If you see worms in your dog food, it's most likely not worms but larvae of the Indian meal moth. These moths and their larvae feed on dry food, including dry dog food. The larvae will often leave telltale signs such as silk webbings around infested food sources.
In many cases, the “worms” you see are the larvae of a few common household pantry pests. The most common insects found in dry dog food include Indian Meal Moths, red-legged ham beetles, copper beetles, flour weevils, Sawtooth grain weevils, warehouse beetles, and drugstore beetles.
They can easily squeeze into cracks and other such minuscule crevices to infest dry goods. They will not cause harm to your dog, but of course if the food is infested, it is no longer safe to consume. Best Course Of Action: Although generally harmless to both humans and pets (even if ingested!).
Flour bugs — also called pantry weevils, rice bugs, wheat bugs, or flour worms — are actually tiny beetles that feed on the dry food in your pantry. Flour, cereal, rice, cake mixes, and pasta are all favorites of these miniscule foodies.
Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Food: Unhealthy Fats
Propylene glycol is a mineral oil that may trigger allergic reactions as well as skin, liver, and kidney damage. Vegetable oil is another unhealthy and unneeded addition to dog food. It contains omega-6 fatty acids, which are known triggers for inflammation.
How Do They Get Into Food? Most of the time, moth and worm larvae enter a box of food from the outside because they are attracted by the starch in the glue that holds the box together. Once they eat through the box, they find a veritable cafeteria that could feed them for a long, long time.
If you seem to notice that your dog's appetite has suddenly changed, understand that he must have come in contact with the worms. This can also cause him to suddenly be more hungry because worms are feeding on nutrients from his food.
While the benefits of a raw pet food diet are much deliberated, one thing is for certain – raw feeding, by intention or by scavenging, can present a parasitic risk. However, by providing clear information and following best practice, the risk posed by parasites can be minimised.
Some of the most common ways to contract worms in dogs include: Drinking contaminated milk from the mother during nursing. Rolling in, sniffing, eating, stepping in or licking contaminated soil. Consuming infected prey like rodents, birds, and reptiles.
Dry food or kibble has ingredients that vary by brand, but all are required to be balanced and meet the nutritional needs of a dog. Under USDA regulation, “all animal foods must be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.”
Carrots. These common orange vegetables are a great source of vitamin A and believe it or not, can get rid of worms in our canine companions. Coarsely chopped carrots scrape the walls of the stomach and gut as they are digested, removing the mucus and any parasites that are within it.
Worms work FAST: Worms can convert most kitchen scraps to finished compost in less than two weeks.
Only the larvae feed in stored products, which can be any dry stored food or whole grain. Foods infested with these insects will have silk webbing present on the surface of the product.
What Are Pantry Worms? Most likely, if you have noticed small worms crawling around in flour, cereal, or other dry goods, you have encountered the Indian Meal Moth. This is one of the most common pantry pests around.
- Eat raw garlic, pumpkin seeds, pomegranates, beets and carrots, all of which have been used traditionally to kill parasites. - Drink a lot of water to help flush out your system.
What are some common parasites? Some common parasites are Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium parvum, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spiralis, Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), and Taenia solium (pork tapeworm).
Symptoms may include diarrhoea, tiredness and weakness, abdominal pain and weight loss. Some worms cause anaemia.
Because air drying doesn't damage the proteins and other naturally occurring nutrients in the ingredients, it's able to remain a healthy, transparent, and safe option to feed to any dog. Just a few of the health advantages include: Easier digestibility. Fights health issues rather than exacerbates them.
This is why mixing wet and dry food can be so beneficial. It's the best of both worlds. Combining the two will bring balance to your dog's diet, offering up a complete and more rounded mealtime that covers a wider range of nutrients. More variety, different textures, contrasting flavours.
While Royal Canin Adult Canned Dog Food contains numerous added minerals, these are not chelated. Chelated minerals are difficult for dogs to digest and should be avoided. Be wary of Royal Canin dog food if your pup has a grain allergy, as Royal Canin Adult Canned Dog Food contains cornmeal and rice products.