We believe many fur-kid mums and dads worry a lot about their fur babies, and new pet parents even more so. This time we’d like to share some tips on storing cat and dog food:
Where to store dog food and cat food:
Dog food cat food should be stored in a cool, dry place. Avoid storing it in damp or hot places, such as the bathroom or near the stove in the kitchen. Dry cat and dog food is not recommended to be stored in the fridge! Because going from cold to hot causes water droplets to condense in the dry food, and once the food gets wet, quality problems from contamination will appear!
How to store dry cat and dog food:
Try to avoid pouring the whole bag of dry food into a rice bin (or other plastic container) after opening it. The recommended method: cut a small opening in the dry food packaging, and each time after pouring out the amount you need for feeding, seal the opening well (some brands’ packaging has a zip design, for example Oven-baked Tradition奧雲寶, which makes it convenient to reseal after pouring out the food). After sealing the packaging, put the whole bag of dry food into an airtight container and close the lid.
Did you know… some brands’ packaging bags are specially designed, and dry food is safest in its own packaging. If you store dry food in a plastic container, the oils inside the food will seep out over time, and when these oils stick to the inner walls of the plastic container, they will cause varying degrees of contamination. After a long time, you may find some “stains” on the inner walls of the container that can’t be wiped off!
Pet can storage method:
Unopened cans should also be kept in a cool, dry place. If opened, we recommend sealing them with an airtight lid and storing them in the fridge. And we recommend that opened cans should not be stored in the fridge for more than 3 days — finish them as soon as possible! Another reminder: cats and dogs shouldn’t eat food that’s too cold, so for cans taken out of the fridge we recommend warming them to room temperature in a warm-water bath before letting them eat! If your pet doesn’t have a big appetite, please switch to buying small cans; giving them the freshest food is best for them.
How long can dry food be stored?
We recommend finishing dry food within about 2 to 3 months where possible. The most important reason, especially for natural cat and dog dry food, is that there are no added preservatives or additives inside, so keeping it too long may lead to quality problems! Also, once the aroma of the dry food is exposed to air, over time it becomes less fragrant, and there’s a good chance your pet will lose interest in that bag of food!
What’s the best way to feed kittens and puppies / cats and dogs with more sensitive stomachs?
We would recommend that for kittens and puppies under about 10-12 months, you divide the daily feeding portion into smaller portions. For example, if the daily portion is 36g of dry food, originally split into 3 meals (12g/meal), it’s best to divide it even more finely into 4 meals (9g/meal) for them to eat. This puts less burden on their not-yet-fully-developed stomachs, makes it easier to absorb, and lets them take in the food’s nutrients more effectively!
Their digestive systems are naturally weaker, and eating too much in one go is bad for them. Also, eating too much can cause vomiting! And when they can’t digest it in time, the chance of loose stools increases too!
We hope the tips above can help you!
Your Pet Supplies Centre,
BC Pets
