Once opened, use within 3 days. Pantry Fresh products are in shelf-stable packaging that may be kept in a pantry or cupboard up to 2 years from the manufacture date. Once the package is opened, store it in your refrigerator and feed it within 5 days. Please discard any unused portions after 5 days.
At JustFoodForDogs we never use any preservatives and our food is vacuum sealed and frozen immediately to lock in the nutrients that are available naturally in unprocessed food. This system also allows for a reasonable shelf life of 12 months in the freezer and 3 - 6 days in the refrigerator.
In the fridge and stored in an adequate, airtight container, the wet food should last up to a week, retain its nutrition and still be palatable for your hungry pup. If you've heated refrigerated wet dog food to raise it to room temperature, do NOT refrigerate after this; simply throw the leftovers away.
Is it okay to heat the food for my dog? Yes, it's fine to heat the food for your pet; some pets prefer it that way. You can heat the food by running warm water over the vacuum seal bag of thawed food or you can put it in the microwave for a short time on low setting.
Is it okay to heat JustFoodForDogs food? Yes, and some pets prefer a warm meal. Our food can be warmed in the microwave for a short time on low power. Remember that food that's been warmed over 40 degrees Fahrenheit should be served right away and should never be refrozen.
Never microwave any pet food. Microwaves cause the fat molecules to radically change, making fats less digestible, and ultimately, they can become harmful to your pet's long-term health.
You can either thaw, microwave or warm the food before serving. Additionally, pets with stomach sensitivity when fed frozen food can cause stomach upset. Refrigerated food can also be spoilt at times which can cause food poisoning in dogs, hence best be avoided.
DON'T LEAVE PET FOOD SITTING OUT TOO LONG
The best recommendation is to contact the manufacturer to find out the recommendation for your pet's specific food. Canned food, once opened, can be left out from 2 to no more than 4 hours. Any unused canned food should be immediately put in the refrigerator.
Never leave wet dog food out overnight and avoid leaving it in your dog's bowl all day. Prolonged exposure to air and temperatures over 40°F speeds up bacterial growth, causing your dog's food to go rancid.
Therefore, for all these reasons, to abide by FDA and AVMA guidelines, and for the safety of our own employees and customers, all JustFoodForDogs ingredients are USDA certified, carefully prepared, de-boned, and handled to avoid unwanted contamination and lightly cooked fresh daily in small batches.
If you are wondering does dog food expire, the answer is a yes. In fact, the contents and types of preservatives used do affect the shelf life of a food item. So, to guarantee your dog's safety, pet food producers set expiration or best by dates.
Exposing wet food in too much heat or humidity can negatively impact the food. Wet should be stored in a cool dark place, like a cupboard or a pantry before it is opened. Note: It is ok to store the food in the fridge or freezer and maintain the same quality.
For Opened Canned Dog Food
If it's 50° F or warmer, you can leave wet food in your dog's bowl for up to four hours. After that, you should throw it away. Opened cans can be stored in the fridge for up to three days.
When it comes to the type of dog food containers you should use, Dr. Nelson says plastic or stainless steel containers are fine for storing kibble as long as they are airtight.
Wet food should be tossed after each meal if not eaten, and unused portions of wet food can be refrigerated and used as needed for up to a week.
The results of this study show that dogs are discriminatory in their choice of drinking water and, like humans, have a preference for drinking water that is cool.
You should not feed your dog with ONLY leftovers, because your leftover food (as good as it may be in your opinion) probably does not provide all the nutrients that your dog requires. In fact, it may contain too much of a particular substance that can be harmful for your dog – for example, fat.
Add hot water and make it soupy
Add hot water directly into the food. This makes Pawmeal more soupy, like baby food. It's a great way to let your dog consume more water.
The answer is yes. Rice is an ingredient sometimes found in commercial dog foods. Many pet owners feed white rice to their sick dog. One of the reasons white rice is the chosen grain for a dog with an upset stomach is that it's easy to digest, quick to prepare, and low in fiber.
Are carrots safe for me to feed my dog?” While some of the vegetables we love are unsafe to feed our dogs, carrots are a perfectly safe and nutritious treat for your dog.
Throw away any uneaten dog food.
When a dog doesn't eat all of the food in his bowl, many pet parents are tempted to save money by saving the uneaten portion and offering it again at the next feeding. Instead, any uneaten food should be discarded and replaced with fresh food at the next mealtime.
Unopened dry dog food tends to have a shelf life of around 12-18 months, but once you open it, you should aim to use it up in about 6 weeks. After that, it will start to go stale.
That's why it's important for you to know the signs of food that has “gone off.” You can tell your dog food is spoiled if: There is a noticeable sour or rancid odor. You see signs of moisture, mold, or bugs. The bag is past its expiration date.