Dry food can be left in your cat or dog's bowl indefinitely if the bowl is kept in an area that is cool, dry, out of direct sunlight and not subject to contamination by insects and vermin. However, we recommend that your cat or dog's food bowl is washed and filled fresh each day.
Ideally, dry food should be consumed within six weeks of opening the bag, so pick your bag sizes appropriately. Kibble can be left out in bowls for a day or so, but make sure you don't offer more than what should be consumed in 24 hours.
The answer is simply, No. There are many ways to create the best diet for your dog. In general, it is better not to give your dog any variety, which could cause havoc with its digestion, and not leave food down (so throw away any uneaten food after 15-20 minutes).
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.
If your pet is a grazer we recommend the maximum time for leaving out a bowl of food is 1 hour (or 30 minutes on a warm day). If they do not eat the food straight away, you can also put it back in the fridge and offer it to them later (throw away any uneaten raw food 24 hours after it's been in the bowl).
Free Feeding, Preferred by Dogs 100% Of the Time
Too much food can mean extra weight, which adds stress to joints and the heart. If you opt for free feeding, make sure you are only putting a healthy amount of food in the bowl (ask us about the best nutrition options for your pets).
As a rule of thumb, remove the food and water bowls about two-to-three hours before bedtime. So, if your lights-out time is at 11 p.m., a puppy should have no food or water after about 8–8:30 p.m. This gives you a chance to take him out for a one last potty break before settling in for the night.
Downsides: Leaving dog food out all day could attract insects, rodents, or raccoons. That's especially the case if you feed your dog outside, so be on the lookout. And if you have more than one pet, they may bicker over the food. Also, this method is not for dogs that are diabetic.
A lid helps to maintain the food's freshness and to prevent your pet from getting into it. Be sure to save the UPC code, lot number, brand and manufacturer, and “best by” date. You can tape that information to the outside of the container so it's handy (but remember to change it when you open a new bag of kibble).
Keep in mind that only dry foods can be fed in this way because wet food should not be left out throughout the day. If you're noticing that your cat is leaving dry food in their bowl for more than a day, you should still throw it out to maintain its freshness.
"While there is no best time, with most dogs that eat twice a day, it is best to feed them in the morning as soon as you get up and then again when you get home from work in the afternoon," says Dr. Sara Ochoa, veterinary consultant for doglab.com who practices in Texas.
Adult dogs – particularly the large and giant breeds – can be maintained on one meal a day, while small breeds, which have a higher metabolic rate may require two feeds per day to meet their energy requirements.
Kibble lasts only 2-3 weeks once the bag is opened. That's far shorter than the “Best Before” date on the bag … which is usually at least a year. But that date applies to unopened bags of food. Once opened, food loses its nutritional value and the fats begin to oxidize and go rancid.
Easy answer: yes, your sack of dry dog food will go stale much faster if you leave it open. 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.
Look for the expiration date on the bottom of your dog's food bag or cans, and plan to use up the food before that date. In general, unopened dry pet foods have a shelf life of one year, while unopened canned foods are good for two years from the date of manufacture.
When the fats and oils of kibble make contact with the walls of a pet food container, they begin to oxidize. In other words, over time, the residual fats and oils that have settled along the inside of the storage container start to grow rancid and develop invisible molds that can wreak havoc on your pet's health.
Because kibble structure, especially in large pieces, doesn't break down well it needs additional moisture—which it usually absorbs from your dog's body by pulling from the surrounding tissues and blood supply. As an added benefit, wet kibble will slow your dog's eating speed somewhat.
So, how long should you soak their food? We suggest a minimum 15 minutes in warm water, and no more than an hour at room temperature, to prevent bacterial growth. You can soak overnight in the fridge for maximum water absorption.
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.
“Dry dog food is extruded, and then sprayed with oils that start to break down and go rancid once the food is exposed to air,” Dr. Nelson says. “So, kibble needs to be kept in an airtight container.”
Take your puppy outside frequently—at least every two hours—and immediately after they wake up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking. Pick a bathroom spot outside, and always take your puppy (on a leash) to that spot.
Dogs should eat at least two meals each day, about 12 hours apart. But a breakfast, lunch, and dinner schedule is an equally great option. If more than 12 hours elapses between meals, the stomach can become hyperacidic causing nausea.
Answers vary, with some vets stating 5 days for healthy dogs and others claiming up to 10. Keep in mind, this is only for healthy dogs consuming adequate amounts of water daily. If your dog is not in full health, they may only go without food for 1 or 2 days.
MRIs and behavioral studies show that dogs prefer their favorite humans more than treats or bowls of food. Evolution tells us more about dog behavior patterns. An analysis of several kinds of research on dogs has concluded that dogs really do love their owners or other favorite humans.