What are the Issues With Expired Dog Foods?
As you can see, an expired best by or use by date means that your dog’s food could be deteriorating to less than premium conditions. These sub-par foods can impact your dog’s health in harder to spot ways, so you need to know what it is and how it affects your pooch.
Dry food has usually a “best by” date that ranges from 4 months to 3 years while canned food has a shelf life of up to 5 years. Unfortunately, this date doesn’t tell you when the food was made or how old it is.
This is only accelerated if the food is kept in a hot and moist place. Bacteria will multiply and mold spores will begin to form. Mold can be detrimental to a dog’s health. Not only that but mold can release into the air and cause harm to anyone living in the home. This includes both humans and dogs.
Food that’s only a few months past the expiration is generally safe for dogs. While you may not touch a piece of expired food a day after it has expired, dogs can handle a lot more than humans can in terms of food and digestion. However, before feeding the dog this food, check it for mold and bacteria. Mold will typically grow on the top layer of the food and produce a foul smell that’s beyond the typical stench of dog food.
While manufacturers include preservatives to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold, these ingredients degrade over time. Not only that but the food changes as it ages. These changes can’t be seen, but your pooch may start to feel the effects of the change depending on how old the food is.
Choosing the right dog food for your furry friend is an important part of dog ownership. It needs to be chock full of nutrition and protein to keep them happy and healthy for years to come. While most owners take time and consideration with choosing food, most overlook the dreaded expiration date.
Is it Safe to Feed my Dog Old/Expired Food?
Have you wondered if it is safe to feed your dog old food? Typically, humans won’t even eat leftovers. Some people eat food a week old! Others won’t touch anything that has been refrigerated after being cooked. Are you a fan of left overs? Your dog probably is! Dogs can stomach different bacteria than humans. For the sake of this conversation, when we say “old food” we are referring to food that humans would question eating. Food that has been in the refrigerator for a week. Food that has been left out for the majority of the day not refrigerated. Or food that is uncooked, but past its “best by” date. So, can dogs eat old food?
Typically, food that has been cooked but left in the fridge for the past week is safe to feed your dog. These are classic “leftovers” but they are a just few days past what many humans find “acceptable”. If there isn’t any visible mold growing on the food, chances are you are safe to feed it to your dog. Mold will grow where food is exposed to air. Mold will likely be visible on top of the food.
22 Common Foods That Will Kill Your Dog
If you’ve been pondering the question ‘does dog food expire?’ then we’re happy to report that you’ve come to the right place! Whether it’s dry kibble or canned food, even the best dog food can expire and go bad after being opened.
Since dogs need a nutritious diet each day, spoiled dog food will deprive your pooch of the essential vitamins and minerals required to stay healthy and happy. What’s more, bad food can lead to gastrointestinal or other bacterial issues that will affect your pup’s overall well-being.
While it may not always be obvious when dog food has gone off, it is important to always check the expiration dates and labels when purchasing. This will give you a clear indication of how long your food can be kept for and ways in which you can store it safely.
Typically, unopened wet dog food tends to stay fresher for longer periods, compared to unopened dry dog food. Kibble has a shelf life of about 12-18 months, while the canned variety can last for up to two years from the date of purchase. This is because the canning process itself acts as a preservative and ensures food doesn’t spoil quickly. However, once it’s gone beyond its expiry date, it will start to degrade.
So how do you know when dog food is safe to eat? And how do you prevent it from going bad quickly? Read our helpful guide on everything you need to know about keeping your dog food fresh and delicious for your pup to enjoy.
Just like all perishables, there are stark differences between the best by and expiration dates. Expiration dates are given by the manufacturer to tell you when the food is likely to decay and considered unsafe to eat. In this case, you would have to discard once this date has passed. On the other hand, a best by date means the food can be consumed, however, it will lose all of its quality, freshness and nutritional value.