Abstract:
Dry pet food is a convenient option for pet owners, but its storage conditions can impact its
microbial growth and quality. In this study, we examined the effects of storage temperature
on the quality and microbial growth of dry pet food. The pet food was stored at 25ºC and
35ºC (D25 and D35, respectively), and samples were analyzed on days 0, 30, 90, and 120 for
microbial growth and quality attributes such as pH, color, lipid oxidation, and volatile basic
nitrogen. While no initial microbial growth was observed due to the low water content and
water activity, quality attributes showed changes over time. However, the changes were
negligible, indicating that dry pet food remains feedable for up to 120 days regardless of
storage temperature. These findings suggest that dry pet food can be safely stored at room
temperature or up to 35ºC without compromising its quality.
