Wet dog food is a form of processed dog food that comes in cans or pouches and typically contains some type of meat. It should not be confused with dry, crunchy kibble because wet dog food does not require further processing before serving to the dog. This kind of food is healthy and is also liked by dogs. However, wet dog food can spoil easily if not stored properly.
So, when thinking of introducing the wet food to the dog the question “How Long Can You Leave Wet Dog Food Out?” comes to every dog owner’s mind. The answer to this question is answered in detail below.
What I Will Learn?
How Long Can You Let Wet Dog Food Sit Out?
Different people have different opinions regarding this. Some dog owners prefer to leave wet dog food sitting out for a longer period because they think that the taste is better if it has been sitting for a while or that their dogs will not eat fresh, warm food.
However, the maximum amount of time that you should let wet dog food sit out is two to four hours. If it is left out for longer than 4 hours, bacteria may begin to grow inside the can. This growth will make the food unsafe to eat. If you think that your dog may have ingested this kind of food, take him to the veterinarian immediately.
How Long Can You Leave Wet Dog Food Out In Summers?
Weather conditions have a great impact on the safety and quality of wet dog food. In winters, it is okay if the wet dog food is left out for a longer period of time. However, in summers it should not be left outside for more than two hours. In summers, the temperature of the food will rise faster and this may cause bacteria growth. In summers, either the food should be refrigerated or it should be eaten immediately after serving.
Can Dogs Eat Food Left Out Overnight?
Most of the time dogs can eat food left overnight. However, it mainly depends on what type of food has been left out. If the food is dry, crunchy kibble then dogs can eat it even if it has been sitting overnight. However, if wet dog food has been left out for a longer period then do not give this to your dog.
The wet dog food left out overnight is not going to be safe for your dog. It will contain a lot of bacteria that may cause food poisoning or some other sickness in your dog. It is always better to refrigerate wet dog food as soon as you have opened the can. Refrigerating wet dog food will lower the chance of bacteria growth and also it will maintain the quality and the flavor of the food.
How Can You Tell If Wet Dog Food Is Bad?
To determine whether the wet food left out for a longer period is safe for your dog or not, follow these steps:
• Smell the food. If it smells funky then do not feed it to your dog.
• Check if there are any color changes. If the color has become dark then this indicates that bacteria growth has taken place.
• Touch it with your finger. If after touching it with your finger, there is a slimy or gooey feeling then do not feed this to your dog.
• Check if there are any visible changes in the consistency of the food. If there has been a change in color and consistency then do not feed this to your dog.
• If there are no visible changes, then it may be okay if you want to take a chance and feed this to your dog. However, if after feeding this food anything goes wrong with your dog, you should go to the veterinarian immediately.
If you follow these steps carefully then you should not have any problems in determining whether the wet food left out is safe for your dog or is unsafe.
What Happens If Dogs Eat Spoiled Wet Food?
When the dog consume wet food is left out for so long, he/ she may experience the following problems:
• Upset stomach
• Severe illnesses of the digestive tract
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fever
The symptoms may vary according to the number of bacteria present in the food. If the amount of bacteria is too much, then your dog may also experience kidney problems. If you find any of these symptoms in your dog, take him to the veterinarian immediately.
Conclusion
To sum up it can be said that the question How Long Can You Leave Wet Dog Food Out, has been finally answered in the simplest way. Now everyone knows that wet dog food can be left out for a maximum of four hours. However, if the food has been left outside in summers for more than two hours, do not give this to your dog because there will be bacteria growing in it and it may cause some type of sickness in your dog. Always try to refrigerate wet food as soon as possible after opening the can.
FAQs
1. How long can wet kibble stay out?
Wet kibble can stay out for around four hours. If left for more than 4 hours the food will be regarded as unfit for eating.
2. How long does food stay in a dog’s system?
A dog’s system only processes food for about 8 to 10 hours. If any kind of food has been left out for more than 24 hours then it is not going to be able to process the food completely.
3. Does wet dog food have to be refrigerated?
Yes, wet dog food should be refrigerated. If the food is not refrigerated then bacteria have a greater chance to grow and this can cause serious problems for your dog.
