It’s not only cheaper per pound but also more energy dense than canned food. Several pet food products have been recalled after the death of at least 70 dogs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced.. Three brands of Sportmix products for dogs … Discuss any irregularity with the maker before you decide whether to feed it. How Long Does Dry Dog Food Last Unopened in the Bag? In this article, I’ll give you 10 reasons why dry food is so very bad for pets so you’ll understand why, if you want optimal health and long life for your pet, dry food isn’t going to get you there. Moisture cannot make its way until the food bag is unopened, but once it is opened, you need to keep it in an airtight arrangement to avoid moisture. If dog food is kept in an area where there is moisture, mold … We test all aspects of our dehydrated dog and cat foods to rule out anything that could possibly hurt your pet. When left exposed, food becomes rancid rather sooner than later. The following items represent some of The Dog Food Advisor’s most frequently asked questions about dog food ingredients. Dry dog food goes stale, sometimes before you buy it, if the supplier is not consciencious. If you expose it to air, dog food can go bad quickly. What do the red items on an ingredients list mean? Finally, if you do choose to feed dry food, choose an organic option with no "4-D" meat: This is meat taken from dying, diseased, disabled and dead livestock that is not fit for human consumption. Dry dog foods do need preservatives to prevent spoilage. The question of course is a big one, and there are a lot of conflicting answers. They have the sharp, pointed teeth and shorter gastrointestinal tracts of carnivores, better suited for the consumption of meat than of vegetable substances, yet also have 10 genes that are responsible for starch … Dry dog food contains all the necessary nutrients to keep your dog alive. Smell it – it shouldn’t smell rancid. Keeping it in the freezer will make it last longer, according to experts. When it comes to canned food, canning is the preservative, so unopened cans usually stay fresher longer than unopened dry food. How long does dry dog food last after opening? Exposure to air, light, hot temperatures and humidity speeds up the rate at which foods degrade. Corn would be a good example. It's safe for dogs and does just as good of a job as the chemical-based stuff. If you simply want to know whether the food your dog is eating is good or bad, however, you can start by learning about some of the worst dog food ingredients that you should avoid in your dog’s food.. You will find a list of the top 10 worst dog food … 2. i was personally tol dog food storage goes like this: in bag or none air tight container, a bag of good quality dog food will be "good" for up to 4 weeks. The food may go bad while deposited or while staying in the food bowl. It could be the food but sense it has only been a month I doubt that is the cause because the store would have thrown it out. Dry Dog Food Storage. Dehydrated food is also easy to carry and store. Dog food can get easily spoiled, depending on how it is deposited. I designed canned or dried dog food to last; Most dog foods found in the market are dried or canned. DOG FOOD GONE BAD: OVERVIEW. However, if your dog normally eats dry food, or kibble, as part of his regular diet, then you have cause for concern if he refuses dry food altogether. Source . Check the expiration date on the dog food packaging. Look for dog food brands that use “human grade” meats, which contain much more specific meat ingredients rather than generically named meat sources. Does dehydrated dog food go bad? The same goes if you expose it to direct light. Bags of dry dog food are imprinted with a “best by” date to let you know how long you can keep it. But why use artificial ingredients when there are natural alternatives out there. If you are still wondering, does dry dog food go bad? In addition, dry foods will contain carbohydrates that give your dog energy. They are only controversial. The dog may present digestive problems or even toxicity symptoms, depending on how spoiled the food is. The worst dog foods contain all sorts of lousy ingredients that will likely contribute to health problems down the line. If it’s exposed to air, it may happen earlier than that. Kibble is easy to store and feed, but like all types of pet food, it is perishable. Keep in mind, dog food and dog treats can go “bad” for other reasons, as well. What Causes Dog Food To Go Bad? However, avoid relying too much on those dog foods that are over three months of their expiration date. However, many dog owners do not realize that this date becomes inaccurate once the bag is opened. It involves way less prep time than homemade dog food with no extra trips to the store for fresh ingredients. Yeast and mold. Good dry dog food brands will contain between 18 and 32 percent protein and eight and 22 percent fat. Check the bag for a date anyway just in case. The majority of dog owners feed kibble (dry dog food) because of its convenience and lower cost. Dry dog foods usually have a one-year “shelf life.” That means the food is “good” for up to one year after the manufacturing date. Edit: Plastic does NOT cause food to go bad as long as it was designed for food storage. What is good about dry food is that your dog can have it whenever it is convenient for you and it does not need to be cooked just to make it digestible. /r/dogs is a discussion-based subreddit, meant for asking questions, sharing information, and learning about our beloved canine companions and related dog-centric topics. Dry food is less messy, easier to measure, and can sit out all day without going bad. It is not only a more commercial option but has a long shelf-life , does not need to be refrigerated and the chewable consistency ensures your dog… While cats do need a small amount of carbohydrate in their diets, they are carnivores by nature (while dogs are more omnivorous) and their bodies thrive best on meaty proteins and fatty acids. It can go rancid, too, which is obvious bvecause it smells bad. The major sources of damage to pet food are oxygen, heat, humidity, and light. Many dry foods stamp a “best if used by” date on the package. Kibble food or dry dog food is indeed the best diet, provided you pay attention to the ingredients before choosing a brand for your pup. Red ingredients are not always “bad”. Freezing Dry Dog Food good article. And when they are “bad”, some can be more troubling than others. Dogs are considered to be omnivores with a carnivorous bias. A pet food company can gauge what the best by date for a particular food line will be based on the type of preservatives used in the food. Even though dogs do not like the taste of watery things it can be used to make their food digestible. Dog food when left unopened is usually good for about a year, but once opened it needs to be used as quickly as possible. The reason that dogs can live off of dry dog food has everything to do with what is inside of it. 1. The Shelf Life Of Dog Food & Treats. Does Dry Dog Food Go Bad? Mixed tocopherols are typically used by high-quality brands. Buy fresh food. Kibble also requires more preservatives than canned food does, to extend its shelf life. This is because air feeds harmful bacteria that can damage the... Moisture is the mother of mold. Check the “best if used by” date on the bag. Kept in a low-humidity, sealed container, dry dog food (kibble) will last for months w/o spoiling. 1. Some sources say the answer is within a couple of days, others say it is longer. More … If there is an old bag or can of dog food, note that it does not instantly mean it has gone bad or has lost its nutrition value. Pet food manufacturers establish expiration or “best by” dates to ensure the safety of your dog. In regards to added preservatives, there are various kinds of natural and synthetic preservatives used in pet food. All of these ingredients are important for your pooch. Dogs also ate more when given dry food as opposed to the other types. Feeding bad dog food for a longer time may also result in skin problems. Believe it or not dog food does have an expiration date. Dehydrated food does seem expensive when you compare it to kibble but you have to adjust the cost according to how much food it will make once it is rehydrated. That includes all the bad things you can only see under a microscope, like: Bacteria, such as salmonella, E-coli and listeria. The Effects of Bad Dog Food. Learning to read a pet food label is not something that comes overnight – it is a skill that takes practice and time to develop. In general, unopened dry pet foods have a shelf life of 12-18 months, while unopened canned foods are good for two years from the date of manufacture.Look for the expiration date on the bottom of your dog’s food bag or cans, and plan to open and use the food before that date. This applies only to unopened bags. Rancid dog food may look or smell "off;" follow your instinct and throw it out to be safe. High-quality dog food companies use bags that provide protection from oxygen and moisture. This could mean that a dog on an all-dry food diet stops eating altogether, or that a dog on a mixed wet-and-dry food diet refuses to eat any food that has kibble in it. According to Pet MD, oxidation starts when the pet food is exposed to air. 3. It is a real cause a dog good can go bad and can increase the medical bill of your dog. Plastic bins are a perfectly good way to keep air away from food and prevent it from going rancid. … This subreddit is a great starting point for a lot of information, but you should always verify and expand upon what you've read before putting it to use in your daily life. Ingredients. In many cases you will feed your dog less food when you are feeding a dehydrated dog food. Store dry food in its original bag, in a cool, dry place. This is because dry food is usually about 10% water as compared with about 75% water in canned rations. Dog food is food specifically formulated and intended for consumption by dogs and other related canines. Dehydrated pet food is a great option to ensure that you’re feeding safe, healthy foods for dogs—one that’s convenient to store and easy to prepare. Visually inspect the food – it shouldn’t be dusty or moldy. Kibble is generally higher in carbohydrates than canned foods, as a certain amount of starch is required for the food to retain its shape. To limit these effects, keep dry foods in their original packaging. How you handle food once you have it at home can make a big difference in how long it remains fresh and maintains its ideal nutritional profile. Dry dog food with an opened bag will last 4-6 weeks and should be consumed within that period. Such varies significantly based on the kind of food (dry or wet) and the brand. Storing Dry Dog Food. If you think that dry food is bad for dogs there are other alternatives available.