in the heat? I just bought a brand-new 16 oz bag of the salmon flavored ones, and after training in the evening, left them sitting on top of my car all night and all day the following day. The package was un-sealed, no bugs got in or anything, and I don't know if they would make Kodee sick or not. Daytime temps around here are in the 90's right now. I hate to waste an almost full bag (my own stupid fault, though). Do you think they are ok to use or not? (They stink so bad when they're fresh, I can't tell anything by smell). LOL! TIA!

My original thought is no... probably not an issue since the bag was sealed and I don't think Zekes have much water content but it's easy for me to say as it's not my dog. But if it were my dog I'd follow the rule for people... "When in doubt, throw it out."

Also there is a number on the back of the packaging for the company. You can call them and ask the storage requirements.

I've left my Zuke's bags open on the table overnight several times. By the time I get to the end of the bag the treats are no longer soft, but the dogs still enjoy them and I've never had a problem.

I've also discovered some in my bait bag, in an unsealed ziplock baggie, that were at least a month old. I still used them, and the dogs still ate 'em up like they were new.

Heck, I figure, dogs eat roadkill, and mine eat their own feces, so an old treat or two ain't gonna kill them. I've fed them ripe meat on occasion as well (not TOO ripe though).

If you have any doubts about your "cooked" Zuke's, store them in the fridge for the remainder of the bag (should slow down/prevent any rotting that may be going on.) I would actually be MORE worried if the bag had been sealed and the moisture built up in the heat. But since it was open and airing out, I'm really sure it'll be fine. If it were my dogs I would still use them.

 Quote: angela burrell

If it were my dogs I would still use them.

Yup, me too. I think most treats are pretty hardy and stable/edible under a lot of environmental conditions. Given that they're intended to be kept non-refrigerated anyway, they're already able to handle wide fluctuations in temperature, and as Angela said, if they were allowed air circulation on top of that, the worst you're probably looking at is them drying out (which hasn't stopped my dog from enjoying his Zukes ). If they were soggy/slimy, or obviously growing something, then I'd be a little worried, but I always thought those Zukes (I know they're "all natural" and all) seemed a little synthetic in their composition, so I've never worried about them going bad...

When we were doing puppy/young adult training with Oscar I don't think there was a garment in my closet that didn't have treat remains in at least one pocket at all times - some of those bits would sit for weeks and months without being used, but eventually they were given to Oscar, and he never once suffered ill effects - and I doubt he cared one lick that they were old and stale!

~Natalya