“A healthy outside starts from the inside”, says Robert Urich. The words apply to your dog’s health as much as they work for you.

Have you ever thought about the proper way of storing your dog’s food? Is your dog falling sick frequently? Are you utilizing plastic storage containers to store your pet’s food? Is it safe? Thousands of questions may now pop up in your mind related to keeping fresh the dog food and to enjoy your pooch’s health for long.

Here’s a detailed guide to the do’s and don’ts of storing dog food properly.

Factors to Keep In Mind While Storing Dog Food:

We are very particular about choosing the best dog food for our pups and pooches. So, it’s imperative that we know well enough about how they should be stored. Three factors must be considered while storing dog’s food: 

1. Temperature: Dry dog food should be stored in a cool temperature zone under 100 °F. It will keep the food fresh and healthy for a long-term. Temperature around 120 °F can only keep the dog food “healthy” for as long as 48 hours because the vitamins and nutrients begin to degenerate afterwards.

TIP #1: For canned foods, it is advised that they should be kept under a cool temperature range of 50-100 °F before being opened. Freezing temperatures can cause canned food to change its taste, smell and texture.

2. Moisture: Dry surroundings with the least possible moisture are suitable for storing dog food. As we open the dog food packets, the food immediately comes in contact with oxygen and moisture which leads to oxidation of fats and then, rancidity of food. 

3. Air: Once the dog food or can have been opened, we cannot avoid its contact with oxygen. But, we can use air-tight containers to slow down the process of oxidation.

TIP #2: Sprinkle lots of grounded cinnamon before sealing the container for later use. Cinnamon helps to slacken the process of microbial growth.

Best-suited container for storing dog food:

1. Original Bag of Dog Food:

At first, the original bag of dog food is the best container to keep the food healthy for long due to its thick-coating.

2. Plastic Containers:

Plastic containers from kitchen bags to plastic pails are commonly found in our kitchens. But, recent researches have shown, how plastic is harming human bodies by disrupting the normal functioning of body cells. It is causing diabetes, cancer, obesity, birth-defects etc. Equally enough, Dog food is adversely affected when stored in plastic containers.

Use BPA (Bisephenol A)-free plastic or HDPE (High-density polyethylene) plastic as they are safe for storing food items. PVC plastics, BPS (Bisphenol S) and BPA (Bisephenol A) are harmful plastics that leach the food stored in them and can cause rancidity of food. Plastics with an SPI code of 3 or with a clear mention of “BPA free” should only be allowed in kitchens for the sake of your family's and pets’ health.

3. Stainless Steel:

Stainless Steel containers are harmless and keep the food fresh and tasty as ever. If possible, replace all your plastic containers with stainless steel, ceramic, or glass containers for a healthy life.

4. Canned Food Containers:

Opened canned dog foods should be stored in refrigerators with up to 45°F temperature. It will stay healthy and fresh for about five to seven days. Refrigerating the canned food will help it retain the moisture, taste and odour. However, the leftovers in food bowl (canned foods) should be emptied after 4 hours.

5. Dog Food Bowl:

Dog’s food bowl should be made of stainless steel or any other safe material. The bowl should be cleaned regularly. Chewable plastic bowls or bags should be avoided for providing kibble to your pooch- as plastic is toxic for your pet’s health.

The dry dog food can be kept for longer in the food bowl placed in a cool, dry environment away from contamination by bees or insects. Dog treats for training purposes need to be stored in similar manner as dry dog foods are stored.

TIP #3: Keep a check on manufacturing and expiration dates. Dry dog food has a shelf-life of one year after its manufacturing date.

If your dog is not interested in eating his favourite kibble, you really need to have a look at the food storage routine that you are following!