How to tell if dry dog food is bad

How to Tell If Dry Dog Food Has Gone Bad? Signs & 9 Tips to Keep it Fresh

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Something you may not think about that often is the expiration date of your dry dog food. And some pet owners may even think that dry dog food stays fresh for way longer than it actually does.

Unlike wet dog food, dry dog food is usually made with preservatives and other additives and then freeze-dried to extend its freshness date. But what is the date? And how do you tell if your dry dog food is bad? Weve done some digging on this subject matter. So, lets talk about it.

Ways to Tell If Dry Dog Food Is Bad

There are a few different ways that you can tell if your dry dog food has gone bad. Here are a few things to look out for:

• The expiration date on the bag has passed
• There is a rancid or unusual odor coming from the bag
• Your dog refuses to eat the food or show signs of discomfort or sickness after consumption
• The dog food has been exposed to excessive heat or temperatures
• There are signs of deterioration such as mold, moisture, or pest infestation

Its important to take the expiration date on all wet and dry dog food seriously. The date is usually printed next to the barcode on the front or back of the packaging. This is the date that the food manufacturer recommends discarding the dog food product, which means that the food wont have a guarantee to be fresh if not consumed by that date.

Most dry kibble food will have a shelf life of 2 years, as is the case with most wet dog foods. You can expect frozen dog meals to have a shorter expiration date which can be anywhere from 6 to 8 months. If you feed your dog fresh, unprocessed foods, these will usually expire quickly and in a matter of weeks.

How to Keep Your Dog Food Fresh

There are steps that you can take to preserve the quality and extend the shelf-life of your dog food. But one of the best things that you can do if you find that your food seems to expire soon, is to simply stop buying so much at once.

Its not uncommon for dog owners (especially new owners) to go out and buy several months supply of dog food just to avoid having to stock up every week. But this can be disadvantageous if you find yourself tossing out bags of dog food every few months.

1. Use The Freezer

Some dry dog food products can be stored in the freezer, and this is usually the case for fresh products as well. But be sure to check the manufacturers recommendation first before just tossing it in the freezer as it may ruin the product.

2. Use Metal and Glass Containers

Glass and metal containers are usually better for storing food (and even human food) than plastics. This is due to the fact that plastics can begin to give off undesirable flavors and smells, which can affect the taste of the dog food.

Plastics can also be ruined easily by dents, scratches, and punctures. Ultimately, this may cause the dog food to become contaminated and harbor harmful bacteria. So, if possible, go for metal or glass containers, as they work better with keeping air and moisture out of the dog food. This will help extend the life of food and prevent it from harboring a bad taste.

3. Dont Use After 6 Weeks of Opening

Once you open your dog food, the expiration date is no longer valid, and the typical shelf life will be about 5 or 6 weeks thereafter. After 6 weeks, the dog foods nutritional value will be significantly lower than when it was first opened. You can also track the expiration date by marking the date that you opened the bag and writing at the top of the opening.

4. Clean Your Containers

Its easy to forget to clean out your dog food containers when youre changing out the old products for new ones. But remember, that the remnants of the old food can remain in the container, contaminating the new fresh food.

So, whether you have a glass, metal, or plastic container, be sure to wash it out with warm soapy water (white vinegar also helps to get rid of odors) before filling it up with a new dry product. Also, be sure to rinse it well and remove any excess moisture with a cloth or towel.

The last thing you need is for mildew and mold to grow in the container with the food. And if you have BPA-based plastic containers, be sure not to scratch up the surface too much. Doing so can remove the lining. As a result, the lining may get into the dog food, which can be harmful for them to ingest.

5. Only Use Airtight Containers

Always store your dogs food and airtight containers that can block out the light. This helps to prevent the food from oxidizing, which can cause it to go rancid fastereven sooner than the listed expiration date. Itll also prevent the container from becoming infested with pests who love to nibble on dog food thats easily accessible.

6. Always Inspect Dry Food Before Buying

Its important to always do a once-over of the dog food before actually purchasing it. Most dog food bags are shipped in large boxes and then removed once they reach their final destination.

During this process, they can be moved around stores several times and may obtain puncture wounds and dents from handling. There may also be cases where the bags have been opened by curious pet owners who want to actually see the product beforehand.

7. Always Store Food In Dry Cool Places

You should have a set location for storing your dog food. If you store your food outdoors because theres no room indoors, be sure to bring it in when temperatures rise over 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot temperature storage can cause your food to become rancid sooner than it normally would.

Also, make sure that the area isnt prone to high levels of humidity. Consistently high levels of humidity can easily cause the dog food to develop moisture and mold issues come up which will lead to food degradation.

So, if you plan to store your food in the basement, and there is more, be sure to install a good dehumidifier or take other steps to ensure that it stays dry.

8. Dont Mix Different Dry Foods

Unless they have the same expiration date, its generally not a good idea to mix different dry foods. This is because some food will expire before others, which can cause you to accidentally serve up meals that arent necessarily safe for your dog to eat. The food can easily become riddled with bacteria and germs that can make dogs sick.

9. Dont Get Dry Food From Open Bins

Its common for pet food stores to have dry kibble stored in bins around the store. You simply scoop up the food and toss it in the bag.

This is very tempting because the kibble is usually priced very low compared to its bagged counterparts. However, buying bin kibble is generally not recommended because you cant guarantee the expiration date and that the food was handled with care or effective quality control.

Summing Things Up

Dry dog food does expire, and it can be harmful if your dog consumes it. So, to be on the safe side, ensure that you check out the expiration dates of any dog food before purchasing it. Also, take a look at the bag to ensure that it is completely filled and free of any punctures or deep scratches.

And if you notice anything abnormal with the food such as rancid smells, discoloration, or that your dog seems unwell after consuming it, its best to just throw it out as it might be contaminated or simply expired.

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Featured Image Credit: Tikhonova Yana, Shutterstock

Does Dry Dog Food Go Bad? Sooner Than You Think!

Just about every dog owner has been in that position where we buy dog food in bulk to save some moneybut once you realize you still have a few unopened bags a year later, youre probably starting to wonder if dry dog food can go bad.

Yes, dry dog food can go bad. The food in unopened bags can last anywhere between 12-18 months. However, food in opened bags should be consumed within two weeks. Once a bag is opened, it will be exposed to air and moisture, which will lead to harmful bacteria and mold.

Below we will go over a few ways to tell if the dog food has gone bad, but always rememberwhen in doubt, toss it out.

Signs Your Dry Dog Food Has Gone Bad

If you suspect the dog food might be bad, look for the following signs.

Check The Expiration Date (DUH)

The first thing you should do is check the expiration date on the bag. Most dry dog food brands will have an expiration date of 12-18 months from the time of purchase. However, this ONLY applies if the bag is unopened. If the bag has been opened, you should toss it out after two weeks.

Trust Your Dogs Nose (Not Yours)

We use our sense of smell to see if food has gone bad, but when it comes to dry dog food, you should trust your dogs sense of smell over yours. If your dog normally eats their food but suddenly refuses, theres a chance they could be smelling mold thats not visible quite yet.

You can usually tell if thats the case if your dog puts his nose close to the bowl to sniff it, then backs away. Again, this only works if its their usual food. If its a new brand, they might back away because they arent used to it.

The flaw with this method is that some dogs will eat just about anything regardless of how it smells. If you have a dog that devours everything in sight, this method wont work.

Look For Visible Signs

When most of us pour food into the dog bowl, we rarely take a look at it. If you think the dry dog food might have gone bad, be sure to carefully inspect the food and check for mold or bugs. Also, look for different colors and a white powdery coating. All these are visible signs that the food has gone bad.

Watch Your Dog After They Eat

One of the most apparent signs that dog food has gone bad is when your dog gets sick or is in extreme discomfort after they eat. When dogs consume food that has expired, it will cause severe stomach irritation, which will lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy.

Of course, that doesnt always mean its the dog food. Your dog could be sick with something else. But if that bag of dog food has been sitting around the house for a long time and your dog gets sick after consumption, theres a good chance its time for a new bag.

Preventing Dry Dog Food From Going Bad

Now that you know the primary ways to tell if dry dog food has gone bad, lets talk about a few things you can do to make the food last as long as possible.

Keep It In The Original Bag

One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to storing dog food is to store it in containers. Most dog owners dont realize that dog food bags were actually designed to keep dog food as fresh as possible for as long as possible. They were made to keep critters out and let in as little oxygen as possible.

There are some dog food containers you can purchase that were designed to keep dog food as fresh as possible, but those can be a bit pricey. If you want to make the food last as long as possible, your best option is to keep the food in the original bag.

Dont Mix New With Old

When youre almost finished with a bag of dog food, you might be tempted to open up a new bag and pour the remainder of the old bag into the new one. If the old dog food had any bacteria or mold at all, it could transfer it to the new bag.

I understand the desire to save space, but the last thing you want to do is put your dogs health at risk. Instead of mixing the old bag with the new bag, make sure you completely finish off the old bag, then open the new one.

Prevent Air From Getting In The Bag

When youre done scooping out the dog food, make sure to completely seal the bag. The best way to do this is to tightly roll the top (this will release the oxygen) and then use a clip to seal it.

The reason its crucial to keep air out of the bag is that exposure to air will accelerate the growth of harmful bacteria. The longer the food is exposed to oxygen, the quicker it will go bad. Simply clip the top of the bag to make the food last longer.

Keep it Cool

As we all know, the cooler food is, the longer it will last. Dog food is the same. The general rule of thumb is heat makes food go bad, cold preserves food. You dont need to keep the dog food in the fridge, but it is best if you can store it in a cool, dark place such as the pantry. During the cold winter months storing it in the garage is fine. But since garages can get warm during the summer months, its best to find another place to store the food during summer.

How Long Will Unopened Dry Dog Food Last?

Now that you know how to make dog food last as long as possible, youre probably wondering how long it will last if you do everything right.

Lets start with an unopened bag. As long as you keep the bag in a cold room, the food should last for well over a year. Check the expiration date on the bag. These expiration dates are for bags that remain unopened. Most bags will show an expiration date of about two years from the time of purchase.

How Long Will Opened Dry Dog Food Last?

To be on the safe side, youll want to finish the bag within 14 days of opening. I know that doesnt seem like a lot of time, but you need to remember that when it comes to food spoiling, the enemy is oxygen.

Right when the bag is opened, the food is exposed to oxygen, and there will be a chemical reaction that begins the process of spoiling. Thats why its best to purchase smaller bags. I know you save a bit of money when purchasing big bags, but unless you think youll finish it off within two weeks, its best to buy multiple smaller bags.

Health Risks of Eating Food Past Best By Date

One of the main questions we get asked when it comes to dog food is whether or not its ok for a dog to consume food past the best by date.

Technically you could probably get away with it. As long as its not too far past the best by date, it should be fine. However, we always prefer to play it safe when it comes to the health of our dogs. Because of this, once that date has passed, we toss the food.

Be aware of the following health risks before giving your dog food that is past the best by or expiration date.

Health Risks of Non-Contaminated Food (No Bacteria, Mold, or Bugs)

Digestion Issues

Just because there are no visible signs of bacteria or mold doesnt mean the food hasnt already started to spoil. If your dog eats spoiled food, it can lead to digestion issues such as diarrhea and vomiting.

Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a risk for two reasons. First, if your dog does get diarrhea or vomiting from the spoiled food, they wont be getting all the essential vitamins and minerals required to keep them healthy. The second reason malnutrition is a risk is that when the food begins to spoil, the quality of the nutrients goes down. If this happens, you may notice your dog becoming more sluggish and lazy.

If The Food Has Been Contaminated

Once the food has been contaminated, the severity of the health risks increase. If youre going to feed your dog food that is past the expiration or best by date, make sure you check for mold before your dog consumes it.

The health risks include the following:

Botulism

This is a rare disease that can affect dogs who eat spoiled dog food that contains meat. Symptoms usually begin within six hours and eventually lead to paralysis of all four legs.

E. Coli

Although E. Coli is more common in newborn puppies, adult dogs can suffer from this disease if they eat contaminated/spoiled food. E. Coli causes a high presence of bacteria in the blood (AKA blood poisoning).

Salmonella

A mild case of salmonella isnt considered dangerous. Your dog might feel a bit under the weather and lethargic but will return to his usual self within a few days. However, a severe case of salmonella will include a high fever and loss of blood in the stool.

Although the above three health risks are rare, it doesnt change the fact that theyre still a risk. Thats why we recommend playing it safe and buying a new bag of food instead of feeding your dog food that is past the expiration date.

I know its tempting to buy big bags of dry dog food to save money, but remember its best to finish the bag within 2 weeks of opening.

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