How Long Does Dog Food Last: A Guide for Pet Owners
You open the cupboard and, low and behold, there’s a bag of dog food that you had completely forgotten about. You ask yourself: “How long does dog food last? Will it be safe to feed to my pup?”
In this article, we’ll talk about how long dog food lasts and how to tell if it’s safe to feed. Your furry friend will thank you!
Table of Contents
How Long Does Dog Food Last?
When determining exactly how long your dog’s food will last, there are a few things you should consider. Let’s take a look.
Expiration Date
The first is the most obvious: Check the expiration date printed on the dog food. The expiration date reflects the date by which the manufacturer suggests you discard the food, as it will be spoiled.
This date should be found near the bar code, often on the bottom of a bag or side of a can.
Closed vs. Open Food
As a general rule, unopened dry and wet dog foods will usually expire between 12 months and two years after they are produced.
Once a bag or can of dog food has been opened, however, the exposure to air will cause it to spoil faster. How long it will remain suitable to eat will depend on the type of food it is, among other factors.
Dry vs. Wet Food
Once opened, dry dog food will be safe for about six weeks(open in new tab). Wet dog food, on the other hand, can only be consumed safely for up to seven days after opening. In both cases, this assumes that the food is kept in optimal storage conditions, as we’ll discuss later.
Wet food that has been opened and left out at room temperature will only be good for about two hours(open in new tab). If it’s been out longer than that, don’t feed(open in new tab) it to your pup, as exposure to air and heat speeds up bacterial growth and can cause the food to spoil.
Instead, your dog should either eat the whole can right away (within two hours), or you should properly store the remainder of the food in the fridge.
When choosing your dry or wet food, it’s important to pick something that’s nutritionally complete and high quality. IAMS™ Advanced Health Immune Health(open in new tab) dry dog food is designed to nurture your dog with real chicken(open in new tab), live probiotics, antioxidants, and vitamins.
If your canine is partial to wet dog food, our Adult Beef Chunks in Gravy(open in new tab) is made with real beef, supporting your dog’s strong, healthy(open in new tab) muscles and easy digestion, and is served in a savory gravy they’re sure to enjoy!
Storage Considerations
Ensuring your pet food is stored correctly allows you to make the most of its shelf life. Here’s what you need to know.
Dry Food
To keep dry food fresh for the longest period of time, you’ll want to take note of how and where you’re storing it.
Storage Location
Dry dog food(open in new tab) should be stored off the floor in a cool, dry, and dark place such as your pantry or garage. Exposure to light, heat, or humidity should be avoided as these factors may negatively impact the freshness of your dog’s food.
Storage Container
Because the manufacturer of your pup’s kibble specifically made the bag as an optimal storage container, you can keep the food in the original bag until it’s ready to be used. Retaining the original container means you can always reference the food’s expiration(open in new tab) date.
Once it’s opened, you can place the bag and all its contents in an airtight container made of metal or plastic. Roll the top of the original packaging tight and clip it shut in-between meals to keep air out.
Wet Food
To maximize the shelf life of your wet dog food, proper storage is also essential.
Storage Location
Unopened cans of wet dog food should be stored off the floor in a dry and cool place, just like dry dog food. Again, the pantry or garage are good options. As we said before, be sure that wherever it’s stored, it’s not subject to sunlight or extreme temperatures.
Covered vs. Uncovered
Leave the food in its original can until your dog is ready to eat. If your dog doesn’t eat the whole can in one sitting, then you must place the remaining food in an airtight container, always covered, in the fridge. After opening, your pup should have up to seven days to enjoy the rest.
As we mentioned earlier, uncovered food at room temperature will only be good to eat for about two hours. If the food is left uncovered in the fridge, it can also quickly spoil, dry out, and attract bacteria.
How To Know if Dog Food Is Bad
The last thing you want to do is to serve your four-legged friend spoiled food! Not only can the food have lost its nutritional value, but it’s possible that your dog will fall ill as a result of spoiled food.
Your dog food is only as fresh as the expiration date and its storage condition, so sometimes you’ll have to evaluate the food to ensure it’s appropriate to serve your dog. Here are some ways to know if dog food might be bad.
Expiration Date
As we said earlier, your dog food’s expiration date is a good starting point. If it’s past the date printed on the food packaging, it is generally recommended to discard it.
Smell Test
Just like human food, when dog food goes bad, there can be a rancid, unpleasant smell, and. you can’t count on your dog to detect it!
If you smell something off, even if the expiration date suggests the food is still good, it is usually best to discard the food and serve your pup something else. If you just purchased it, you may be able to return it to the store you purchased from.
Appearance
If you can see mold, moisture, or bugs in the food, discard it right away. You don’t want to serve that to your canine companion!
Storage Condition
If the food you’re thinking of serving has been in a warm, moist, or otherwise exposed environment for a long period of time, it’s probably also not recommended to serve to your dog.
Your Dog Refuses to Eat It
That’s right, sometimes they’re not just being picky(open in new tab). Your dog might not be eating their dinner because they can tell something’s wrong with the food.
Your Dog Gets Sick
Of course, if your dog becomes ill after eating, it’s very likely that there was something wrong with the food and it should be discarded.
Note: Any time your dog becomes ill, it’s a good idea to visit a veterinarian.
Tips to Make Your Dog Food Last Longer
Shop Frequently
To make the most of your dog food, it’s a good idea to shop more often. Before going to a superstore to get a huge bag of kibble, make sure your pup can eat it all before it spoils.
Even though the giant bag is a great deal, it might not be worth it. Better to get a smaller bag so your pooch can enjoy every last morsel before it goes bad.
Store Food Carefully
We’ve already mentioned this, but it’s worth another note. The biggest tip is to be careful when you’re storing your dog’s food. Taking the time to store it properly will preserve the food for many more happy meals — helping to keep your dog healthy and satisfied!
Healthy Mealtime, Happy Dog!
As you can see, the answer to “How long does dog food last?” is not as straightforward as you would think. It depends on several factors, from the type of food and storage conditions to the food’s expiration date.
When choosing a nutritious food for your pup, IAMS™ is a great choice! Our dry foods support a range of needs — for instance, our Advanced Health formula
With IAMS(open in new tab)™ dog food in the pantry, you know your dog has the best nutrition to help support a healthy, happy life!