Yuck! We found ants in the dogs' dished twice this week. Never happened before. They are in the yard with water, houses, toys, etc. while we work, and we put their food out for them. Any ideas how to keep ants out, though?
center the dog bowls in a shallow tray of water- they will drown before reaching the food
another wierd thing I discovered as a child: Ants will not cross a chalk line! You know that sidewalk chalk stuff? Draw a circle around their bowls-see if that helps.
In regards to diatomaceous earth: If you have a garden be careful using it. Not only will it kill the ants, it will also kill any beneficial insects you want around.
I second the water suggestion.
Last spring...before we moved in our new house...I went out into the kitchen one morning and the cats food bowls looked like they were moving.
They were just crawling with those little tiny ants.
I tried the water trick and no more ants.
take some chalk (yes chalk board chalk!) and draw a circle around the perimeter of your home (and around the dog bowls) ants HATE chalk and do not like to walk through/over it.