According to research conducted at the University of Florida, mice can “contaminate 10 times as much food as they eat,” causing a hazard to your pet’s food supply. As soon as a rodent gets into a bowl or bag of dog food, the dog food is compromised. These rodents may have transferred pathogens that are known to cause diseases including rabies, bacterial food poisoning, bubonic plague, and murine typhus.
It’s feeding time! When you pour kibble into your dogs’ food bowls and place them onto the ground, you can be sure your dogs will enjoy the full serving of food. Or will they? There may be other crawlers scavenging for a quick, easy meal. More specifically, a popular pest myth states a mouse will eat your dog’s dry food no matter where it is placed.
Mice, like any other rodents, are attracted by food. So yes, a mouse will eat your dog’s dry food. Mice are omnivores, eating a varied diet that includes fats and proteins. Proteins can include common seeds and grains. That being said, these rodents do not just limit themselves to a specific type of food. They can also eat insects, grass, and meats. If they have the opportunity to eat anything, including your pet’s kibble, they will go for it.
Take notice of any wall openings in your kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and storage rooms that are large enough to let small mice inside. They can squeeze through tiny spaces, so be sure to also check doors, windows, and screens. When sealing these openings, keep in mind that mice like to bite materials such as plastic, rubber, wood, and other materials. Use a material like iron wool to cover the openings.
If these prevention methods are not effective, you will need to call professional pest control services to completely eliminate the problem. Manning Pest Control can help you. Call us today at (954) 772-3077 to remove your rodent problem as soon as possible.
Leaving wet food out is especially troublesome.
Wet food is even more beneficial to these critters because it “contains enough water for mice to survive on without needing any other water source,” according to M&M Pest Control, an eco-friendly pest control company based in New York City. Wet food contains the most water, naturally, but even dry food is around 10 percent water, which is usually enough for an adult mouse.
Wet food is more attractive to mice for another reason also. “The worst part about wet food when it comes to mice is the odor,” says Frank Yao, a spokesperson for M&M Pest Control. “While pet food usually doesnt smell appetizing to humans, mice love foods with a strong odor. Mice have a sense of smell thats several times better than humans, so Id be worried about attracting even more mice from outside or neighboring apartments if its left out overnight.”
How To Prevent Rodents From Eating Dog Food 101
- Do Not Leave Dog Food Out Overnight
Rodents are nocturnal and will come out during the night to scavenge through trash or any food left unprotected. Before you go to bed make sure to clean the bowl, store the remaining food away, and clean up any leftover food that was spilled.
Leaving dog food in its original bag or keeping the bag stored in the garage is easy access for rodents. When dog food is left in plastic bags rodents small mice can chew holes and reach inside to eat. The best way to store dog food is by keeping it all together in one plastic bin. Plastic bins are a much safer way to store food and prevent easy access for rodents.
Last but most important is to practice good cleaning habits! Keep the floors, bowl, and area around the dog’s food clean. Sweeping and mopping are effective ways to get rid of food crumbs or spills that can attract rodents. Although it can be time consuming and tedious it is best to clean right after your dog is fed. If you notice that there are constant spills throughout the day try changing to a bigger bowl for your dog. Another solution could be elevating the bowl to a height that is easier for your dog to eat.