HOW LONG DOES DOG FOOD REALLY LAST? HINT: ONCE OPENED… NOT THAT LONG.
Buying bulk bags of kibble can seem like a great way to save money when choosing the right food for your pup. Often sold at a lower cost per pound than smaller bags, the apparent savings can be appealing. But there is a catch… unless the food is consumed within a short window of time, it can become dangerous for your pup, resulting in lots of waste and stale kibble.
Read on to learn more about how long dry dog food really lasts and discover 6 tips and tricks for keeping your pup’s kibble fresh.
So, how long does a bag of dry pet food last after it's been opened?
According to renowned dog nutrition experts Steve Brown and Beth Taylor, approximately 2 weeks. Yes, just 2 WEEKS! Yikes!
What about the expiry date on the bag, you ask? While it is true that the shelf-life of an unopened dry dog food product can be up to a year, once a bag of kibble is opened, the two-week count-down begins, making the expiration date on the bag somewhat misleading.
Why does a bag of kibble only last for 2 weeks once opened? It's all down to a sneaky process called oxidation.
Pet food bags are designed to keep kibble stable and safe for your pet to eat. But when a bag is opened, and the kibble is exposed to air, the oils and fats in the food start to react with oxygen, gradually causing them to break down and eventually turn rancid (a term used to refer to spoiled food, which in the case of kibble can be detected by a plastic, chemical-like smell).
Worryingly, exposure to air and moisture can also increase the risk of bacteria and mold growing on your pet's food. Sounds yucky, doesn't it?
To slow down the process of oxidation, pet food manufacturers often add natural or artificial preservatives to their kibble recipes. After you open a new bag of food, these preservatives will prolong the life of a kibble product in the short term, but will degrade over time before becoming fully oxidized. This is where a number of problems begin…
According to research, the nutritional value of kibble starts to decrease after a bag of food is opened. This means that when you serve your dog older food, they may not be absorbing the nutrients, vitamins, and fats they need for a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Even more alarmingly, the consumption of the oxidized fats present in rancid kibble has also been linked with a range of health concerns. This includes, but is not limited to, hair loss, diarrhea, and several more serious conditions, such as heart disease and cancer.
What’s more, it isn't hard to imagine that pups don't enjoy eating old food any more than humans do. This is one reason why many people see their dogs eat food much slower toward the end of a (stale) bulk bag.
While this all may sound concerning, don't despair! There are a number of steps you can take to help your chosen kibble product stay fresh and nutritious for as long as possible.
Here are 6 tips to help you get the best from your pet’s dry dog food:
TIP 1: Avoid buying bags of dry dog food that have been torn or damaged, and do not feed your pup food that has passed its expiration date.
TIP 2: Store your pet's kibble in a cool, dry environment (exposure to heat and moisture amplifies the oxidation process).
TIP 3: Between each use, keep the kibble tightly sealed in its original packaging. If you do use air-tight storage bins, it's best to store the kibble in its original bag and place it inside the container.
TIP 4: Dispose of kibble that has a plastic, chemical-like smell (a warning sign that the food has gone rancid).
TIP 5: If your dog refuses to eat their food at mealtime, don’t force them to eat. With their sensitive sense of smell, they may have detected that the food is spoiled.
TIP 6: Consider purchasing smaller bags of kibble, ideally to be consumed within 2 weeks.