Have you considered how the storage of your dog's food could be affecting his health? Most of us probably don't give this critical issue a second (or even third) thought. However, properly keeping our pet's kibble could mean the difference between a healthy pooch and one that is suffering from tummy issues. Visit Pet Life World for more dog care training and tips.

Before you dump your dog's kibble into that cute canister, read these 5 dog food storage mistakes you DON'T want to make.

# 1 - Not Sealing It Up!

A common mistake made by pet parents is not sealing up the kibble. Leaving the food exposed to air and humidity is a recipe for degradation, which can increase the risk of bacterial contamination like Salmonella. The best way to do this is to keep the kibble in the original bag. Top quality pet foods are packaged to keep the contents fresh, so seal up that bag after you open it! 

If you're being forced to conceal your canine companion's kibble because he will bust into the bag like a racoon into a garbage pail, then place the entire bag into a plastic container to keep it fresh...and safe.

# 2 -  Leaving Pet Food Out Too Long

The free-feeding method is definitely convenient for us, but do we really know how long the kibble can safely stay out? Some manufacturers have taken this into consideration and have added natural (and artificial) preservatives that generally keep the food safe until the expiration date. However, if you have any doubts, contact the company for their recommendation.

If you are feeding your dog a wet diet, be sure to toss any uneaten food in his dish after 2 to 4 hours and store the partial can of food in the refrigerator with a lid on it.

When storing both dry and wet foods, keep them away from heat, humidity and, of course, any pests like mice or insects.

# 3 - Not Cleaning the Food Bowls

How often do you scrub out your dog's food dish? Believe it or not, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends washing your dog's bowls and scooping utensils with hot soapy water after each use. This is to prevent those infectious bacterias such as Salmonella and Listeria from accumulating.

# 4 - Allowing Children to Handle Pet Food

Unless your child is uber responsible, it's never a wise idea to allow them to handle the dog's food. Two reasons; children are more likely to overfeed pets, and they tend to be less reliable when it comes to washing their hands. This can make your dog fat and expose the little ones to those nasty bacterias we mentioned earlier.

# 5 - Keeping Food Past the Expiration Dates

We have "best before" dates on our foods, so it only makes sense that dog food would, too. But how many times do we bother to check them? We can't depend on the retailers to swap out those expired foods, so be sure to start looking for them on the side or bottom of the bag (usually on the top of the canned food). Old food not only loses its nutrient value, but we put our pets at risk for stomach upset.

Dog Food Storage in a Nutshell

Don't make mistakes when it comes to storing your dog's food. Keep it sealed up in its original bag, get into the habit of washing Fido's dishes, and watch those expiration dates. All these will help ensure your pooch has a long and healthy life.