If an open can of dog food or some homemade dog food has been sitting in a dog bowl or on a counter, be sure to throw it away after four hours. Canned or wet dog foods are made with very few or no preservatives. Tip #4: Use within 45 days after opening. Canned, wet diets, once opened, need to be covered and refrigerated in a sealed plastic or ceramic container. An unopened can of dog food can remain fresh for years when stored in a cool and dry location, but only buy the number of cans that can be used before they reach their "best by" dates. Tossing the food after 20 minutes helps prevent overeating and prevents it from spoiling in his dish. The less time the bag is open the better. When it comes to how long dog food will last, the results are not nearly as clear. Once opened, tightly roll down the top of the bag after each feeding. If you feed your dog wet food, don't let it stay out all day. Preservatives are not usually a big issue with canned dog foods because once the containers are filled with food and sealed, they are placed in a device called a retort. CESAR ® Dry: Store the bags of food in a cool, dry environment. At 4-6 weeks the fats are what scares me and I think that is too long. The problem is, the kitten never finishes the wet cat food in one sitting. Wet Dog Food Recipes. Knowing exactly how long is dog food good after expiration date can help you keep your dog safe by ensuring you feed him foods that are safe and of top-notch quality. Leave it out for about 20 minutes, then throw the rest away. (please note: if you use a microwave put the product in an appropriate microwave-safe container and always check temperature before feeding). Canned and homemade dog food can spoil if left out of the refrigerator for too long. Merrick, the #1 brand of wet dog food in the pet specialty channel, has become known for crafting drool worthy wet recipes for pets. If you decide to feed him the expired food, considering it is generally safe, make it … The feeding instruction she told me is to leave dry food out at all times for the kitten and give her a can of wet cat food once a day. For storage longer than 2 weeks of an opened bag of dry food I would place it in an air-tight container like an Omega Seal. Once opened, canned food should be stored in the refrigerator for no longer than seven days. Just like human food, dog food has an expiration date on it. If your pet doesn’t like cold food, try warming it to room temperature before feeding. Once opened, the unused portion should be refrigerated and fed to your pet within three days. We’ve tried everything to help him: he gets a “Leo-do” every 3-4 mos to cut down on hair balls & keep him cool(we live in FL), extra water bowls & potty boxes, olive & canola oil on his food (he only likes turkey flavored kibble; he’s not a chicken fan ); even psyllium & bits of milk. I typically open a can of wet cat food when I get home from work around 5:30pm. Generally, he won't let any go to waste if he can help it. Bully Max Dog food has a 1 year shelf-life from the time of purchase. 2-3 weeks is much better. Dry food will be "good" for years unopened and months opened, the only thing you have to worry about is like an open box of cereal where if the air is humid the kibble just like your corn flakes will go stale (assuming your house is normal temperature/humidity 65-80oF and 30-60% humidity, someone storing the food outdoors would be in a different boat). I would keep the food in it’s original bag and place it bag and all in the container. Canned dog food. Storing Canned Dog Food. Do not give your dog food that has been sitting out for long periods of time. We are proud of our innovative line of nutritious and delicious wet recipes that include a variety of flavors and textures. CESAR ® Wet: Prior to opening, we recommend storing cans and plastic trays in a cool, dry environment.