Can dogs eat expired dog treats? No, it is generally not a good idea. While eating a single old treat might not cause harm, giving your dog expired treats comes with risks. The biggest worries are bad bacteria and mold growing on the treat. This can make your dog sick. It is best to throw away treats past their date.
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The Dog Treat Expiration Date
Every package of dog treats has a date on it. This is the dog treat expiration date. Sometimes it says “Best By” or “Best Before”. This date tells you how long the maker thinks the treat will stay fresh. It shows when the treat is its best quality.
What the Best By Date Dog Treats Means
The “Best By” date is about quality, not safety. It means the treat might not taste as good after this date. It might not smell as nice. The texture might change. Think of a cookie for people. It might not taste as good after the date, but it might still be safe to eat for a little while. Dog treats are similar. The date is a guide for peak quality.
The Shelf Life of Dog Treats
The shelf life of dog treats is how long the treat stays good to eat. This time starts when the treat is made and packaged. Many things affect shelf life.
- How the treat was made.
- What stuff is in the treat.
- How the treat is stored.
- If the package is open or closed.
Dry treats like biscuits usually last longer. Moist treats or ones with meat might go bad faster. Keeping the package sealed helps a lot. Air and wetness make treats go bad faster.
Grasping the Risks of Expired Dog Treats
Feeding expired dog treats can be risky. Even if they look okay, dangers can be hidden. The main risks of expired dog treats are:
- Bad bacteria growth.
- Mold growth.
- Losing good nutrients.
- Bad taste or smell.
Let’s look at these risks more closely.
The Threat of Bad Bacteria
Bacteria are tiny living things. Some bacteria are good. Some are bad. Bad bacteria can grow on old food. This is true for dog treats too. Bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli can grow on treats past their date. These bacteria can make your dog very sick. They can cause tummy problems. They can cause worse issues too.
Even treats that look fine can have bad bacteria. You cannot always see them. This is why the date matters. The date helps you know when the risk of bacteria growing goes up.
Interpreting Moldy Dog Treat Danger
Is moldy dog treat dangerous? Yes, absolutely. Mold is a type of fungus. You can often see mold on food. It might look fuzzy. It can be different colors like white, green, or black. Mold can grow on old dog treats.
Some molds make poisons. These poisons are called mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are very bad for dogs. Eating moldy treats can cause serious illness. It can harm your dog’s liver or other organs.
Even if you only see a little bit of mold, the whole treat is not safe. The mold roots can be deep inside. Do not try to cut off the moldy part. Throw the whole treat away. If a treat package has mold, throw away all the treats inside.
Why Nutrients Fade
Over time, the good stuff in treats can break down. Vitamins can become less strong. Healthy fats can go bad. This means the treat might not be as healthy for your dog. It might not give them the nutrients they need. The treat becomes less useful as food. It just becomes something to chew on.
Bad Taste and Smell
Expired treats might not taste good to your dog. They might smell bad. Your dog might not want to eat them. Or, they might eat them and get an upset tummy because the treat is just not right anymore. This is less serious than bacteria or mold, but it’s still a reason not to feed them.
Deciphering Symptoms When Dog Ate Old Treats
If your dog eats old treats, watch them closely. Look for symptoms dog ate old treats. These symptoms can show up a few hours after eating. They can also show up a day or two later.
Common symptoms include:
- Throwing up (vomiting).
- Loose poop (diarrhea).
- Not wanting to eat.
- Seeming tired or weak.
- Pain in the tummy.
- Drooling more than usual.
These are signs of food poisoning in dogs from treats. Food poisoning happens when a dog eats something with bad bacteria or toxins.
More serious signs can happen, especially if the treat had mold mycotoxins. These signs need a vet right away:
- Shaking or tremors.
- Walking strangely.
- Seizures (fits).
- Very tired or cannot stand up.
- Yellowing eyes or skin (jaundice).
If you see any of these serious signs, get your dog to the vet fast.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats Expired Treats
Do not panic first. Think about a few things.
- How many treats did they eat?
- How old were the treats? Were they just past the date? Or very old?
- Did they look or smell bad? Did they have mold?
If your dog ate just one treat that was only a little past the date and they seem fine, just watch them.
If they ate many treats, very old treats, or moldy treats, call your vet. Tell them what happened. Tell them what kind of treats they were.
Veterinarian Advice Expired Treats
Your veterinarian advice expired treats is usually simple: do not feed them. Vets know the dangers of bad bacteria and mold. They know it is not worth the risk.
If your dog ate expired treats, your vet might tell you:
- To watch your dog for symptoms.
- To bring your dog in to be checked.
- To bring a sample of the treats if you still have them. This can help figure out what might be wrong.
The vet can give medicine if your dog has food poisoning. They can help manage vomiting and diarrhea. They can also treat more serious problems if they happen. Always call your vet if you are worried. They are there to help keep your dog healthy.
When to Discard Dog Treats
Knowing when to discard dog treats is key to keeping your dog safe.
- Past the “Best By” date: This is the main time to think about throwing them out. Even if they look okay, the risk of problems goes up.
- They look or smell bad: If the treats have a weird smell, look discolored, or seem greasy or different, throw them away. Trust your senses.
- You see mold: If you see any mold, throw the entire package away immediately. Do not try to save the other treats.
- Package is damaged: If the bag or box is ripped, wet, or crushed, air and moisture could have gotten in. This makes treats go bad faster and increases the risk of mold or bacteria. Throw them out.
- They have been open too long: Even if not past the date, treats left open for months can go stale or grow bacteria.
- You don’t know how old they are: If you find an old bag of treats and don’t know when you bought them or the date is gone, it is safer to discard them.
It might feel like a waste to throw away treats. But it is much better than your dog getting sick. Think of it as an investment in your dog’s health.
Safely Store Dog Treats
Proper storage helps keep treats fresh and safe for longer. It can help you avoid having to discard dog treats early. Learning to safely store dog treats is important.
Here are tips for storing dog treats:
- Keep the package closed: After opening, close the bag tightly. Use a clip if you need to. This keeps air out.
- Use an airtight container: Put the treats in a container that seals well. Glass or sturdy plastic containers work well. Make sure the lid fits tight. This protects treats from air, moisture, and bugs.
- Store in a cool, dry place: Heat and dampness make treats go bad fast. Keep treats away from stoves, heaters, sunny windows, and damp areas like basements or garages. A pantry or cupboard is a good spot.
- Keep away from pests: Store treats where mice, insects, or other pests cannot get to them. Airtight containers help with this.
- Do not mix old and new treats: When you get a new bag, finish the old bag first. Do not pour new treats into a container that still has old ones. This can make the new treats go bad faster. It also makes it hard to know how old the treats are.
By storing treats properly, you help keep them fresh up to their dog treat expiration date. This lowers the risks of expired dog treats.
Comparing Treat Types and Shelf Life
Not all treats last the same amount of time.
- Dry Biscuits and Kibble-like Treats: These are hard and have little moisture. They usually have the longest shelf life of dog treats. They might last a year or more if kept sealed.
- Semi-Moist Treats: These are softer and contain more water. They might not last as long as dry treats. They might be good for 6-12 months if kept sealed.
- Jerky Treats (Meat Strips): These are dried, but can still have some moisture. Shelf life varies. Follow the package date.
- Baked Treats (Homemade or Bakery): These often have no added things to make them last long. Their shelf life is much shorter. Maybe only a few weeks. Store these like human baked goods.
- Refrigerated or Frozen Treats: Some treats need to be kept cold or frozen. Their shelf life depends on storage and the date on the package. Always follow instructions for these.
Always check the date on the package. Storage matters most after the package is open.
Thinking About Homemade vs. Store-Bought Treats
Homemade treats are great for dogs. You know exactly what is in them. But they usually go bad much faster than store-bought ones. They often do not have things added to make them last.
- Store homemade treats in an airtight container.
- Keep them in the fridge if they have fresh things like eggs or meat.
- They might only be good for a few days to a week.
- Freeze homemade treats you won’t use right away. Thaw them in the fridge.
Store-bought treats are made to last longer. They often have safe things added to prevent mold and spoilage. But they still have a limit. Always check the best by date dog treats.
Grasping Why Dates Matter
The “Best By” or expiration date is not just a random number. It is based on testing. Treat makers test their products. They figure out how long the treat stays good under normal conditions. They test for things like:
- How well the treat holds its shape and texture.
- How good it smells and tastes over time.
- How fast nutrients break down.
- How likely bad things like mold or bacteria are to grow.
The date is the result of this testing. It is the maker’s promise of quality and safety up to that point. After that date, they cannot promise the same quality or safety. This is why the dog treat expiration date is a helpful guide.
Summarizing the Danger Points
To make it clear, here are the main things that can happen if a dog eats expired treats:
- Tummy Upset: Most common. Vomiting, diarrhea, not wanting to eat. Happens from eating old, slightly spoiled food or small amounts of bad bacteria.
- Food Poisoning: More serious. Happens from higher levels of bad bacteria (like Salmonella). Can cause stronger symptoms, dehydration, and needing vet care.
- Mycotoxin Poisoning: Most dangerous. Happens from eating mold that makes toxins. Can cause shaking, seizures, liver damage, or even death. This is a medical emergency.
The risk of these problems gets higher the older the treat is past its date. The risk is also higher if the treat was not stored well (e.g., left open in a warm, wet place).
What if the Treat Looks Fine?
Sometimes, an expired treat might look and smell okay. Does this mean it is safe? Not always.
- Bacteria are invisible. You cannot see them growing. A treat can have dangerous bacteria and look perfectly fine.
- Mold might start growing inside the treat before you see it on the outside. Or it might be a type of mold that is hard to see.
- Nutrients break down inside. The treat loses value even if it looks the same.
Relying only on how a treat looks or smells is risky. The date and proper storage are better guides for safety.
Learning From Food Recalls
Sometimes, dog treats or food are recalled. This happens if there is a known problem. Maybe bad bacteria was found. Maybe there was a problem with ingredients. These recalls show that even new pet food can have issues. Expired food has a higher chance of problems developing over time compared to fresh food.
Treats are meant to be a fun extra. They are not the main food source. This means we can be extra careful with them. It is easy to just throw away old treats. This is safer than taking a chance and possibly making your dog sick.
Making a Habit of Checking Treats
It is a good idea to check your dog treats often.
- When you open a new bag, look for the date. Maybe write the date you opened it on the bag too.
- Store treats properly right away.
- Every month or so, check your treat stash. Look at the dates. Look at the treats.
- If you find a bag that is past the date, especially by a lot, make the easy choice and discard dog treats that are old.
- If you see any sign of mold, throw out the whole bag.
Getting into this habit helps you avoid accidentally giving your dog something that could hurt them.
Thinking About Treat Value
Beyond safety, expired treats just aren’t as good. They might be stale. They might be hard or crumbly. Your dog might not enjoy them as much. Treats are supposed to be rewarding. A fresh, tasty treat is a better reward than an old, stale one.
Also, remember that treats add calories. If they are old and have lost nutrients, they are just empty calories. It is better to give fewer, fresh treats that provide some value, even small.
Final Thoughts on Expired Treats
The bottom line is that feeding expired dog treats is a gamble. The potential downsides (a sick dog, vet bills, serious illness) are much bigger than the upside (not wasting a few treats). The risks of expired dog treats are real. Food poisoning in dogs from treats is possible.
Follow the dog treat expiration date as a guide. Understand the shelf life of dog treats and how storage affects it. Learn when to discard dog treats based on the date, appearance, and how they were stored. Listen to veterinarian advice expired treats, which is always to be safe rather than sorry. By taking simple steps to safely store dog treats and checking dates, you can help keep your furry friend happy and healthy. It is a small thing that makes a big difference for their well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions About Old Dog Treats
h5 Can a dog die from eating old treats?
It is not common, but yes, it is possible in rare cases. This is usually from eating moldy treats with very bad toxins (mycotoxins). Or from severe food poisoning that leads to other health problems. It is why being careful with old treats is important.
h5 My dog ate a treat just one day past the date. Is that okay?
Most likely, your dog will be fine. The “Best By” date is not a hard line for safety. The quality might just start to go down. Watch your dog for any tummy upset, but a single treat just slightly past the date is low risk.
h5 What do moldy dog treats look like?
They can look fuzzy. The fuzz can be white, green, blue, black, or other colors. They might also just look discolored or have strange spots. If you see anything that looks like mold, do not give it to your dog.
h5 Can I save expired treats by cooking them?
No, cooking or heating expired or moldy treats will not make them safe. It might kill some bacteria, but it will not destroy the toxins made by mold. Once toxins are there, they stay there. Always discard moldy or expired treats.
h5 How long after opening should I use dog treats?
This depends on the treat type and how it’s stored. Dry treats in an airtight container might last several months after opening, as long as they are still within the best by date dog treats. Softer or moist treats might only last a few weeks. Always store properly and check for signs of spoilage. If unsure, it is better to discard dog treats.
h5 What is the difference between “Best By” and “Expiration Date”?
“Best By” means the treat is its best quality up to that date. It might still be okay to eat after that, but not as fresh. “Expiration Date” is more about safety. Food is generally not safe to eat after this date. Most dog treats use “Best By”. Even so, treating the “Best By” date like an expiration date for safety is the safest approach for your dog.
h5 Are expensive dog treats safer after the expiration date than cheap ones?
No. The price or brand does not change the basic science of how food goes bad. All dog treats, cheap or expensive, can grow bacteria or mold once they are past their prime, especially if not stored well. Always check the date and inspect treats, no matter the cost.