To keep roaches out of dog food, store the kibble in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, pick up your dog's bowl after meals instead of leaving food out overnight, and clean up crumbs and spills right away. If roaches are already around, use pet-safe bait stations placed where your dog can't reach them, or call an exterminator.
Yes, dog food does attract roaches – it's a dry, easy meal for them. Below are our five tips in more detail, plus what to know about using pesticides around dogs.
5 tips on how to keep roaches out of dog food
1Keep your dog's food in a sealed container
This is perhaps the simplest and most effective way to keep roaches out of your dog’s food. By keeping their food in a sealed container, you make it much harder for cockroaches to get to the food in the first place – roaches can chew through paper bags and squeeze through tiny gaps. Choose a container with a tight-fitting, gasket-sealed lid. Many vets recommend keeping the kibble in its original bag inside the container, which keeps it fresher and keeps the batch information handy in case of a recall. It also helps to buy a bag size your dog will finish while it’s still fresh; our dog food calculator shows how many days a bag will last.
2Store your dog's food in a cool, dry place
Another way to keep roaches out of your dog’s food is to store it in a cool, dry place. Cockroaches are attracted to warmth and moisture, so by keeping your dog’s food in a cool, dry place, you make it much less appealing to them.
3Keep your kitchen clean
The third method to keep cockroaches out of your dog’s food is to keep your kitchen clean. Cockroaches are drawn to filthy environments, so the cleaner your kitchen is, the less likely they are to hang around. A mat under your dog's water bowl makes spills easier to catch. Make sure any spills are cleaned up as soon as possible, and that the floor is swept and mopped on a regular basis.
The bowl matters too. Leftover kibble and wet food sitting out overnight is an open invitation, so pick up the bowl about 20–30 minutes after each meal, wash it daily, and don't leave food out while you sleep. Keep fresh water available, but wipe up splashes around the water bowl, since roaches need water as much as food.
4Use roach traps
If you are really concerned about cockroaches getting into your dog’s food, you can use roach traps to help catch them. Sticky traps contain no poison, while bait stations contain an insecticide. Place traps where cockroaches travel – along walls, under appliances and behind cabinets – but always out of your dog's reach. Dogs are curious and may chew bait stations or sticky traps, so never put them right next to the food bowl or anywhere your dog can get to.
5Call an exterminator
If you have tried all of the above tips and you are still seeing cockroaches in your kitchen, it may be time to call an exterminator. An exterminator will be able to identify the source of the problem and get rid of the cockroaches. Tell them you have a dog so they can choose pet-friendly products and tell you how long to keep your dog out of treated areas.
Why should you keep roaches out of your dog’s food?
Many people view cockroaches as nothing more than pests, but did you know that these insects can pose a serious threat to your dog’s health? Cockroaches are known to carry a variety of diseases, which they can spread by contaminating food and water sources.
In addition, cockroach droppings and body parts are a known allergen, and some dogs with environmental allergies react to them with itchy skin. And because dogs sometimes eat roaches, they can pick up certain parasites, such as a type of stomach worm for which cockroaches act as a carrier.
For these reasons, it is important to keep roaches out of your dog’s food and water bowls. Taking simple precautions such as keeping your kitchen clean and sealing up any cracks or crevices where roaches could enter will help to protect your pet from these potentially harmful insects. Ants are another common pest around pet food; see how to keep ants out of automatic dog feeders.
Can I use pesticides for roaches? Is this safe for dogs?
Pesticides can be safe if used correctly, but they can also be harmful to humans and animals if used incorrectly. If you have pets, it is important to read the label of any pesticide you plan to use to make sure it is suitable for homes with pets.
In general, enclosed bait stations and gel baits applied deep into cracks are lower-risk around dogs than sprays and foggers, as long as your dog can't reach them. Powders like boric acid and diatomaceous earth are also popular, but should only be applied in gaps and voids your dog can't get to. Never spray insecticides near your dog's food, water or bedding.
If your dog chews a bait station or you think they've eaten or licked a pesticide, call your vet or an animal poison control hotline right away, and have the product packaging at hand. Signs of poisoning can include drooling, vomiting, tremors, weakness or seizures.
When using any pesticide, always follow the directions on the label and keep children and pets away from the area until the pesticide has dried or been removed.
Final notes
If you are concerned about cockroaches getting into your dog’s food, there are a few things you can do to help prevent this from happening.
Store your dog’s food in a sealed container in a cool, dry place, pick up the bowl after meals, and clean your kitchen regularly to reduce the chances of cockroaches moving in. If you have tried these tips and you are still seeing cockroaches, call an exterminator and let them know you have a dog.
By taking these simple precautions, you can help to keep your dog safe from the harmful effects of cockroaches.
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