How Long does Raw Dog Food Last in the Fridge?

You’ve probably heard about raw pet food, whether you were scrolling through your Instagram feed, perusing your favorite pet store, or conversing with other pet owners. Because it can result in improved dental hygiene, smoother, shinier coats, allergy relief, higher energy, smaller poop, and an all-around happier pet, it is quite popular with owners.

It’s a good idea to split out your raw dog food into individual servings and wrap each one in water or airtight plastic before keeping it. Place the packaging of raw dog food in a bowl of cold water for at least 20 minutes to soften it. You can cut it into pieces for your dog to eat once it has melted.

Raw Dog Food

How Long does Raw Dog Food Last in the Fridge?

If everything goes according to plan, you can keep raw dog food in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. The length of storage, however, is greatly influenced by the temperature, the food’s composition, and many other factors.

You can keep raw dog food in the fridge for two to three days if you live in a warm environment. Vegetables can remain fresh in the refrigerator for 6 to 10 days if they are a component of raw dog food. Furthermore, raw food can be safely kept for 8 to 10 days provided it is packaged properly.

Can Dogs Consume Cold Dog Food?

Your dog can consume cold, uncooked food. However, there is a danger that your dog could have health problems if the meal is served to them too cold. Because of this, make sure to modify the food’s temperature before giving it to your pet. To ensure your dog has no issues eating the food, you can add warm water to it.

What Simple Raw Dog Food Recipes Exist?

Some of our favorites are the five homemade dog food recipes. They can be prepared right once and served, or they can be frozen in individual servings.

While certain foods call for a calcium supplement, others include bone. There are recipes for mature dogs, some of which are timeless. That means that you can give those puppies food as well. Furthermore, they all meet the fundamental criteria established by The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

The dishes I’m most excited to share with you include those beef, chicken, turkey, fish, hogs, and… a rabbit. Yes, rabbit, and you can prepare several meals for a 50-pound dog.

All Life Stages Bone-In Beef and Chicken Neck Dog Food Recipe

Puppy love to chew. Anyone who has gone through the teething madness of a puppy and misplaced a fine leather shoe would comprehend. This makes the dish perfect for puppies.

Puppies can consume tiny or large amounts of chicken necks while chewing. Your decision. This recipe also has the right amount of calcium to assist a developing dog. It is balanced for older dogs as well.

Fish and Pork Recipe Adult dogs should Eat Dog Food with Calcium Supplements

Pork is a great addition to your dog’s diet of raw foods. Pork is quickly absorbed and has a lot of advantages. Meat raised on pasture has more omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins, such as vitamin E, than meat raised in factories.

However, because of the significant omega-6 fatty acid concentration of pork, designing a diet that includes it might be difficult. You should eat seafood to help counteract the fats.

What are the Drawbacks of Feeding Raw Food?

Giving raw dog food is also not the easiest process, but it is doable with the right information.

As dog owners have observed, this diet provides several benefits that support the health of the dog, but it also has certain drawbacks.

There are roughly as many dog owners who see positive health benefits from feeding their dogs a raw diet as there are those who detest this diet and, after trying it, go back to using commercial dog foods or just creating homemade dog food meals that aren’t raw.

Feeding Raw Food May Take Some Time

The ease of dry dog kibble cannot be matched by even the best raw dog food recipes.

Simply, it’s easier to use dry food. Since you can buy it and pour it into your dog’s food dish, people adore it.

For many harried dog owners, making homemade dog food is too much work.

It can Cost Extra to Purchase Raw Dog Food Recipes

Second, producing straightforward raw dog food is slightly more expensive than buying commercial dog food brands.

There is no getting past the fact that if you feed your dog a range of premium foods, it will almost always cost you more. Of course, it depends entirely on the items you use.

What are the Benefits of Considering the Best Raw Food Diet for your Dog?

Even after taking into account all of those aspects, there are still a lot of reasons you might decide to feed your dog a raw food diet that you make yourself. Some of the more well-known explanations—some of which we’ve already mentioned—include the following:

  • The ability to adjust for your dog’s nutritional needs or allergies
  • Being able to change recipes as your dog goes through various stages of life
  • Ability to control all factors, including source quality
  • Being able to profit from sales or group purchasing
  • Knowing that you reduced your impact on the environment and did not have to worry about dog food recalls

A raw food diet for your dog may also provide the benefits listed below:

  • Harder stools
  • Less allergic responses
  • Improved dental health increased muscle mass and better skin with weight decrease
  • Enhanced coat improved digestion
  • Reduced smell

Reference: Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards

In Britain and other industrialized nations, it has become popular to feed pet dogs and cats raw meat and animal byproducts, either through store-bought preparations or homemade dishes. The claimed health benefits for pets and mistrust of commercially produced pet food have motivated this shift away from heat-treated processed food. The case for raw feeding has sometimes been made using the diets of closely related species that live in the wild, although such comparisons are constrained by variations in biology and way of life. There is formal support for the raw-feeding advocates’ claims of the altered gut microbiome and (subjectively) better stool quality.

Which Raw Foods are Toxic to Dogs?

Keep in mind that dogs lack the digestive system that humans have. For our dogs, some human foods can be poisonous or harmful.

Specific ingredients and recipes for your dog’s food must be reviewed by your owner.

Foods that are toxic to dogs include:

  • Grapes and raisins
  • Onions and garlic
  • Coffee nut macadamia Xylitol salt citrus milk chocolate
  • Avocado
  • Alcohol

For use in your dog’s raw meal, however, you must freeze the wild game for three weeks or more before using it. This kills all parasites. Freeze uncooked trout or salmon for at least 24 hours after capturing it to control parasites.

Does Raw Dog Food Go Bad?

There are a few further indications that dry dog food is bad. Verify the bag’s date. If they haven’t been opened, most dry dog foods are safe to eat for twelve to eighteen months. The purchase date and the expiration date aren’t always the same. It’s also crucial to keep in mind that the expiration date only applies if the bag hasn’t been opened if you’ve already opened it. If not, it’s preferable to discard it after two weeks because a damaged bag can contain mildew or pests.

The majority of dog food, whether canned or dry, is made to last. ideally, for a while. A lot of dog foods sold in stores have a long shelf life.

They do not, however, last forever. If dog food is not stored properly, it may degrade or get rancid. But don’t panic; there are various ways to preserve the freshness of your dog’s food.

Start by Checking the Expiration Date

Pet food manufacturers set expiration or “best by” dates to ensure the security of your dog. Unopened canned pet foods have a two-year shelf life from the date of manufacture, but unopened dry pet meals have a shelf life of 12 to 18 months. Plan to open and consume it before the expiration date listed on the bottom of the bag or can containing food for your dog.

Maintain the Dog Food’s Freshness for as long as you can

Dog food storage containers aid in keeping food contained and out of the way. On the other hand, food that has spilled out of its bag and into a bin may spoil more quickly since fats and oils tend to gather on the bottom and walls of the bin. Keep dog food in its original bag, according to experts. Bags for dog food are created to shield food from air and humidity, which both have the potential to speed up the breakdown of pet meals (source).

Do Dogs have the Ability to Survive on Dry Food Only?

The majority of dogs eat practically any brand of dry dog food and appear to like it. The good news for pet owners is that dogs do well on dry dog food. Dry food is still a nutritious alternative, even though many dogs prefer wet dog food since it is easier to digest. Dry food is still a nutritious alternative, even though many dogs prefer wet dog food since it is easier to digest. Let’s examine the reasons why dogs may be able to survive just on dry food.

Conclusion

To prolong the freshness of your raw dog food, store it in the fridge in a covered plastic container. This way, it won’t be susceptible to the harmful effects of the sun, and it will keep your pet healthy. Generally, raw food should last for two to three days. After this, it should be thrown away to prevent the spread of bacteria or spoilage.

It is better to refrigerate the food after preparing it and to use a clean, stainless steel bowl for serving it. It is also best to separate raw dog food from other foods to avoid cross-contamination. In addition to keeping raw food fresh, it also helps prevent the spread of diseases such as salmonella. This is because the food keeps harmful bacteria, mold, and yeast from forming.