How long can you leave moistened dry dog food out

Soaking Dry Dog Food in Water

Sometimes, I soak my dogs dry food in warm water for 15 or 20 minutes before I feed them.

I do this for a couple of reasons. My older dog has had a few dental extractions, and doesnt chew up his food as well as he used to not that any dog grinds up much of the kibble he or she eats; unlike ours, canine teeth are not much for grinding. Mostly, a few of the kibbles get crunched, and more likely get swallowed intact. My younger dog is prone to eating way too fast just bolting down all his food whole in less than a minute (unless I put it in a slow feeder or snuffle mat) and I am guessing that it will put less of a strain on his digestive system if the food arrives even slightly pre-moistened.

And I know that feeding both of them soaked food makes them feel more full. Dry foods are so nutrient-dense, that the volume of the amount of food that is calorically appropriate for their weight might not come close to filling up their tummies. If their meal is full of water, it definitely increases satiety that sensation of fullness. They quit walking around the kitchen looking unsatisfied after their meals when their food is soaked.

If youve ever soaked your dogs food, youre aware of how much dry dog food expands when immersed in water. Its a little horrifying, actually, to realize how much more space a certain amount of food will require in a dogs stomach and gut once the dogs digestive juices hydrate the individual kibbles. It nearly doubles in volume. The kibbles are like little sponges some more than others. Ive noticed when soaking food for various foster puppies that some kibble is more resistant to soaking than others.

Neither of my dogs are reluctant or picky eaters, but adding water can definitely increase the palatability of dry food for some dogs.

However, one shouldnt moisten food and leave it sitting out at room temperature for very long I would start being concerned about bacterial growth in moistened food that had been left out at room temperature for more than an hour.

Many people believe that feeding soaked food will help prevent bloat. Im not sure theres ever been a study that looked at just that, but it would make sense to me. Im super cautious about exercise for a couple of hours after feeding, too, for the same reason.

Out of curiosity: How many of you moisten or soak your dogs dry food?

How Long To Leave Dog Food Out: The Importance of Timing

As a new dog owner, I used to obsess over how long I should leave my dogs food out. On the one hand, you want to make sure your dog has enough food to eat, but on the other, you dont want to leave food out for so long that it becomes spoiled or attracts pests.

How long you leave your dogs food out depends on the type of food you are feeding your dog. Wet, homemade, and raw food can be left out for up to 20 minutes before it spoils, becomes less appetizing, and attracts pests. However, dry dog food can be left out much longer between 6 to 8 hours.

In this article, well explore the following:

• How long can you safely leave out each type of dog food
• Factors influencing the extent to which dog food can be left out
• Consequences of leaving dog food out too long

As dog owners, we spend a lot of time evaluating and choosing the best food for our furry friends. Its just as essential to know how to keep your dogs food fresh when feeding him.

How Long Should I Leave Dog Food Out?

You should leave dog food out as long as it takes your dog to finish it, provided that your dog completes his food in less than 15 minutes. Any leftovers should be emptied within a few minutes after the dog walks away from his bowl.

This encourages your dog to finish his food, establishes your authority as his provider, and ensures your dog gets fresh and healthy food. You can read more on this subject here, Should I Take My Dogs Food Away If He Doesnt Eat It? (Picky Eating Dogs).

Five factors dictate the extent to which dog food can be left out. This section will explore each so you can decide the best time frame for feeding your dog.

1. How Aromatic Is The Food?

Generally, the more aromatic the dog food, the less time it should spend out in the open. Pests can get attracted by the aroma of the food even if the food is kept in a kennel away from prying eyes. Dry food isnt as aromatic as wet, homemade, or raw food, meaning that the former type can be left out for much longer.

2. How Moist Is The Food?

Do you remember the 5-second rule? Though it has been debunked, I grew up thinking that any morsel or snack picked up within 5 seconds of falling on the floor was fair to eat.

The main reason it didnt stand up to scientific scrutiny was that the moisture content of the food dictated how long it took to get contaminated. Dry snacks like hard candy didnt have as many germs upon dropping compared to wet items.

Even the myth busters demonstrated this to an extent

While there is no 5-second rule for dogs, the moisture contents relationship to the speed of contamination is quite relevant. The drier the food, the longer it can stay in the open without getting spoiled.

3. How Quickly Does Your Dog Finish His Food?

The third factor that dictates the recommended duration for leaving out dog food is how quickly your dog finishes it.

Ideally, the food must be left out long enough for the dog to finish it, and this time should not be more than 15 minutes. However, some dogs take longer to be done with their food. Dont keep the dog food out perpetually, though. You dont want your dog to realize he can be picky.

4. Where Do You Place The Dog Food?

Here, the main concern is whether the food is outdoors or indoors. If it is outdoors, then you can develop a fanbase among uninvited birds. Outdoor bowls must be emptied as soon as the dog walks away.

See also: 7 Easy Ways To Keep Birds From Eating Dog Food

Indoor bowls shouldnt be left out continuously, either. But you can afford to keep the food out for around twenty minutes without gathering a crowd of birds.

5. How Humid Is The General Environment?

The final factor which most dog owners overlook is the general humidity. In a dry environment, food can stay out longer without going bad. In a humid atmosphere, even dry food can get contaminated by microorganisms, if not insects.

Now that we have gone over the five factors that affect the general duration for which you can keep dog food out, lets look at the specific timeframes for three main types of dog food in an average atmosphere.

How Long Can You Leave Dry Dog Food Out?

You can leave dry dog food out for around 6-8 hours, as without moisture, it will remain mold free and not spoil. However, if you leave kibble out all day, it can still become exposed to bacteria and become stale, with a substantial loss of aroma.

If youre a regular reader of my blog, youll know that my German Shepherd eats dry food with either a wet food or a human food topping. However, that wasnt always the case, as when she was younger, she would eat kibble with nothing added.

Please keep in mind that some dogs do not find dry food appetizing, which might mean that they will be picky. Take your best measures to make dry food flavorful so it gets devoured as soon as you put it down.

Do not resort to perpetual availability as a tool to encourage eating. It will only encourage picky behavior.

How Long Can You Leave Wet Dog Food Out?

You may read elsewhere that you can leave wet dog food out for up to 4 hours. Really? Would you eat your dinner after it had been left out for 4 hours? I know I wouldnt and neither should your dog.

Unless youre deliberately letting your dog free feed based on your vets recommendation, you should leave wet dog food down for no longer than 15-20 minutes. Depending on the perishability of the food and environmental conditions, you might want to leave it out for even less.

When the bowl is placed outdoors, it must be emptied immediately after your dog walks away.

Wet dog food is generally more appetizing, so you wont usually have the disinterested dog dilemma. And if you have it, empty out the bowl anyway because you dont want the food contaminated by bird poop or infested by bugs while your canine is acting finicky.

How Long Can You Leave Raw Dog Food Out?

Raw dog food can be left out for 15 to 20 minutes indoors and should be emptied out within 5 minutes of your dog walking away from the bowl, especially if it is placed outdoors. Raw dog food can have ingredients that are appetizing to insects, birds, and mammal pests too.

To avoid attracting raccoons and rats, ensure there is no raw dog food left behind in your dogs food bowl.

This recommendation also depends on the specific recipe. Some recipes feature freeze-dried ingredients, while others contain fresh and moist meat. The more perishable the final product, the less time it should spend out in the open.

Consequences of Leaving Dog Food Out (With Timeframes)

Now that you know the acceptable time frame for leaving dog food out, lets go over what happens to the food after it has been left standing for a while. This section covers the effects of food left out for different spans of time.

The Food Becomes Less Appetizing (After 5 Minutes)

After 5 minutes of being untouched, the odds of your dog perpetually ignoring his food increase exponentially. Food becomes less appetizing by the minute, so any attempt at making your dog like his food by leaving it out all day is inefficient at best and counterproductive at worst.

The Food Starts Attracting Microbes (After 20 Minutes)

Depending on the environmental conditions, the type and load of bacteria, and the type of food, bacterial contamination can occur to unsafe levels anywhere between20 minutes to 2 hours.The USDA refers to this as the 2 Hour Rule.

The Food Gets Spoiled (After 20+ Minutes)

Wet, home-cooked or raw dog food doesnt take long to go bad. After around 20 minutes of idle exposure, most dog food will begin to spoil. In the right conditions, bacteria can quickly grow to dangerous levels that can cause illness.

Bacteria multiply most quickly in the 40 to 140 F temperature range, sometimes doubling in just 20 minutes. Thats why we should not leave food out of the refrigerator for more than two hours or one hour in temperatures over 90 F.

Final Thoughts

You should train your do to finish his food as soon as you put it down. Fortunately, this does not require much effort because most canines are pretty interested in finishing their food. Leftover food should be cleaned out of the bowl immediately, as it can get contaminated and can erode your dogs food consumption discipline.

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