How long can you keep dry dog food once opened?

Key Takeaways:

- Dry food will go stale and go off much quicker if you leave it open. If kept sealed and well stored, Pooch & Mutt dry food will last until the displayed expiry date.

- You can identify off dry food by a bad smell, it being moist and crumbly, mould, insect infestation, if your dog turns away from it or if after all these signs, they're ill after eating it.

If your dog is a dry food dude but you’re not entirely sure how to keep their kibble at its best, you’re in the right place. Dry food is known for lasting longer than opened wet food, raw food and cooked human food - but when it goes bad, it tastes bad, not to mention loses its important nutritional value.

So how long is too long to have dry dog food hanging around? Read on to learn how long you should keep dry dog food once opened, so you avoid putting your pooch off their meals with a sad bowl of stale kibble.

Does dry dog food go stale if left open?

Easy answer: yes, your sack of dry dog food will go stale much faster if you leave it open.

Our dry food should last up until the displayed expiry date if sealed correctly and stored in a cool dry place.

How can you tell if dry dog food is bad?

There are a few ways to detect dry dog food that is not only past its best, but shouldn’t be fed to your pooch at all.

• Bad smell. Fresh dry dog food doesn’t exactly smell of roses, but you will definitely note the scent has changed and smells distinctly off.

• Moist and crumbly. While wet dog food loses its moisture when expired, dry dog food will lose its crunch, go a bit soft and crumble in your fingers.

• Mould. Moistness means mould - and it’s best to throw the kibble away if any greenery is starting to bloom!

• Insects. Bugs love the decaying warmth of stale dog food - yum! If you spot any crawlies, definitely throw the food away. Storage mites can wiggle their way in if food is kept for too long or stored incorrectly. This can be a trigger for itchy skin.

• Your dog isn’t keen. If your dog is usually a firm foodie but turns their nose up, the food probably isn’t fresh enough.

• Your dog becomes unwell. A given, but if your dog gets sick, their food should be considered the first culprit.

Is it OK to put dog food in a plastic container?

It might seem like a great idea to pour dog kibble from the original bag into a plastic container - but it’s actually one of the most common mistakes dog owners make, for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, plastic containers or bins draw oil and fats from the kibble, causing it to oxidise and go stale much quicker. Secondly, if you’ve thrown away the bag, you won’t be able to check important information in an emergency - such as which of the ingredients may have caused a reaction in your dog, or when the expiry date was.

What you can do is keep the food in its original packaging, and then put the entire bag into a plastic container to ensure the food stays its best. The bags are usually designed to ensure optimal freshness and crunchiness so that the food stays super nutritious, too.

Can old dry dog food make dogs sick?

Sure can - dogs may get dodgy tummies if they eat bad food, just like we humans do. Lots of dogs will reject stale or expired dry dog food, but those that don’t might suffer from stomach pains, vomiting or diarrhoea. Get in touch with your vet if this happens to your dog and causes concern.

How to keep your dog food fresh:

There are plenty of ways to keep your dog’s kibble at its tastiest and crunchiest. To save you money, avoid waste and keep your pooch happy each dinnertime, follow these tips each time you buy new dry dog food.

Keep in a cool, dry place

It’s a classic, back-of-pack phrase for a reason - store your dry dog food ideally in a dark cupboard, away from all moistness and heat and you’ll prolong its life nicely.

Store in the original packaging

As mentioned above, dry dog food sacks are designed for freshness, whereas plastic containers will draw oil from the food so it will go stale much quicker. If you’ve already bought one of those plastic dog food bins though, that’s great - just pop the whole bag inside it.

Buy smaller bags more often

This is especially smart if you have a smaller dog who doesn’t eat as much. Buying dry food in smaller bags and more often could be the key to keeping the kibble super fresh.

Make note of when you opened it

If you’re someone who loses track of things like birthdays and anniversaries, attach the date you opened the bag on a sticky note, so you’ll know when the food might be getting old.

Always throw stale food away

If there’s even a small chance you think the dry food might smell strange or is going a bit soft, get rid and buy a fresh batch for your dog to munch on. Your pooch will thank you for it.

The freshest dry dog food is the most nutritious, and we believe your dog deserves the tastiest and best there is. To keep your pooch well-fed and content on their daily kibble, try our Pooch & Mutt range of grain-free dry dog food - made with organic, all-natural ingredients to keep your dog happy and healthy from the inside out.