How long before dog food expires? I heard it was six weeks, but I want to say it's longer than that.?

Question

I'm sorry, I guess I should have specified Opened dry dog food...thank you all for your input, very fast! I called the vet and they said as long as it's stored in a cool, dry place it should be ok for a few months. Obviously to consume it by the expiration date...THANK YOU ALL AGAIN!

Answer 1

Here are is what you need to know:

Canned food: Unopened normally last two years from date of production...see expiry date on package.
Oppened needs to be consumed in about two days. Keep refridgerated but it will spoil if left more than a few days.

Dry food: Unopened normally lasts one year after being produced. Low quality foods will spend most of that time in transport on warehouse shelves so by the time you get it, it will only have a few months left on it. High quality foods like Innova will still have 10-11 months left before they expire.

Opened dry food should last a few months if it is still fresh...not approaching its expiry date and is left IN its original packaging. Dog food bags are made with a special material to hold in freshness. By placing the food in another container you are reducing the lenght of time it will stay fresh. NEVER put the food in a plastic container. Plastic leaches chemicals which will be absorbed by the food. So, a fresh food like Innova left in its original packaging will last a few months. If you by a grocery store food, I wouldn't keep it open for more than a month.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I would follow whatever is reccomended on the bag. The problem you run into with dry dog food when it gets too old is that the vitamins are effected. Exposure to light or air can cause the vitamins (I believe vitamin A mostly) to become ineffective. The dog is then not getting all the vitamins it needs, which can actually cause major problems sometimes.

I'm not sure of an exact number, but I probably wouldn't keep an open bag much over 4 weeks. You could, however, get an airtight plastic container to store your food in, and then you could potentially store the food quite a bit longer. That is how food is stored at the vet clinic I worked at. If nothing else, at least roll your bag shut as tightly as possible.

Hope that helps a little!

Answer 3

It all depends on where you keep it. I buy a great big bag of dog food, and it is usually gone in 2 weeks, but it doesnt expire then. When i only had 1 dog I usually bought like 3 big bags. Each bag would be gone in 4 weeks. So the last bag I opened for my dog would be 8 weeks old. I dont really think that dog food expires after like 4 months.

Answer 4

At 6 weeks old, the baby should begin telling you when he's hungry. I always took my cues from my kids. I caught some flack for it when I was in the hospital w/ my 2nd child, but I feel that the baby will let you know when he wants to eat and will sleep when he wants to sleep. As long as he is growing normally and gaining the appropriate amount of weight, there should be nothing to worry about. I think the experts just throw those #'s out there for guidelines. I always thought of it this way: human beings (even babies) know when they are hungry and when they are not and everyone is different. If we start teaching them from an early age that they must be fed on a certain schedule and a prescribed amount, we are setting them up for problems w/ weight (either over or under) later on. I've noticed that my children (3 & 5) generally eat when they are hungry (mostly healthy food, of course) and stop eating when they are full. I try not to push them too much. Good luck and trust your motherly instincts (they were around way before dr.'s!).

Answer 5

Well, if you are talking about the dog food that is in the can, it should say it somewhere on the can. I don't think there is an expiration date for dry dog food...How long have you had it and be more specific on what kind it is (dry or canned)...Dry dog food might have an expiration date too tho. You just got to look on the bag and see...

Answer 6

It depends on the packaging. The bag or can has an expiration date. I feed dry kibble in wax coated air tight bags that are vacuum sealed from the factory. These bags are good for 9-12 months if the seal is not broken.

Answer 7

It depends on the food you use. The less expensive, the more preservatives it has, so the longer it will last. Look for an expiration date on the package. I would think most dry kibbles would be good for at least a few months.

Answer 8

Look on the bag it has a date.
If you are putting the food in an air tight container then you should be okay. If you open the bag and just leave it out it might go bad sooner.

Answer 9

There is an expiry date on the bag. We figure it can be kept for another 3 months without harm, if it is in a cool place.

Answer 10

I wouldn't keep it over 4 weeks once you open the bag and air gets to it. If you have a bag that will last longer than that you should put in zip lock bags and freeze it as soon as it's opened.