How Long Can Frozen Raw Dog Food Sit Out?
Dogs are natural carnivores who function at their best when provided a nutritious, well-balanced diet. There are a number of options available on the market to consider when deciding what to feed your dog.
Many owners consider a raw diet including fruits, vegetables and raw meat (such as frozen raw dog food) to be the best for optimal nutrition.
Is a Raw Diet Suitable for My Dog?
Not all dogs are suited to a raw diet, especially geriatric, immunocompromised dogs or puppies, who can experience electrolyte abnormalities from raw food leading to bone deformities.
Cooked bones or food containing cooked bones is not advised: these can cause health issues including internal damage, fractured teeth and stomach pain. When purchasing raw food, read the label and if necessary, speak with your vet.
How to Give Raw Food Safely
While many dog owners would like to provide raw food for their dog, questions surrounding hygiene and safety often come up. Here are a few:
How Do I Know if Raw Dog Food is Bad?
Exposure to air, heat and moisture breeds harmful bacteria causing raw food to spoil. Common ways to tell if raw food has gone off include signs of disinterest or illness in your dog. To avoid this, watch out for:
- Food that has been exposed to heat and/or humidity
- Labels that state food as being past expiration
- Mould, moisture or bugs
- A rancid or sour smell
Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat Left Out Overnight?
Raw dog food should never be left out for longer than 15 minutes to prevent bacteria growth. If, when feeding your dog, they initially seem disinterested, cover the food with cling film and try again after this amount of time, but avoid “pushing” them to eat.
How Long Can Thawed Raw Dog Food Stay in the Fridge?
Raw dog food requires a couple of days to thaw out in the refrigerator. Once thawed, it must be consumed within 24 hours, and never refrozen. Never use a microwave to defrost raw dog food, as this can “zap” out vital nutrients and do not leave it on the counter, as this encourages bacteria.
When preparing raw dog food, sanitise hands, surfaces and any utensils including your dog’s bowl which should be cleaned after each use.
Always make sure you follow hygiene guidelines when handling frozen raw dog food to keep both yourself and your pet safe. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.
