Ants in dog food/advice appreciated

[adeleb]

I have two teeny dogs who like to graze. One likes to wake up and eat at night.
Found tiny red ant infestation bowls this morning.
They eat dry food. Have tried to get them to eat on a schedule but failed in past. Very picky eaters . Just nibble. Tiny stomachs.
Ants not problem in CT where we live. Is there any tricks to keep the ants off the food? Special bowl or special spray around bowl? I am hoping so but common sense tells me there probably isn't.
Called exterminator and will come Friday.
Any advice appreciated and thank you!

[Indydealmaker]

I have two teeny dogs who like to graze. One likes to wake up and eat at night.
Found tiny red ant infestation bowls this morning.
They eat dry food. Have tried to get them to eat on a schedule but failed in past. Very picky eaters . Just nibble. Tiny stomachs.
Ants not problem in CT where we live. Is there any tricks to keep the ants off the food? Special bowl or special spray around bowl? I am hoping so but common sense tells me there probably isn't.
Called exterminator and will come Friday.
Any advice appreciated and thank you!

Try putting the dog bowl in a pan of water.

[JB in TV]

We had this problem and solved it by placing the food bowl on a tray or larger bowl with water in it. The ants wont enter the water, thus keeping them out of the food bowl.
EDIT: I see Indy posted the same suggestion while I was typing.

[adeleb]

Oh thank you! Will try it ands post results.

[big guy]

I have two teeny dogs who like to graze. One likes to wake up and eat at night.
Found tiny red ant infestation bowls this morning.
They eat dry food. Have tried to get them to eat on a schedule but failed in past. Very picky eaters . Just nibble. Tiny stomachs.
Ants not problem in CT where we live. Is there any tricks to keep the ants off the food? Special bowl or special spray around bowl? I am hoping so but common sense tells me there probably isn't.
Called exterminator and will come Friday.
Any advice appreciated and thank you!

This happened with my cat and I put it in a pan of water and relocated the dish within the room. Never had problems again.

[CFrance]

But... but... shouldn't you be concerned that there are ants in the house?

[JB in TV]

But... but... shouldn't you be concerned that there are ants in the house?

Our dog was fed outside when we had the ant issue.

[jebartle]

that he is not quite so stubborn when I stand my ground.... We always pick up food at night now and it is amazing how quickly he figured out, no food - better eat when Momma puts food down!.... Tough love, and no bugs!!!! Good luck




I have two teeny dogs who like to graze. One likes to wake up and eat at night.
Found tiny red ant infestation bowls this morning.
They eat dry food. Have tried to get them to eat on a schedule but failed in past. Very picky eaters . Just nibble. Tiny stomachs.
Ants not problem in CT where we live. Is there any tricks to keep the ants off the food? Special bowl or special spray around bowl? I am hoping so but common sense tells me there probably isn't.
Called exterminator and will come Friday.
Any advice appreciated and thank you!

[NYGUY]

that he is not quite so stubborn when I stand my ground.... We always pick up food at night now and it is amazing how quickly he figured out, no food - better eat when Momma puts food down!.... Tough love, and no bugs!!!! Good luck

That's right....i don't leave food out all day....after I put it out (late afternoon), if it's not eaten by the end of the day, I pick it up and start all over the next day. They figure it out eventually. And, no starving dogs here!!

[adeleb]

Thank you to advice about putting dog dish in larger dish with water. Like a moat the ants can't cross. It worked.
We probably have nest behind cabinet because found unopened small bag of dog food there with ants in it. Cabinet right next to dog bowl on floor.Think it had a small tear or something didn't notice when we bought It. We sprayed and exterminator is coming tomorrow.

I'll put dry dog food bag in fridge or freezer next time we leave.
Thanks again for helpful advice!

[Bizdoc]

If you have small red ants inside your home, you probably have fire ants. Be sure to show them the ants in the dog food so they know what it is. They should do a major barrier spray around the outside of your home to keep them out.

Note that short of soaking the soil with more pesticide than anyone would around them, you will never get rid of *all* fire ants around your home. This used to be pasture and the soil is full of fire ant nests. Whenever new construction happens, they tear up old nests and the ants go looking for new homes. A good barrier spray keeps them outside, where they belong.

Having said that, a good friend of mine from New Orleans has a Santoria cure which she swears makes them all leave your property. You may (or may not) be comfortable with dabbling with magic.

[bettymg1866]

i call Deans and they spray but the water moat also works... i just dont want ants in the house so I have deans spray now once a month

[Barefoot]

Having said that, a good friend of mine from New Orleans has a Santoria cure which she swears makes them all leave your property. You may (or may not) be comfortable with dabbling with magic.

What is the Santoria cure? I'd love to know.

[CFrance]

Thank you to advice about putting dog dish in larger dish with water. Like a moat the ants can't cross. It worked.
We probably have nest behind cabinet because found unopened small bag of dog food there with ants in it. Cabinet right next to dog bowl on floor.Think it had a small tear or something didn't notice when we bought It. We sprayed and exterminator is coming tomorrow.

I'll put dry dog food bag in fridge or freezer next time we leave.
Thanks again for helpful advice!

I once bought a bag of dry cat food at a (very) discount store. When I poured some out into their bowl, a ton of live black ants came out with it. Out went the bag and food in the bowl. I wondered how long that bag of food had been sitting in some warehouse.

We've not had ants in our house here (yet), but I am very careful with the dog food and keep it sealed in tupperware-type containers. And the bird seed gets frozen for three days when we get it home from the store, as this once gave us a moth infestation in Michigan.

[Bizdoc]

What is the Santoria cure? I'd love to know.

Don't recall all of it, but it involved burying a religious statue while reciting a curse, all done under a full moon. She swore she had used it and by sunrise, all fire ants had left her property.