Home

>

Dog

>

Food & Nutrition

>

Wondering if Dog Food Goes Bad? Here's Your Answer.

Wondering if Dog Food Goes Bad? Here's Your Answer.

Keeping our dogs healthy and well fed are among our top priorities. After doing your research on dog food and determining exactly what and how much to feed your canine companion, you might still have some questions. Does dog food go bad? Does it get stale (maybe that’s why they’ve become picky)? How can I keep it fresh? We’ve got the answers you need about dog food safety and keeping your dog excited about mealtimes.

Does dog food go bad?

The short answer? Yes. Dog food can go bad. However, the reason your pet may be losing interest in the kibble you’ve had in your cupboard for the last few months is probably more complicated.

Does dog food go stale?

As it turns out, “[kibble] dog food does not go stale, like bread goes stale,” says Dr. George Collings, Ph.D. and a board certified pet nutritionist who advises Petco on pet nutrition insights and innovations, “but it can lose flavor over time, as the aromas in the flavor coating and in the kibble itself can dissipate over time, thus reducing palatability and consumability. A good food should be well stabilized, which will help keep the nutrition and palatability meeting its potential.” So, while your typical dog food won’t lose too much of its original flavor, your pup could be wishing for a fresher serving. Make sure you’re storing your dog’s food correctly and consider boosting both the nutrient and taste factor by adding a topper to their usual meal.

Does dog food expire?

Over-the-counter dog food does have an expiration date and it’s printed right on the packaging. “Typically, dry dog foods carry an 18-month shelf life, which has been an industry standard since the 1990s,” notes Dr. Collings. “Other types of dog foods will vary in the length of the shelf life published on the package. These best-buy dates are quite a long time when compared to what you might expect from a box of cookies or other common foods you might have in your kitchen pantry.” Good pet food companies often run shelf-life studies to confirm these time frames, adds Dr. Collings, but it’s always a good policy to check the expiration date when buying your dog’s food and choosing the freshest option available. The expected shelf-life can also be reduced if not stored properly--which is away from high heat and humidity.

Closely monitor this expiration date once you’ve made your purchase, and never feed your dog expired food. “Foods can go rancid over time, which can impact fatty acid and vitamin content and can also destroy certain flavor components,” says Dr. Collings. “Rancid compounds can have physiological impacts and destroy the nutritional viability of the product.”

Of course, any homemade dog food or fresh dog food that’s not frozen will only last as long as the individual ingredients last. In the case of homemade, frozen or fresh dog food, it’s best to keep individual portions frozen and defrost only what your pet will consume within a timely window--typically 7 days for prepackaged fresh or frozen meals, while the time period may be shorter for homemade food based on the ingredients you’ve used. To help prevent spoiling, don’t leave fresh or wet dog food out and available for more than 2 hours. If your dog hasn’t eaten their meal in that time, throw away the leftovers.

If you accidentally feed your dog food slightly past its expiration date, monitor their behavior and call your veterinarian immediately if vomiting or a change of behavior occurs. If the food was way past its expiration date, call the pet poison hotline for advice.

How to store dog food

Proper storage varies depending on food type. For the most part, however, Petco has all the dog food storage options you’ll need to properly store any type of dog food. After that, follow these general guidelines:

  • Dry food: Store in a cool, dry place, preferably in an airtight container, and clearly mark your dry dog food container with an expiration date.
  • Wet food: When unopened, store in a cabinet or other cool, dry place. Once it’s been opened, store wet dog food in an air-tight container in the fridge for no more than 2 days.
  • Fresh/frozen food: Store fresh food in the freezer or refrigerator and defrost in small batches to avoid spoilage. Always check the packaging, but once defrosted and opened, prepackaged foods should be consumed within 7 days.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect dog food for your four-legged best friend or the perfect way to safely store that food, Petco has all the products you’ll need to keep your pup safe and healthy come mealtime.

Filed Under

Sponsored