Hi,
Can anyone tell me the shelf life of an unopened can?  I use this as a mixer for my little dog, and because of the weather, I'm thinking of ordering in a supply.  But I actually use very little day to day (I freeze the remainder of the can), and don't want them to expire!

Thanks.

Unopened, undented cans can last for years.

Nowadays it'll have a use by date on it if you want to be certain.

I bulk buy tins of natures menu for my 2 poodles from Berriewoods but I always ask them to check the best before dates on them for me as they last me for about 4 months so I would think who ever you buy from would probably do the same.

> Can anyone tell me the shelf life of an unopened can?

I have some tins of Butchers Choice in at the moment, bought last week. The best before date is March 2012

Thanks very much for these helpful replies.  I'm guessing the case I've ordered will last about six months, so it should be fine.

Asda have an offer on at the moment for Butchers chicken & tripe. An outer of 12 cans for £4

the case of Butchers Tripe I got a couple of months ago gives a date of Feb 2012.

Well, I'm a little confused now.  The can I bought at Tesco a couple of weeks ago said it was a "complimentary food" that needed to be used with a complete food.  I just received my internet order of 12 cans yesterday, it is labelled "Butcher's Tripe Mix", but reading the can it says it is a "complete adult dog food".

Can anyone enlighten me?  Have I bought the wrong thing?  I tried contacting Butcher's yesterday without success.

I add it to my complete dry mix for the Collies.  I have never thought that it was "complementary", I always understood it to be complete.  I think you have received the right stuff.  All the tins I have seen say Butchers Tripe mix.

Thanks Jean.  Checking several online dog food suppliers' websites, I've found this same description next to the Tripe Mix - "It is a complementary food for dogs, which needs to be fed with a good quality mixer meal."  Not sure where this originated from?

Well, it's good news for me anyway.  I'm hoping to gradually move her over to this - she loves the smell, and it saves me mashing up the chunks from JWB pouches to fit into her little mouth!

> I tried contacting Butcher's yesterday without success.

According to thier website, it's a complete food - no need to add mixer (unless you want too) (scroll down to 'Should I feed mixer with Butcher's?' )

Thanks for that link Mastifflover - I see they have my Bearded Collie on there!!!  (not really mine)

The Collies love it, I'm sure it must be the stink!

I have used this in the past adding a little to dry food, dogs would eat it for a couple of days, clearing the dish, but soon become very bored with the taste / smell. The great thing about a dry food that if they are having a fussy day, you simple take it away and put it down later / next day.

You can put it with a mixer, you just give less meat or you can feed alone, meaning that most dogs will beed 1 1/2 - 2 tins aday. Most dry foods work at much better vaule!