food out of the freezer and pour it into a strainer or colander over a sink.
With that, you easily remove the dead ants that may have stuck to the food.
But if the kibble has become hard from freezing, don’t worry. You can soften it by adding a little warm water.
3. Use Peppermint Essence
The third way ends with using peppermint essence. To use it, mix a few drops of peppermint essence with some water in a spray bottle.
Now, lightly spray the mixture over the food, but be careful not to use too much. Peppermint has a strong smell that ants dislike, so it will help keep them away. If you use too much, the peppermint could make the food smell too strong, and your dog might not want to eat it.
So, it’s important to apply just a small amount so that it works for the ants but doesn’t make the food unappealing for your pet.
How to keep ants out of dog food?
These 5 tricks keep ants out of the picture when it comes to your dog’s food:
Keep Dog Food in an Airtight Container
The first method is to use the best airtight containers to keep ants out of dog food. Put a rubber seal around its neck. This helps trap the food’s scent inside, which will prevent it from attracting ants.
On top of that, you can keep the entire dog food bag inside the container for extra freshness and protection.
Clean the Bowl Daily
Along with washing your personal bowls daily, add cleaning your dog bowl, too. Wash it well to remove any food particles or oil that might be left. Using dishwasher-safe bowls makes cleaning easier.
Regular cleaning means no leftover food or fatty residues in the bowl, which eliminates any reason for ants to come to it.
Make a Moat
Another simple and effective way is by creating a moat. This means place the dog food bowl inside a larger pan or dish filled with water. The water acts as a barrier and ants won’t be able to cross it without drowning.
Do ants in dog food hurt dogs?
While most ants aren’t toxic, they may upset your dog’s stomach. This can lead to different symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea. Plus, some dogs could have allergic reactions to ant bites or body parts. This can cause swelling, hives, or itching.
Lastly, certain types of ants, like fire ants, can bite or sting, which may cause severe pain.
So, either way, ants can make your pups feel down, which you don’t want to see, right? That’s why getting the ants out of dog food is a big deal.
FAQs
How can I get ants out of my dog food?
To remove these ants from your dog’s food, do this. First, use cornstarch by sprinkling it over the food and mixing it well. This makes it difficult for ants to cling to the food, causing them to fall off. Second, put the food in the freezer for a few hours. The cold will kill the ants, and you can easily strain them out. Third, use peppermint essence by mixing a few drops with water in a spray bottle. Lightly spray the mixture over the food, as the strong scent helps keep ants away.
How to keep ants out of dog food?
If you don’t want ants reach your dog food, go for these steps. First, store the dog food in an airtight container with a rubber seal to trap the scent inside. This prevents ants from being attracted. Second, clean the dog bowl daily to remove any crumbs or food residue that might attract ants. Third, create a moat by placing the dog food bowl inside a larger pan filled with water. The water acts as a barrier, preventing ants from reaching the food.
