Cockroaches are a common pesky problem in households with pets, as they are naturally attracted to pet food. If your precious pooch is a grazer and their food is out for a while you may find yourself overrun with roaches. Not only can cockroaches contaminate your pet’s food, but did you know that they can also carry bacteria that can be harmful to your pet such as Salmonella?
A cockroach infestation is no laughing matter. Read on to learn my top effective tips for keeping cockroaches out of your dog’s food for good!
Contents
Reasons for Roaches to Invade Your Dogs Food
You first need to understand why the American cockroaches keep dining on your dog’s dinner. When you work out the root problem you can start to take steps to eliminate these creepy crawlies. Some of these reasons might be improper storage, leaving food open, and searching for nutrients, among others.
Improper Storage
You might be putting or storing your dog food in the wrong way. Many people store the dog’s food somewhere on the floor, in the garage, or in other places roaches find it easy to invade. They also don’t seal it up properly – giving roaches a prime opportunity to access your pooch’s food.
Leaving the Food Uncovered
This is common in many households that own dogs. You put their food in a big bowl and leave it there on the ground uncovered. The food will stay there the whole day, and if your dog fails to finish, you may have the beginning of a roach problem.
More Nutrients in Dog Food
Dog food attracts roaches for a variety of reasons but the biggest reason is dog food is an oh-so-nice convenient little food source for a roach. All their nutritional needs can be met by a kibble or two of dry food or a small sample of wet food.
7 tips to Keep Roaches Out of Dog Food
By following these tips, you can help keep cockroaches out of your pet’s food bowl permanently!
TIP #1 Keep it clean
One of the most important things you can do to keep cockroaches out of your dog’s food is to keep their feeding area clean. Sweep and mop up any food or crumbs that might be on the floor around their food bowl to avoid a pest infestation.
TIP #2 Store Food in Sealed Containers
The best way to keep the cockroaches at bay is to store your dog’s plastic bag of food in a sealed plastic container or plastic bin. This will not only keep the food fresh, but it will also stop the roaches from being able to get to it. I really don’t recommend you store the sealed container in the garage as this is the most likely place roaches are hiding out. Keep it instead in the house in a cool dry cupboard.
TIP#3 Never Leave Food Overnight
Got a late-time pooch snacker? Well, they may need to change their eating habits. Cockroaches are nocturnal (meaning they are up all night) and so if you leave your pet’s food in the bowl overnight you might as well put a sign up for these pesky pests “free food come and get it!”. In all seriousness thoroughly clean your dog’s food bowl in the evening before bed. Never leave dirty dishes out
TIP #4 Keep Your Dogs Food Elevated
If your furry friend is a grazer and the food is out all day consider an elevated bowl. If the dog’s bowl is on the floor, it is easy for these persistent pests to share your dog’s food. You can try to get an elevated dog bowl that will make it hard for the roaches to reach. Your dog will adjust to this change slowly, and if you have a large breed dog, it will appreciate that they do not have to bend down to eat!
TIP #5 Use a pest repellent
Use a pest repellent around the pet’s food to keep cockroaches away. There are many different types of pest repellents available on the market, so be sure to choose one that is safe for pets. You will need to reapply these barrier repellents frequently to ensure they keep working
TIP #6 Trap them or Kill them
If all else fails, consider using a cockroach trap to catch any roaches that may be lurking around the food bowls. You can also call in pest control or a professional exterminator if you have heavy infestations of cockroaches.
TIP #7 Use a Moat Dish
This is something I definitely required for my sloooow grazing cat. Otherwise, I would often discover her dry cat kibble covered in roaches and ants (eeew). Roaches and ants can’t swim so the moat of water around the inner dish works just like the moat around a castle – it protects the food. Just remember to top up the moat water daily and replace it regularly. An even worse thing than roaches over your dog’s food is decomposing food in the moat water. You can also ramp it up with a few drops of dish soap in the moat area. Roaches hate soapy water!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Is it bad for dogs to eat food after roaches were in it?
A: Potentially. Roaches carry and transmit harmful bacteria such as Salmonella. You should discard any food that you have seen roaches on.
Q: Are roaches harmful to dogs?
A: Not usually. As mentioned, while the actual critter itself is not harmful – they can carry bacteria that can be harmful. They can also carry bacteria and other diseases that can be harmful to humans. It is important to keep the feeding area clean and free of any debris or crumbs to prevent future infestations.
Q: What should I do if I see a roach in my dog’s food?
If you see a roach in your dog’s food, it is important to take steps to remove it and clean the feeding area. You can use a pest repellent to help keep roaches away. You will need to reapply these barrier repellents frequently to ensure they keep working.
Q: Why does my dog eat cockroaches?
It is not fully understood why some dogs eat cockroaches, but it may be due to a lack of nutrition in their diet or because they are simply exploring their environment. Some dogs may also eat roaches as a way to ward off other predators. If your dog is eating cockroaches, it is important to ensure that they are getting a balanced diet and to keep the feeding area clean and free of any debris or crumbs.
Q: Does dry dog food attract roaches?
A: Yes. But they are more likely to be attracted to wet pet food or food that has been left out overnight.
Q: Are roaches attracted to cats’ food?
A: Yes. Roaches are attracted to any type of pet food.
Q: What smells will keep cockroaches away?
A: There are many smells that will keep cockroaches away, such as citrus essential oils, peppermint, cedarwood oil, cypress oil, bay leaf, and lavender. You can also use boric acid powder to deter them.
Q: Are there natural repellents for roaches?
There are many smells that will keep cockroaches away, such as citrus essential oils, peppermint, cedarwood oil, cypress oil, bay leaves, and lavender. Apply these natural repellents to the area around the pet dish.
Q: Are roaches attracted to dog urine?
Some people believe that roaches are attracted to dog urine, but there is no real evidence to support this claim.
Q: Are roaches attracted to dog poop?
Roaches are attracted to any organic material. This means that they will be attracted to both dog food and dog poo.
Summary:
There are several things you can do to help keep cockroaches away from your dog’s food bowl, including using a pest repellent, keeping the area clean and free of debris, and most importantly, storing your pet’s food in an airtight container. By following these tips, you can help keep cockroaches out of your pet’s dog food bowl permanently!
Dr. Elly has always loved animals, and she knew from a young age that she wanted to be a veterinarian. After studying hard in veterinary school, she practiced in several different countries before moving to North Carolina with her husband and young family. She currently works part time as a veterinarian while caring for her 4 busy children and writing this blog. Dr. Elly genuinely cares about the welfare of her patients. She currently has three dogs, two cats, 5 chickens and 2 rabbits (yes a bit of a zoo!)
