Is there something non-toxic to pets that you can put in food to keep ants from getting in it??

Question

I'm feeding neighbors dogs, and she keeps them tied up outside, i feel really sorry for them. She is out of town at the moment. But, ant's are a real BIG problem with her dogs and their food. So, I only put a little food in the dishes, the dogs apparently don't eat that much. (their chihuahuas). But, ants are just everywhere!! Fireants at that!! (I'm in SC) I am going to mention this "problem" to her when she returns. But is there something non/toxic to put IN there food to keep them out, besides the "water"trick??

Answer 1

To begin with Chihuahuas are NOT a breed of dog that should ever be kept outside!!
If this person was my neighbor I'd be turning them in to the ASPCA!! This is one that does not deserve to even have a dog!!
To my knowledge there is nothing you can put on the food to keep the ants away.
Are the ants in your yard as well? If not, can you put the dogs in your yard, or even better, take them in your house until the owner returns and takes care of the problem.
How many dogs are you talking about?
You know I just posted a question regarding a dog's prayer about 7 hours ago & if you can find it on here I'd very much appreciate it if you could show this to your neighbor.
Wait a minute, so you don't have to go in search of it, here is the link, print it off for the dogs!!! http://ra.nilenet.com/~gaska/dogpray1.html

THANK YOU for being concerned for the poor little dogs!!!

Answer 2

Sounds like animal abuse. Why do dogs that small need to be tied up? It's ridiculous! Can't this "person" get a pen set up at least? A dog should never be tied up or chained. If she cared about these animals, she'd have set up a pen. You can buy this metal mesh, about 1/2" by 1/2" for almost nothing. TwoX4's cost almost nothing. Anyone can set up a pen for chi's. Also, why hasn't the owner brought those dogs inside & sprayed the perimeter of their area, then put them back after a safe period of time? I don't think there's any love there.

Answer 3

Your neighbor goes out of town and leaves her dogs (Chihuahua's no less) tied out in the yard??? Did she leave you in charge of caring for them?

Ok, here is a simple trick for keeping ants out of the dogs dishes. There are special dishes made for this but if you have some pie pans or shallow dishes that you can set their food dishes in and then put water in the larger shallow dish. The water prevents the ants from getting to the food dishes.

Answer 4

If you put a line of shortening on the bottom rim of the bowl, the ants can't climb up, its too slippery. It works for me on my hummingbird feeders, but I feed my dogs inside so I wouldn't know for sure about that. But I'm pretty sure it'll help. Its worth a try, good luck!

Answer 5

You can buy dog bowls with a channel around the base of the bowl which you fill with water,it keeps most insects and ants out

Answer 6

Not really. You just need to move theyre food dishes somewhere the ants cant get to. But of course if theyre outside...Not much you can do. Take the dogs in your house to feed them?

Answer 7

Try some diotomatios(sp) earth around the food dish and around the dogs for that matter. This will prevent any insect from bothering them.
On a personal note this sickens me that she would leave the dogs tied up. DOGS NEED EXERCISE!!! If you can take them in to your house until she returns. If nothing else take them to the local no-kill shelter and tell her that they got off their chains and the dog catcher picked them up. This is for their own good. Foxes and other stray dogs run wild even in suburbia and the big cities. These dogs can be sitting targets for a stray dog to come and have a snack.

Answer 8

If you get a pan of water and then set the food dish inside the pan of water shallow enough to keep the water out of the food then ants will not go through the water to get to the food.

Answer 9

I used to feed feral cats, and the ant problem was bad.

What I used was skin-so-soft bath oil by Avon (the greenish blue bottle I think it's called 'woodland fresh', if it has a name)

I wiped the outside of the bowl with skin so soft on a paper towel- every time I fed the cats.

Bugs hate it. They won't walk over it. I used it on my hummingbird feeders, too- the feeder part. It kept the bees away.

Answer 10

If you sprinkle Sweet and Low around where the ans are coming in or where you have seen them, it's poison to them. They will gather it up and take it to the nest. No more ants. It also helps to wipe your counter down with bleach in the kitchen.