Dry Dog Food Storage

Convenience is without question one of the main reasons for the enormous popularity of dry dog food. Storage seems simple, refrigeration isn't necessary--just open the bag and pour.

But kibble, particularly the naturally preserved varieties with high meat content that I recommend, is more perishable than most people realize, making proper dry dog food storage critical.

Dry Dog Food Shelf Life

High quality dry dog foods are preserved with natural antioxidants--most commonly vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) or vitamin C (ascorbic acid)--and typically have a shelf life of one year.

Even so, a bag of kibble that left the manufacturing plant a month ago will be more nutrient-rich than one that's been sitting on store shelves for ten months. And it isn't just micronutrients such as vitamins that diminish over time.

Many super premium dry dog foods are fortified with probiotics, enzymes, and other supplements that are susceptible to disintegration.

With probiotics, for instance, research shows that a 25% loss of viable bacteria is to be expected after twelve months of storage.

And that's with proper storage. Incorrectly stored dry dog foods will incur far greater nutrient losses.

What this means to you is that fresher is always better.

With naturally preserved dry dog foods, it's a good idea to purchase bags that are no older than six months. Unfortunately you won't find the date the kibble was produced printed on the bag, so you'll have to contact the manufacturer to find out what the food's shelf life is.

Once you have that information, you can calculate the manufacture date by subtracting the shelf life from the expiration date. For instance, Orijen kibbles have a 15 months shelf life, so a bag with an expiration date of May 2012 was manufactured in February 2011 and should ideally be purchased before September 2011.

No matter what the expiration date on your dry dog food, it applies only as long as the bag is unopened. Once opened, dry dog food should be consumed within 4-6 weeks.

Kibble that contains high amounts of polyunsaturated fats such as fatty fish, fish oil, or flaxseed is best consumed within 3 weeks of opening the bag.

And it's in the case of these super premium formulas with their high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids and fresh meats or fish, not to mention probiotics and other supplements, that proper dry dog food storage is especially important.

Why Dry Dog Food Storage Matters: Meet the Enemies

Every time you open that bag of dry dog food, you risk allowing air, light, heat, moisture, mold spores, rodents, and insects to enter. These "invaders" are responsible for:

Rancid Fats - Exposure to oxygen, light, and heat eventually causes fats to become rancid. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are particularly susceptible to oxidation, and no fats are more fragile than the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA that are found in fatty fish and fish oil.

Rancid fats have an impact not only on the nutritive value of the dry dog food as key vitamins are destroyed and protein becomes less bioavailable, but continuous consumption of these damaged fats can cause cell damage and cancer as well as liver disease, heart problems, arthritis, and a host of other health issues. Initially the fats will be protected by the kibble's preservatives, but these antioxidants degrade over time. They'll degrade much faster if the dry dog food isn't stored correctly.

Loss of Micronutrients - Oxidation also destroys many vitamins as well as "live" supplements such as probiotics and enzymes that are found in super premium dry dog foods. Essential B vitamins like thiamin and pantothenic acid are especially vulnerable to damage.

Even with proper storage, some micronutrient loss is unavoidable, which is why quality dry dog foods contain somewhat higher concentrations of vitamins than needed.

Nonetheless, improper storage over a prolonged period of time can cause vitamin degradation to the point of deficiency. And fragile fatty acids as well as probiotics are very easily destroyed by exposure to light, air, and especially heat. Moreover, since micronutrients work synergistically, lack of certain key vitamins can interfere with the absorption of other nutrients and even reduce the bioavailability of protein.

Bacterial Growth - Unless contamination with pathogenic bacteria (E. Coli, Salmonella, etc.) occurred in the pet food plant, dry dog foods are generally safe from harmful bacteria--as long as they are stored correctly. Moisture allows bacteria to proliferate quickly, which is why kibble that has been "rehydrated" by adding water should be consumed immediately.

Problems can arise when dry dog food is stored in an environment where moisture is allowed to enter the bag, such as a damp basement or under the kitchen sink near a leaking pipe. While healthy dogs are able to handle substantial amounts of bacteria without ill effects, prolonged exposure to moisture can result in bacteria loads that overwhelm puppies, seniors, and immunosuppressed adult dogs.

Mold Growth - Warmth and moisture promote the growth of molds and their associated mycotoxins. Some of these mycotoxins are potentially fatal, so molds present a very serious threat to the life and health of your dog. And don't assume that you'll be able to detect mold growth simply by examining the dry dog food after pouring it into the bowl; that works only once the mold growth is well advanced.

In the early stages, mold is invisible to you and tasteless to your dog, but that makes it no less dangerous. In some cases, dogs have died within hours of consuming dry dog food contaminated with mycotoxins, but more commonly these toxins weaken the animal slowly by suppressing the immune system and damaging vital organs. Some mycotoxins, specifically the aflatoxin varieties, are also extremely potent carcinogens.

Vermin Infestations - Ants, bugs, meal worms, mice, rats, and storage mites are happy to dine on your dog's kibble if the bag is not stored correctly. As far as health risks are concerned, insect infestations are actually somewhat less serious than the previously discussed dry dog food storage problems--with one glaring exception: Storage mites are potent allergens.

The allergic reaction is triggered by the mites' bodies as well as their droppings. Mite infestations are most common in cheap grain-based foods; indeed, some of these inexpensive dry dog foods are shipped with mites or bugs right from the manufacturing plant. But even a grain-free super premium dry dog food is susceptible to insect infestations if stored improperly.

Dry Dog Food Storage the Right Way

Now that you understand why the way you store your dog's kibble is so important, let me explain what I mean by "proper dry dog food storage." The first thing you'll need to do is decide where to store your dog's food.

The ideal location meets all of the following criteria:

• Cool - The temperature should be below 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit); cooler is better.
• Dry - Low humidity is very important, no more than 14% tops, and be sure to avoid damp areas or water leaks.
• Dark - Don't just place the bag in the corner of a room; store it inside a pantry or cupboard.

Additionally it's important to avoid severe temperature fluctuations. That's why garages and backyard sheds tend to be poor choices for dry dog food storage.

A climate-controlled pantry would be the ideal location to store your dog's food.

Depending on the climate where you live, your kitchen may also work as a storage location as long as the dog food isn't placed anywhere near the heat of the oven.

Laundry rooms are out, but basements can work provided they are cool and dry.

In hot, humid climates, store your dog's kibble in a room with air conditioning and add a dehumidifier if necessary to bring the humidity down below 15%.

Once you open the bag for the first time, the dry dog food's degradation will accelerate. To protect against oxygen, light, moisture, insects and rodents, place the kibble bag into an airtight dog food storage container.

However, even airtight storage containers allow the air that's already in the container to circulate, so keep the bag's top rolled down tight and secure it with a bag clip or a piece of heavy-duty tape.

As already mentioned, six weeks is the maximum time a dry dog food that is preserved only with natural antioxidants should be kept once opened. If the food contains a significant amount of fish or fish oil, try to use it within two or three weeks. You're better off buying a smaller bag and paying more per pound than feeding your dog rancid fats.

The alternative is to refrigerate or vacuum-seal the kibble.

Refrigeration or vacuum sealing would be the preferred way to store dry dog foods that consist primarily of meat or fish and/or contain significant amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Except that most people don't have enough space in their refrigerator to accommodate thirty pounds of kibble. Nor does everyone own a vacuum sealer.

If you do, refrigeration and/or vacuum sealing can extend the shelf life of even the most perishable dry dog foods by several months.

See Freezing Dry Dog Food for more information on storing kibble in the refrigerator or freezer and using a vacuum sealer to remove all air from storage containers.

When in Doubt, Throw It Out

Spoiled dog food poses a serious health hazard, so don't take any chances. Discard the kibble if:

• The bag is unopened but past the expiration or "best by" date.
• The bag was opened six or more weeks ago, and the food wasn't refrigerated during this time.
• Some of the bag's contents got even a little wet (rainstorm, spilled water, leaking pipe, etc.).
• The newly purchased bag of kibble has a rip, hole, or what looks like water damage.
• The kibble doesn't look or smell right (discolored, chemical or paint odor, rancidity, mold, etc.).
• Your dog is suddenly reluctant to eat the kibble she's previously enjoyed.

Storing your dry dog food according to these guidelines will drastically reduce the likelihood of spoilage, contamination, and infestation. If, however, you do encounter a potential problem, it's always best to err on the side of throwing out the food and replacing it with a fresh bag.