Storing your dog’s food properly is vital in keeping it fresh, tasty, and free of pests. Common dog food storage mistakes can lead to stale kibble that your dog won’t eat, or even rancid food that can make them sick!
Do you know how to store your dog’s food properly? Keep reading to see if you’ve made any of these common mistakes.
- Buying Too Much Food at Once
Once you open a bag of dry dog food, you should use it all within a month to six weeks. While buying large bags can save money, this only works if you have a big dog or multiple pups who can finish it in time.
If you don’t like buying dog food every single month and would rather stock up, consider buying multiple smaller bags rather than one larger one that will go stale before it’s eaten.
- Pouring the Food into a Storage Container
Decanting your dog’s food looks prettier, but comes with some risks. Firstly, dog food bags are designed to keep the food fresher than a storage container, even containers that seal well.
Another risk with plastic containers is that the food can cause small abrasions in the plastic where grease and debris can collect and spoil over time. This can make even newly-added food unsafe to eat.
This doesn’t mean you can’t use a storage container, however. It will help seal the food and keep it free of moisture and pests. Simply purchase a container large enough to hold the bag itself, and store the entire thing inside rather than pouring out the food.
- Throwing Out the Food Bag
Another risk to decanting is that most people toss away the food bag once it’s empty. If the food is recalled, you won’t be able to see if the food you bought is a part of the recall, because you won’t have the lot number or UPC code. You’ll also be unable to file a complaint if the food makes your dog sick, for the same reasons.
Tossing away the food bag also leaves you without the expiration date if you need to check it later.
- Leaving the Food Unsealed
Stick with us here–another mistake is not using a food storage container. Confusing, we know!
Many dog food bags aren’t resealable, and leaving dry food unsealed can make it go stale quickly. It’s also easier for your dog, or even pests, to get into an open bag.
So, unless your dog food bag is resealable, be sure to buy an air-tight container and place the entire food bag inside.
- Topping Up Dry Food
Do you pour new food into the storage container when supply is low, rather than waiting for it to empty completely? This leaves the oldest food and crumbs on the bottom, where it can spoil over time and ruin the newer food.
Instead, wait for the old food to run out and then open a new bag.
- Not Cleaning the Container Regularly
You’ll also want to clean the dog food container each time you replace the food. Allowing it to empty first makes this much easier!
Like leaving old food in the container, not washing the storage bin can leave grease and debris behind that can spoil your new food.
Another often-forgotten task is to clean the food scoop when you clean the container itself, as the scoop touches your dog’s food every day. Food bowls should be cleaned as well after each meal.
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- Not Keeping the Food in a Cool, Dry Location
Keeping dog food in a garage or basement can be convenient, but this is sometimes a bad place for it. Storing the food in a pantry or similar location is better. Choose someplace dry and temperature-controlled, so that you don’t attract mold and the food doesn’t go rancid before its expiration date.
When you wash the food container, be sure to dry it thoroughly before refilling it. This ensures that no moisture is trapped inside.
- Not Refrigerating Leftover Canned Food
The focus of our list so far has been dry food, as it’s more typical to store. However, sometimes a dog can’t eat an entire can of food in one sitting!
If this is your situation, be sure to cover the leftover food with a sealing lid, like this set from Frisco, and place it in the fridge. It can last like this for up to a few days, so be sure to use it immediately.
- Not Dog-Proofing the Food Container
The last mistake people make when storing their dog food is not dog-proofing the food container, so the dog can sneak inside for a quick bite! This can lead to obesity, which often leads to health problems and a shortened lifespan.
It also means you won’t know how much your dog is eating each day, so you likely won’t notice if their appetite changes. Changes in appetite are often the first sign of a health problem, so it’s essential to monitor how much your dog eats each day.
The last and saddest issue with not properly storing dog food is that it runs the risk of a small dog becoming trapped inside of their food containers. If a small dog climbs inside and the container latches, they can then suffocate if not found in time.
Storing your dog’s food correctly is easy once you’ve learned how! Remember to always keep the food inside of the bag, use an airtight container if necessary, and clean everything the food touches on a regular basis. Always store kibble out of reach in a place that is cool and dry, and seal and refrigerate leftover canned food.
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