Avoid common dog food storage mistakes

Dog owners often make mistakes when storing dog food. Improper storage may promote creation of mould, and therefore loss of consistency and valued properties. But the really bad thing is that you may endanger your pet. Incorrect and too warm temperatures can really destroy the food. The most common mistakes however often seem insignificant and maybe you make them too. Let us take a closer look.

Dry dog food can survive anything, right?

This is a well-known myth and many people believe it but unfortunately, that is not the case. The expiration date for dry dog food is usually set from 12 to 36 months after production providing that it is stored properly and not in a room with relatively high temperatures. If you open the bag, you should use it as quickly as possible. A dog nutrition expert Jiří Švihálek says:“People often do not consider storage conditions important, because they think that dry food cannot go bad and will last forever. That is a huge mistake. Just like human food, animal food also has a limited shelf life. Dogs have sensitive digestion system and expired or mouldy granules can cause unpleasant digestive problems.

Preserving food on vacation

Do you always take your pet on your family vacation? Sure, but you need to store krmivo feed properly. Obviously, do not leave it in a hot car. If you carry raw food or cooked meat or other foods, you need to have a small refrigerator in the car. A good idea is to give your dog probiotics before the trip .This will improve digestion and reduce travel stress.

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How to store food effectively

First of all, avoid places with increased air moisture such as basements. Dry dog feed is able to absorb moisture quickly and you do not want that plus dry food can absorb the “specific” smell of your basement and that might be a problem too. Your dog will not like it.

Do not buy large packages for small dogs

It usually takes a long time for a small dog to consume big bag of food. A very big package is usually not worth the risk. “Dry dog food should be used within two months after opening and that may be a problem especially, if you have a small dog and use high-quality natural food. These feeds do not contain chemical flavourings or preservatives that extend the shelf life and remain fresh for a shorter time. If you have a small Yorkshire terrier do not buy a large 30 kg package but by 15 kg packaging instead,” says Jiří Švihálek.

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Do not go for plastic bags

Special sealable containers are ideal. Thanks to this type of packaging, the food will not lose the taste or smell. Plastic bags often contain carcinogenic phthalates. If stored for a long time, these harmful substances may get into the food which is obviously very dangerous. Paper bags do not pose such risks.

Do not mix new and old feed

This issue is often overlooked. When you buy a new bag do not pour the contents of the old bag into the new one because there is a risk of contamination. Whatever bacteria may be living in the old feed will get transferred into the new feed quickly, plus the old feed will remain at the bottom for too long.

Source: yoggies.cz, krmeni.cz, pesweb.cz, super-granule.cz 

Preview photo: Pixabay