Most of us use convenient large packages of granules. But how should we store them at home without degrading their quality? Why buy expensive, high-quality granules to degrade them with storage?
Granules aren't as prone to decomposition as wet canned and pouch food, but many factors can harm their quality. It's therefore necessary to store them properly. This particularly applies to the large packages, which we buy due to their convenient price, but we have them open for a long time.
I became interested in proper storage when my cat stopped eating her granules and I couldn't figure out why. I thought she'd had enough of them and that I will have to buy another flavor. When I consulted my friend, a big cat expert, she smelled the granules and knew right away – they were rancid.
To maintain the quality of the granules, to ensure that your pets eat them and that they cause no health problems, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Most manufacturers make at least the big bags with a ziplock. That's great, as you don't have to think of anything, just make sure the ziplock is always closed properly along its entire length and that you don't pay for your carelessness like me. The airtight closure prevents oxidation of the granules and thus extends their shelf life. If you have trouble removing the granules from the bag or you just want to store them a bit more aesthetically at home, you can put them in a box, barrel or container. I was given a recommendation to put the granules with the original bag into a barrel. Like this you will avoid contaminating the food.
After my experience, I no longer buy a 7 kg pack for my cat (since it receives a dose of wet food several times a day, she doesn't consume as many granules); however, a dog can finish a 15 kg bag of granules before they start to deteriorate. It is recommended to use the opened package within 3 months, so take this into account when buying the granules whether they are discounted or not. Also be sure to check the expiration date.
Granules don't like moisture and heat, so think about where you store them. A balcony or humid cellar are not suitable at all. Choose the driest, coolest place. A pantry is best, if you have one.
Don't let your dog or cat eat granules from the barrel or bag, not even one. Their saliva contaminates the whole batch, opening the door to bacteria.
You should wash the bowls after each meal so that food and saliva residue does not contaminate the next batch.
How do you store granules at home? Do you have any tips or tricks?
Cats are no longer the outside countryside homeless animals that come closer to a house just for a while when they are in the mood for it. Rather the opposite, they have started living in city flats and have adjusted to our lifestyle. However, it’s...
Rabbits are popular pets especially for city flats. It’s because they don’t require a lot of space and don’t need to go outside very often (no garden needed). However, it doesn’t mean taking care of them is easy and no time or efforts are needed. We...
It sounds lovely: a dog gets a command, it does it and gets a treat or a reward for that. It won’t end with one moment in the perfect case and it will become the basic idea of a whole training for a dog that will become an obedient pet using positive...
Every dog owner knows that feeling when (s)he has to leave house to work or (s)he can’t take his/her pet with him/her for any reason and (s)he doesn’t know what’s going to happen. Can a dog handle the situation or will it bark and go on the rampage?...
Fear is natural for people and everyone has their own fears. While someone is scared of spiders, heights or confined spaces, others are scared of dogs. This fear is common in children who haven’t explored the world so well yet and who don’t know the...
Guinea pigs are popular pets especially in families with kids. They are small animals that can bring a lot of joy. If you consider buying a guinea pig, there are some aspects you shouldn’t neglect before making the decision. We talked about what to...
Have you heard about sport called Disc Dog? It basically consists of throwing a disc to your dog that fetches it. Disc Dog can be done as a recreational or a professional sport. For professional competitors, there are several disciplines for which...
Siberian Cat is quite a new breed that was only recognized by the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) in 1992. It emerged from crossbreeding domestic cats and breeds brought from the Near East and it found its home in Russia and Ukraine where it...
Most of us have this long thought-to-be-true idea that one dog year equals to seven human years. So, if you have a two-year-old puppy at home, it is already 14 years old when compared to humans. Therefore, if you have a ten-year-old dog at home, it is...
Breast milk is, in the beginning of life, the best thing a pup can get from its mother. It is full of the nutrients it needs to grow and develop properly. However, as the offsprings grow, milk needs to be supplemented with other food, so they are...
Cat lovers and breeders know very well that one cat is often not enough, and that there is sometimes a need to get another cat companion. However, this decision will affect the whole household and, above all, it is necessary to prepare the cat you...
Many of us are under the influence of the need to fulfill a dream of getting an unconventional pet, which the minipig certainly is. This trend has been present in the Czech Republic for about ten years. But don’t be fooled by those cute snouts, taking...
