How to get rid of ants in dog food | Non-toxic

How to get rid of ants in dog food

Few things are as frustrating as lifting the dog bowl to find it crawling with ants. Pet food is a magnet: it is rich in protein and fat, it sits out and it is often on the floor near a wall where ants can easily travel. The good news is you can stop it without spraying anything toxic near where your dog eats.

Why ants target pet food

Ants forage for exactly what pet food offers, and once a scout finds the bowl, it lays a scent trail that brings the whole colony. Kibble left out, crumbs around the mat and a nearby entry point are all it takes. Break the trail, treat the path back to the nest and keep the food sealed and you take away the reason they keep coming. (More on the how and why: Does pet food attract insects? and How to get rid of ants in the house.)

The non-toxic fix around the feeding area

Treat around the feeding zone, not the food itself. Six Feet Under kills trailing ants on contact with plant-based active ingredients and wiping afterward erases the scent path. Puff Dust to Dust with the Insect Buster along the baseboard and entry points near the bowl so the colony cannot cross back. For a whole-home perimeter, prepare Barricade according to label directions, attach the sprayer and treat outside. Always keep product off the food and the bowl.

Keep the bowl ant-free

• Elevate and moat: set the bowl in a shallow tray of water so ants cannot reach it.
• Store sealed: keep kibble in an airtight container, not the open bag.
• Clean the zone: wipe spilled food and the mat daily to remove scent and crumbs.
• Treat the edges: puff Dust to Dust along the nearby baseboard and reapply after cleaning.

Related: Non-toxic ant control and How to get rid of ants.

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