Does anybody know the shelf life for these? Is it best to put in sealed buckets? (out-of-the-bag?) Thanks!
This is a great question and I would love to see some more responses. For my dog, I keep extra supplies (about 3 months supply) of dogfood in air-tight tupperware/rubbermaid containers.
Found a decent website for recommendations on dog food Practice Safe Dog Food Storage! Pet Food Shelf Life Recommendations and Tips. This site is helpful-- albeit a little too wordy for my taste. But there is good information in there! Interesting tidbit: "Wet dog foods retain their quality for much longer than dry dog food, due to the canning process. However, you should still ensure you purchase and use the food before the Best By date." <-- happy dance.
From what I have read, the average shelf life is about one year. I did see reports of mold developing that would make it food inedible. My logic says the life is probably longer than one year but the nutrients would be far less as time went by.
Can't say about cat food, but dry dog food is pretty high in fat (20%, more or less...) and therefore does not store all that well. The brand I use has about a year or so on the "good by" date. To keep it from turning rancid, I'd pack it in something airtight with oxygen absorbers and store it at the lowest temp I could manage. I'd love to have an extra freezer for things like this!
I'm with you, I would love to have an extra freezer for things like this. I have also heard the problem with the high fat content, so what I have been doing is that every time we buy another bag of food, I vacuum pack another 5 days worth of food. My plan is every 6 months open up the oldest food and use it. This way I keep it rotated and fairly fresh. Since we have stored dog food in a non airtight container for up to two months, I would have to think we would get about a year in the vacuum packed bags. Sharpshooter
Every time I think about canned dog food, I think of Mad Max eating the can of Dinki-Di while observing the barbarians trying to get into the refinery...
I had the same dang thought when i seen this post, lol. Guess i try and vac pac some of their mutts chow.
Thanks! Thanks for the info! Guees I'll try storing some with Ox. absorbers. I do have a cold basement - should help!
One other thing to consider is where you buy your pet's food from, according to my Vet.... She told me not to buy Iams at Walmart or any discount stores, but only at Pet Stores...She said some of them at the discount stores are coming from China and have toxins in them..... I noticed the bags of the food I use, at Dollar General...just tear open..and at Walmart as well.... At PetSmart? They have a zipper lock on the top of the bag.....I'm not sure what that means...if the discount stores are buying older food, or from a cheaper source....? Next time I'll look at the dates....Right now I'm stocked up, but will look when I go in the store... just fyi....
The high oil content turns it rancid fairly quickly. I'm not sure how much o2 absorbers help. But might be worth a try. I guess he'll end up transitioning to people food.
There are a ton of good books out there with nutritionally sound recipes using "people" food for dogs and cats. And yes, you will need one set of recipes for dogs and another for cats as their nutritional requirements are different. Anyway, I just just started putting back extra stores (enough for another adult) for the dog instead of dog food. If something were to ever happen to her I would much rather have extra food that I can use for myself or someone else than a years supply of dog food. Don't get me wrong ... she eats dog food now (and judging by her figure she certainly doesn't mind it) mixed with people food from time to time. The other consideration I have is that she is older and when her time comes we are not planning on replacing her anytime soon. And no puppy until she is gone. She doesn't like to be bothered by other dogs or kids now. Even the cats irritate her. The breeder I got her from very rarely has puppies and/or retired dogs available, but they are worth the wait.
That's a better idea then storing store bought pet food. Link to people food for dogs and cats: Home Cooked Pet Diets,Home Made Recipes And Pet Nutrition
