Top Food Safety Tips

February 8, 2017 | We Care | Tips from Lerma Pere
People often think of their four-legged pals as superheroes. Who wouldn’t when we’ve seen them rescue men, help blind and older people cross the streets, save people from drowning, or even protect babies from the abusive nanny. They have been so celebrated as heroes that owners can easily forget that their stomachs are just as vulnerable to certain microbes as ours.

How about you? Have you been practicing pet food safety? If you just answered “not sure” or “maybe,” read these tips.

Observe Proper Storage. Pet foods are stored differently depending on their type. Raw foods should be kept in the fridge, ideally at 40 ℉, since they spoil easily when left in room temperature. Dry pet foods on the other hand should be stored in a cool, dry place under 80 ℉ and kept inside a clean plastic container with covering or in its original bag.

Don’t Feed Them Toxic Foods. Unfortunately, people make the mistake of feeding their pets with leftovers, not knowing that certain foods are toxic to pets. For example, macadamia nuts cause depression, weakness, vomiting, hyperthermia, and tremors in dogs. Chocolates on the other hand could damage your dog’s heart and nervous system. Check out this list of foods that are toxic to dogs just in case.

Use a Fresh Bowl Every Single Time. Just as you wash your plate after eating, you too should follow the same routine with your dog’s bowl. Food left to spoil on the bowl could attract disease-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites which could make your pet sick.

Wash Your Hands. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling pet food. This will guarantee that your pet is eating clean food and at the same time, ensuring that you will not be contaminating your own food.

Secure Spoiled Food. Pets aren’t very picky with the foods that they eat. Offer them a spoiled salmon and they would probably eat it anyway. Before this happens, make sure that spoiled food is secured inside a plastic bag.

“Before this happens, make sure that spoiled food is secured inside a plastic bag.”

Keep Trash Away from Pet. Even well-fed pets have this strange habit of scavenging for food in the trash bin. That why some pets ended up getting veterinary care in the first place – they enjoyed that little encounter with the moldy treat they found inside the garbage can. If you have pets, buy a trash bin with a tight lid on it and throw the garbage regularly.

Do Not Feed Pet in the Kitchen. Of course, you also have to look out for your own safety especially if you have kids at home. Noticed how pets like to lick things here and there? You don’t know where that mouth has been so it’s better not to feed the dog in the kitchen if you don’t want to have unknown thingies getting into your own food.

Regularly Check for Information on Pet Foods. In the recent years, several pet food recall has been made due to contamination. You can check food recalls by following this link.

Follow these tips and your pet should have a tummy-friendly experience every time dinner is served!

Pixabay-Nicooo67

If you enjoyed this post, you should read “How To Use Your Dogs To Find Love” here.

What are some dog-related safety tips you live by? Share below!

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Comments

  • Tara Renner / March 19, 2017

    Excellent tips, thank you! I’m a food safety specialist and I often remind people their pets can be susceptible too. I really hate when pets are fed old leftovers; if you wouldn’t eat it, why should they?! Great suggestions all around!

    • admin / March 19, 2017

      Thank you so much-I totally agree about leftovers!

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