Dry food is convenient because it decreases the amount of time spent feeding the dog. Nothing needs to be chopped, frozen, or cooked; simply pour the granules into one basin and freshwater into the other. Many dog breeders buy food months ahead of time, especially if their preferred brand is on sale. However, we must remember that, like any other food product, dry dog food requires strict attention to the terms and proper storage.
When purchasing, pay close attention to the information after the phrase “Best before.” If you do not have time to use the product by this date, the indicated nutrients’ content will be in doubt. Simultaneously, it will be safe to eat for a while, but it will no longer be as useful as fresh.
It also happens the other way around:
Food with a normal shelf life spoils, and the dog, at best, turns its nose up at the bowl, and at worst, develops gastrointestinal problems. As a result, it is critical to understand how to store dry dog food so that it does not cause problems but instead provides benefits.
Storage Guidelines For Dry Dog Food
The most important thing to remember while storing food is to keep it dark, dry, and cool. The security of storage is just as important. The following dangers await you if the bag is open on the floor:
Granules quickly lose their aroma and, as a result, their appeal to animals when they are opened.
Rodents, which are carriers of deadly diseases such as leptospirosis, are not picky eaters.
Food attracts insects, so if you don’t close the bag, you can find clutches of eggs or larvae in it one “good” day.
If moisture gets into dry dog food, dust mites find it to be an ideal breeding environment.
They are imperceptible to the naked eye, but they leave behind the results of their crucial activity: tainted food that appears to have been dusted.
What Is The Best Way To Ensure Tightness?
If the bag has a reusable zip fastening, that should suffice to keep the product fresh. You can simply wrap the top edge of the bag and fix it with a clothespin if there is no clasp.
If you feed your dog dry food on a regular basis, however, it may be more cost-effective to buy a container once. It doesn’t have to be from a pet store; any tank with an inert material lid, such as food-grade plastic, will suffice.
Temperature Conditions That Are Ideal
Dry dog food should be stored at 10–20 degrees Celsius. The lipids in the diet will be oxidized if it is much greater. As a result, the storage place for dog food should not be near a radiator or other source of heat. Food packaging should not be left in direct sunlight for long periods of time for the same reason.
The storage of dry dog food is unaffected by temperatures below the specified temperature. The product’s nutritional value will not be harmed as a result of this.
How Much Do You Want To Keep?
It’s best to use opened package within three months of opening. If your dog can’t handle a 15–20 kilogram sack during this time, consider different packaging solutions. The longer the feed is left open, the more probable it is to spoil before its expiration date. Keep track of the expiration dates and open the bags that were released first if you buy a lot of feed at once.
Finally, even if you are accustomed to moving the granules into a container, it is worthwhile to save the package’s data and record the date of its opening.
As a result, you’ll constantly know how much food is stored and how long the dog needs to be fed.
