Millions of tiny bugs could be invading your pet's food and you might not even know it. ABC 27's Rebecca Baer has more on what these pests are and if they could be harmful. Bruiser and Gypsy are glad to be eating some brand new food for dinner. Especially after their owners Scott Sherman and Ginger McComas noticed something unusual near the dog food in the garage.
"We'd been wiping off the top of the freezer and the refrigerator fairly frequently what we thought was dust, then last night ginger came home and again wiped off the top of the freezer, took a closer look, and realized that the dust was moving. "
After some online research, Sherman discovered that the dust was actually millions of tiny bugs called Grain Mites, microscopic pests that feed on anything grain-based from pet food to cereal. And they multiply fast laying hundreds of eggs on one piece of food, an alarming discovery to Sherman.
"Our first concern was the dogs' health, because they had been eating these bugs for two weeks. I think it's there more than we realize, but it's not like we see them," said Scott Sherman.
Fortunately, veterinarians say the mites are usually harmless to humans and pets. However, for some they can be a nuisance.
"They can get itchy ears, feet, have a lot of skin problems that's what you would see if the dog were allergic to it," said Melanie Donofro, Tallahassee veterinarian.
According to the dog food manufacturer Purina, the infestation usually happens in a warehouse or in the customer's home. To avoid infestation vets recommend keeping pet food in a dry, air-conditioned area preferably in air-tight containers. They don't have to tell Sherman twice.
"We usually keep them in the garage in non-sealed containers, which we won't do anymore," said Sherman.
We also called Petsmart where the food was purchased. They say they have not heard from any other customers about mites.
