I started the dishwasher one night, and suddenly, there was water covering the kitchen floor. After removing the front base panel, I realized that the rubber connector between the hose and the dishwasher had been chewed up by a rat.
Now, don't get me wrong. Our house is not infested. After pulling the dishwasher out of the cabinet, it became apparent that the space behind was a portal to the underdepths of the crawlspace, where rodents move around freely. It (or they) had been coming up on occasion to get a little nip of plastic. In hindsight, the cat's frequent staring at the appliance made more sense.
Replacing the hose was the easiest part of the entire process. It only required a pair of pliers. The hard part: plugging every crevice with steel wool and foam to keep those tiny demons out.
Thanks, Appliance Parts Pros, for shipping the exact hose I needed so quickly.