How Long Should A Bag Of Dog Food Last? Changing your dog’s diet is an expensive proposition, which is why most owners don’t unless they need to. Most dogs have enough fur to make their own coverings if needed, so keeping them warm isn’t a concern unless you know different!
If your pooch is suffering from nutritional deficiencies or health issues that can be corrected with appropriate diets, then it makes sense to do something about it. After all, like humans, dogs depend on nutrients to survive.
But before you head out to buy new foods, there are some things you should consider. One of these is how long a bag of food will last.
We asked experts for some tips and recommendations regarding this to see what you should be aware of.
Look for signs of damage
The first thing to do is take a look at the bag! Does it seem crinkled or ripped in any way? If so, there may be something wrong with the ingredients used to make this food.
Bags that are torn or wrinkled typically contain plastic additives such as antioxidants to protect the meat from the heat process during cooking. These antioxidants can potentially get flushed out when the dog eats the food, leaving no protective effect.
This could possibly contribute to inflammation or even cancer in the stomach. So, if you notice that your dog has been eating an old bag of food, it’s important to check whether they are showing symptoms of illness like weight loss or diarrhea.
Make sure the bag is sealed properly
When buying dog food, you should make sure that it has an adequate expiration date!
Most major brands will indicate how long their dry foods can be kept in your refrigerator before they are no longer fresh enough and cannot be consumed. They also include information about how to tell if the food has gone bad.
Sadly, most people do not care until their dog eats some and then discovers that it does not taste good or may even have harmful ingredients like antibiotics.
Dog owners at this stage often try other diets as a fix but eventually give up because nothing seems to work. This can create additional problems for your pooch since he might get sick from poor nutrition.
Check the ingredients
Although not mentioned in the above article, one important factor to consider when looking for a new bag of dog food is how long the ingredient list has been available.
Dog foods that contain too many unknown or potentially harmful additives are not ideal for your pooch. A lot of companies make large profits off selling these types of diets so they use vague terminology to describe some of the ingredients.
You should always do some research before giving your dog such a diet. Make sure it contains only quality nutrients for dogs!
General Tips For Keeping Your Dog Healthy
Don’t buy a cheap product if there are no reviews online. There may be something wrong with the batch that got shipped out.
For example, even though chicken might be an excellent source of protein, most commercial brands add hydrochloric acid as a preservative which can cause health issues. This adds cost to the purchase unnecessarily.
Check the packaging
In fact, you should always check your dog’s bag food packaging before buying it!
Most retailers offer at least twenty-four (24) month guarantees for their products. This is great as it gives your pooch some protection if they do not see an improvement after that time frame.
Sadly, this guarantee can be invalidated if the product has run out during its guaranteed period.
So, how long should the pack diet last?
That depends entirely on your dog! Some dogs need more help to achieve weight loss than others do. Weight loss varies from dog to dog – just like people differ in size.
Furthermore, there is no ‘standard’ length of time needed to find a suitable balance diet for any individual dog.
Check the quality of the food
The first thing you should do is make sure that your dog has enough nutrition in their current meal!
Most dogs are not hungry for an hour after they eat, so if your dog seems to be eating and then laying down or looking away with a contented look on his face, it may be because he has eaten all he needs for the day!
If this happens frequently, try giving your dog a smaller amount of food at lunch time to see if that fixes the problem. Or maybe start feeding him two meals instead of three to see if that helps.
It can also be related to how much water your dog has access to – if he’s thirsty, he will likely eat more. Make sure his water bowl isn’t empty too often though as that could contribute to overeating.
Another factor might be whether or not there were leftovers from breakfast, which some dogs just don’t seem to get out of them.
Is it dried out?
An overly dry food will not be consumed or swallowed easily, which can cause constipation or an uncomfortable stomach. This is especially important for older dogs or overweight dogs that eat more!
Dry dog foods contain less fat than canned foods, so they take longer to digest. If your dog has a long face shape, this could mean their mouth feels oily for some time after eating.
For these reasons, most breeders recommend buying at least two boxes per month to ensure your pooch gets enough nutrition. But if you notice your dog looks very thin even with multiple meals a day, check to see if they are drinking enough water.
You should also try mixing the food with milk or adding fresh vegetables to give them extra nutrients. However, make sure to only do this as a temporary solution, as too much of either may have harmful effects.
Is it stale?
Stale food can contribute to your dog’s health issues or even cause death. As we mentioned before, if your dog is experiencing vomiting, diarrhea or weight loss, you should consider whether or not the kibble has expired so that rule goes into effect.
If the bag is no longer fresh, get another batch ASAP! The best way to make sure your dog does not eat spoiled food is to buy from reputable companies and read reviews. Make sure to check the expiration date listed on both the packaging as well as at the store where you purchased it.
This article will go more in depth about potential symptoms related to poor quality nutrition and how to identify them but this link may be helpful for all those concerned about their dog’s health.
Important reminder: Even though there are never truly “safe” foods for dogs, there are some types of cheap kibble that are much better than others. If your dog is suffering because of budget constraints, try looking into these tips until you find one that works for him.
Is it too wet?
A very common question is whether your dog has an empty bag or can find its food, that’s what makes it too dry!
Many dogs will look for their missing meal until it disappears completely, this could be up to several hours depending on how hungry they are at the time. If you notice that his fur is more fluffed up than normal and he seems lethargic and tired, then it’s probably because he didn’t eat enough during lunch break and/or dinner time.
If this happens repeatedly even after you make sure his bowl is full, check with your owner (maybe someone left the house early today) or ask if anyone noticed any bags under his eyes or if you see him trying to lick himself where there is no moisture.
You may also want to consider getting some extra water for him, perhaps suggest carrying his bottle around with you all day so he doesn’t get thirsty while you’re away from home.