List Of Common Bugs in Dog Food
If have a pet, chances are sooner or later you might notice weird insects crawling around in your pet’s bag of pet food. The most common being Weevils. These annoying little insects tend to appear when they are least wanted! Do not panic! Here are some step to help identify, prevent and remove the infestations.
*Weevils are a type of beetle so please don’t get confused as the two term are used interchangeably*
We have compiled a list of common bugs in dog food commonly found in Singapore as well as some suggested measures that could be taken.
Why They Are Attracted
Pantry moths are attracted to dog food and other dry pet food because their eggs can be hidden easily. As soon as the moth eggs hatch into larvae, their feeding stage, the scavengers are right where they need to be – close to a food source.
Noticing an infested bag of pet food may be difficult. The moths are likely to still be in their early egg stage which means they will be harder to spot. During the egg stage, they will only measure about 1-2 hundredths of an inch. After hatching from the eggs, the larvae will measure up to ½ an inch and have a worm-like appearance. If you are not inspecting the food, which most of us aren’t, you will not recognize a moth problem until you spot an adult flying around.
Once you see an adult moth, it has already gone through a large portion of its life cycle. It’s gone from egg to larvae, and pupa to adult—with a female adult having the ability to lay up to 400 eggs within 2 weeks. Clearly, detecting or preventing a problem is important because these pantry pests can reproduce so rapidly!
How Do These Pets Get Into Your Pet’s Food?
While pet food manufacturers, warehouses and other distributors take any and all measures necessary to prevent their products from becoming infested with bugs, it does happen on occasion.
Moths, beetles, and the like can find their way into the product during transportation, while in the warehouse or even in the store. They can also travel into your home on other food items or enter your home the same way as do any other bugs, via windows, gaps below doors etc…
Of course if you find bugs in dog food the first time you open the product, you should take it back or contact the place where you purchased it. It is always a good idea to hold onto your receipts at the time of the purchase. Most pet food stores and online stores will take back opened products if it was recently delivered within a day or two and you have the receipt.
(The best option is to inspect the pet food the moment you receive it / bring it home. Contact your pet supply merchant if you suspect or find any signs of infested pet food products immediately!)
However they get there, none of us wants to find bugs in dog food. So here are some steps that can be taken to properly store your dog’s food to keep these unwanted pests from infiltrating ad infesting your pooches food.
OMG! Worms in Dog Food!
A Jacksonville man is warning others after he found what appeared to be maggots in his dog’s food.
Bradley Terry saw a video on social media of someone else finding what appeared to be maggots in Purina Pro Plan Savor food. Since Bradley gives his dog, Cocoa, the same food, he decided to check it.
First, he noticed small moths inside the sealed, plastic container in which he keeps the food. Then, he broke apart the chunks of meat in the dog food.
“That’s when I noticed that there were, in fact, worms or maggots in the food itself,” Terry said. “[Cocoa] was about halfway through the bag. So knowing that she had been eating that for a month now I just — I couldn’t believe it.”
“They offered me coupons for discounted items. I told them to keep it,” Terry said. “It’s disgusting and I won’t ever go back to them.”
“This is certainly not a typical experience with our products. We have been in contact with Mr. Terry and as a goodwill gesture, Purina will work with him to help make things right. In fact, a refund check is already on its way now.”
“During production, all ingredients are subjected to high temperatures and pressures, which render them free of pathogens and insects. So in situations like this where infestation has occurred, it likely happened at some point after the products left the factory, possibly during distribution or storage.”
“These are embedded worms in the meat,” he said. “There’s no way they could’ve gotten in there after the fact.”
Terry has since switched Cocoa’s food. He encouraged pet owners to do their research before deciding what to feed their pets.
“Take the time and maybe spend a little extra money and make sure what they’re buying is a good quality product,” he said.
Terry said he notified the Petco near Atlantic and Kernan, where he bought the dog food, about what he found. A store manager told First Coast News staff went to the area where the food was stored, pulled out all the bags to inspect them and didn’t find anything else in those bags.
“We sincerely regret anytime a pet owner has an unsatisfactory experience with our product. This is certainly not a typical experience with our products. We have been in contact with Mr. Terry and as a goodwill gesture, Purina will work with him to help make things right. In fact, a refund check is already on its way now.
It’s important to note that when we make our products at our facilities, we follow strict procedures to ensure that they are produced under stringent sanitation rules and manufacturing processes. During production, all ingredients are subjected to high temperatures and pressures, which render them free of pathogens and insects. So in situations like this where infestation has occurred, it likely happened at some point after the products left the factory, possibly during distribution or storage.
Unfortunately, insect infestation can occur in any food product in the marketplace. You can find more information about Indian Meal Moths and their larvae online.
While this type of infestation does not typically pose a health risk to pets or people, it obviously is an unpleasant experience for consumers, especially in a home setting. Where pet food is stored can make a big difference in both quality and freshness.
• When shopping for pet food, make sure the food meets the “Best By” date on the package.
• Examine packaging before purchasing to ensure it hasn’t been compromised with a rip or hole.
• Remember, pet food is food. It should be stored in ways that are similar to how human food is stored.
• Store all pet food in a cool, dry location. It is not recommended to store food in the garage or outside since those locations often lead to insect infestation.
• When possible, store food in the original bag and within a plastic or metal bin with lid.
• Ideally, food should be consumed within 5-6 weeks from when opening the bag to ensure freshness.”