5 Pet Food Storage Mistakes That Could Make Your Pet Sick
5 Pet Food Storage Mistakes That Could Make Your Pet Sick
Do you know how to store your pet food properly and keep it fresh? As pet owners, we should always make sure that we never feed our pet foods that are rancid or expired. Here are five common pet food storage mistakes that pet owners make.
1. Throwing The Original Packaging
Although storage containers can help keeping your pet’s food fresher longer, pouring the dry kibbles directly into the container is not an ideal way to store pet food. Instead, you should place the bag itself into the storage box and scoop out the kibble. According to PetMD, high-quality pet food bags have been designed to keep out the elements and maintain its freshness for as long as possible. Keeping the original packaging has the added benefit of retaining the pet food’s barcode, expiration date and batch code. They are very important information to have in the event of a pet food recall.
What type of pet food storage container is the best? You should ideally put the pet food inside a hard container made of glass or stainless steel or any airtight container.
2. Leaving Pet Food Unsealed Or Un-Refrigerated
The golden rule of thumb is to keep them well-sealed. Never expose dry food to the air because it will speed up the rate at which pet foods degrade and increase the risk of bacterial contamination such as Salmonella. Always remove all air in the bag and reseal if your bag comes with a ziplock, otherwise, do the same and tie the bag up with a rubber band or a with a bag clip. It would be extra helpful to place the bag in the airtight container. This would help keep the food fresh for a longer period! This process should be done with all edibles, including treats!
Meanwhile, you should keep open wet food refrigerated and it should be consumed in 24 hours. Wet food should not be left unrefrigerated for longer than 2 to 4 hours.
3. Store Pet Food At High Humidity Or Temperature
Bacteria is your enemy! Always remember to store pet food in a cool and dry place. Once oxygen and light reach the dry food, the chemical process of oxidation starts. As such, the vitamin or mineral content of the pet food will be diminished. At the same time, oils and fats will become rancid as well due to exposure to oxygen. Rancid oils mean that your pet is not able to absorb the important nutrients that are part of a balanced, complete meal. Read more: Help!
4. Using Pet Food After Its Expiration Date
Never take the risk by feeding your furry friend expired pet food! Pet food expiration dates are established to ensure our pets’ safety. Expired pet food may no longer provide your pet with proper nutrition and can cause serious illness.
5. Not Washing Your Pet’s Bowl
How often do you clean your pet’s bowls? Keeping your pet’s food and water dishes clean is important for your pet’s health. Pet owners are encouraged to clean the bowls of their pets daily. Washing pet food bowls and utensils with dish soap and hot water between every use is an effective way to prevent infectious agents. Read more: Hidden Dangers In Your Pet’s Bowl