Dog owners want to provide their pets with the best quality food, which is important for maintaining their health. However, if not stored properly, dog food may go stale and your dog won’t be too happy about it.
If you don’t know how to store your pet’s food properly, you may end up wasting money, as well as put your pet friend’s health at risk.
The good news is that with a few relatively simple food storage methods, you can keep your dog’s food fresh at all times.
We present you with the top five tips that will help you learn how to store dog food.
Use the Original Container
Most dog food containers are designed to keep the food fresh for an extended period of time. Keeping the food in the original container is by far the simplest and most effective for preserving it. This is a perfect solution if you have only one of a few pets and don’t keep large food quantities.
On the other hand, if you move the food from the original container it could quickly go stale which is something that you’ll want to avoid.
Store it in a Pantry
As with many other foods, dog food can go stale if it is exposed to bacteria and other pathogens. The most important thing to keep in mind is that bacteria thrive in humid conditions. Store the dog food in a dry place and avoid areas that are exposed to sunlight. If you have a pantry at your home, it’s the best place to store the dog food in.
Use Additional Containers
It might be a good idea to add extra protection by putting the dog food in another container (while still keeping it in the original one). This way you ensure that your dog’s food stays protected from bacteria or other pollutants in case the original container gets damaged for some reason.
Extra protection is always a good idea, especially if you don’t have a pantry or a storage.
Tip: Check out the best dog food containers to get the best possible protection.
Maintain Proper Hygiene
As we’ve pointed out earlier, you need to prevent your dog food from being exposed to bacteria. Food containers are often exposed to dust and other pollutants which provide a breeding ground for bacteria. You should clean your dog food containers on a regular basis. Carefully disinfect the container both on the inside and the outside and then wash it with water.
Tip: Always keep the container in a dry place, out of the reach of children.
Pay Attention to the Expiration Date
Just as any other type of food, dog food has an expiration date after which it becomes unsafe for use. Remember that the expiration date no longer applies after the food is opened. Try to use the food within 45 days after opening it.
Before you give your dog the food, check the expiration date as to avoid feeding your pet expired food.