Dog Food Storage
Food Storage Mistakes Can Seriously Affect Your Dog’s Health!
“It makes no sense to buy expensive, premium dog foods, whether dry or frozen, and then ruin them—actually making them unhealthy—by storing them too long or improperly.”
Improper food storage can result in bacteria and mold growth, and fats going rancid. Consuming this food can contribute to chronic health problems for your pets.
• If dry food becomes moist throw out!
• Change of color throw out!
• Smells rancid (like paint) throw out!
• Dog won’t eat. Throw out!
Pet food companies use antioxidants to forestall the fats in the food from turning rancid (oxidation). Continual exposure to oxygen will eventually use up the antioxidants and the fats will begin to oxidize starting with the more fragile omega-3s. [2] “studies show that frequent consumption of oxidized fats may cause cancer and contribute to many chronic health problems.” [2] [4]
“Oxidized or rancid fats should be avoided. While avoiding improper food storage is important for all dogs, it is especially important for those predisposed to pancreatitis because: • Oxidative stress may be a component of the pathophysiology of pancreatitis• Oxidized lipids may activate inflammatory cells.” [6]
Degradation of all micronutrients. “The nutrition in the food at the bottom of a bag left open 39 days will be considerably reduced compared to that of the top of the bag. Vitamins particularly susceptible to loss of potency due to long-term room temperature storage include vitamin A, thiamin, most forms of folate, some forms of vitamin B6 (pyridoxal), vitamin C, and pantothenic acid. [2]
Molds and mycotoxins. “Storing open bags of dry dog food for 39 days in warm, humid areas (most kitchens) promotes the growth of molds.” [2] “The data we’ve seen from manufacturers of antimicrobials shows that after four days at above 12% moisture mold growth starts.” [2] “Corn is especially vulnerable to contamination by aflatoxin.”… “Few, if any, major food items are immune to aflatoxin contamination, especially in an environment favorable to growth of toxin-producing molds” [5] “Dogs and cats are among the species most sensitive to the effects of aflatoxin” [1]
“Recent research has shown that allergic dogs frequently have reactions to the carcasses of storage mites. Storage mites may infest grains, especially those grains used in low cost dry dog foods.” [2]
Best Dog Food List
All non-refrigerated food should be stored in a cool dry location. Storing dog food in an air-tight container protects the food from infestation from rodents, molds, and mites, and ants. Air-tight containers increase food safety by protecting the dog food from moisture which is required for bacteria and mold to grow. [2] Dry pet foods have moisture content in the range of 4 to 12%. “Spoilage bacteria require at least 30% moisture for growth whereas molds require 5 to 15%.” [1]
Store dry kibble (without pouring it out) by placing the entire bag (original bag) into an airtight plastic food container, with the bag closed, in a cool location with low humidity. This will require the container to be larger than the volume of food to be stored. e.g. 25lb bag place into a 40lb container, or a 40lb bag into a 60lb container.
Pouring out the food into a food container exposes it to air which can decrease the foods shelf life and nutritional value. The oils on kibble starts to degrade as soon as the bag is opened. Over time pouring dry kibble into a food container will result in the fats sprayed on the kibble leaving a film on the inside of the container which will go rancid and contaminate any new food poured into the container. This can be avoided by placing the entire bag into an airtight plastic food container. The fats in time will turn rancid. “Rancid fats reduce the nutritive value of the protein, degrade vitamins and antioxidants, and can cause diarrhea, liver and heart problems, macular degeneration, cell damage, cancer, arthritis, and death." [3]
Pet food formulator Steve Brown recommends dry dog food (kibble) be fed within 14-days after opening the bag. (In the video here at 5:36 Steve Brown talks about the fragile fats in pet food)
A secondary reason to keep food in the original bag it that it provides you the barcode and identifiers should there be a recall.
If Your Dog or Cat Stops Eating
If your dog or cats stops eating the food you have been feeding don't try to dress the food up to make it more appetizing. They may have refused to eat due to an infestation of mites, or the presence of bacteria, mold, or rancid fats. Offer your dog something else to eat. If he or she eats the new food you offered, there may be a problem with the food you've been feeding. If your dog is refusing something else tasty you offered, they may not be feeling well. For a healthy adult dog there is no harm in them fasting, in fact it is recommended by many veterinarians. But if you have a puppy, diabetic dog, or unhealthy senior dog contact your veterinarian.
Are Your Dog’s Food And Water Bowls Safe?
Shelf life (unopened)
Use by date only applies to unopened bags and canned food.
Canned food generally over a year
Dry (kibble) 12 months
Raw frozen - 3-4 month shelf life if stored properly
Whole raw meats up to 12-months in freezer.
Ground meats RAW Diets 3-4 months
Canned Food
Opened cans – Manufacturer recommendation
Generally 3-5 days
Store in the refrigerator covered
A plastic pet food lid that fits the top of the can or plastic wrap can be used to limit air and prevent moisture loss.
Dry Food - Kibble
Protect from heat, moisture, and air.
Check date on bag
Keep dry.
Best stored between 40-60 f.
Above 68 f decreases shelf life.
Best if used within 14 -days.
Food companies have not published shelf life of open bags. (To many variables)
Place entire bag in airtight plastic food container without pouring it out.
Don't pour old food into new bag.
47qt
… VITTLES VAULT
Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of lipid-oxidation products.
“Chronic uptake of large amounts of such materials increases tumor frequency and incidence of atherosclerosis in animals.”
Mycotoxins: Risks in Plant, Animal, and Human Systems. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa, USA. January 2003.
Aflatoxicosis in dogs and dealing with suspected contaminated commercial foods. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Potential for dietary protection against the effects of aflatoxins in animals
“Aflatoxin ingested by an animal is absorbed in the small intestine and transported to the liver, where it is metabolized.”
“Corn is especially vulnerable to contamination by aflatoxin.”
“Aflatoxin-producing molds are ubiquitous in air”
“Few, if any, major food items are immune to aflatoxin contamination, especially in an environment favorable to growth of toxin-producing molds”
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