How you store CC

[Hath]

Just wondering if anyone has a tip on how to store critical care formulas to prolong shelf life.
I've always kept one for emergencies, but noticed I just end up throwing them away due to expiry date. They seem to go off very quickly. I am grateful for not needing it, however wondering if anyone has any tips?
I even switched to buying just the 35g sachet of CC and having the Recovery food pellets that come in a box with multiple sachets inside, these too have very low shelf life. I ended up donating them before shelf life ends, but still seems like there gotta be better way of doing this.
I never came across any definite guide of how long after use by date you can go. Seemed risky to rely on life-saving product if it could be ineffective or possibly harmful.

I've heard people putting CC sachets in their fridge? How long after use by can they be used?

 

[Piggies&buns]

I never buy critical care itself because it has a date in it, I only keeps syringes in stock.
In an emergency I use mushed pellets as the syringe feed - they’re always on hand of course. If I then need critical care (which is higher fibre than mushed pellets so better for longer term feeding) I will then buy it at that point

 

[piggieminder]

I buy it when needed and mush pellets until it arrives or buy a sachet off the vet (very expensive) if I absolutely have to. I buy the pellet recovery food in the individual sachets as it keeps longer, is cheaper and can be mixed with normal pellets and used up if going out of date. I think the shelf life on these depends on where and when you buy them.

 

[Claire W]

I don’t keep recovery food in either as I ended up throwing lots away as it went out of date.

I just make sure I have enough of their pellets and a tub of probiotic in and used mushed pellets in an emergency until recovery food is delivered. If I really am desperate for a sachet, my vet which is 10 minutes away sells Science Selective Recovery Plus but it costs more than it does online

 

[PoptartShop]

I get the CC off Amazon so it comes pretty quickly thankfully, but I keep mine until the date of expiration. I just store it in a cabinet.

 

[Hath]

Thanks for replies everyone! Seems like I am not the only one frustrated with the short shelf life.
I also just noticed the Burgess DualCare pellets have GMO soy in it very annoying, considering it's meant to be recovery food!

 

[Princess Dustmop]

I keep a bag in the freezer until it is opened. I keep it in the fridge after opening.
If it's been in the freezer, I let it warm up on the counter before opening it.

This is what Oxbow says about the matter:

 

[WWDrew]

I know that when I get anti-biotics for Guinea Pigs that they're light sensitive and put into a brown bag so light doesn't get in. I noticed that the liquid vitamin C that I give to my Guinea Pigs comes in a brown bottle possibly it's sensitive to light and may last longer in a brown bottle. I think it wouldn't hurt to put critical care in a box that light could not get into.

 

[poggle]

Ours seems to have a best before end date and I must admit that I play fast and loose with these - if it was harmful after a certain period of time it would have to be use by, so I use it if it smells/looks alright. Once open I stick to the packet instructions, though.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Ours seems to have a best before end date and I must admit that I play fast and loose with these - if it was harmful after a certain period of time it would have to be use by, so I use it if it smells/looks alright. Once open I stick to the packet instructions, though.

It’s to do with nutrients. After the date, the nutrient content is no longer be guaranteed.

 

[Hath]

That's what's worried me. It's literally life saving because of what it contains. so if it's out of date, at what point does it become redundant and might as well just used soaked pellets, or actually harmful. I stick to the 30 days (I think it is) after opening. But if package was well stored and unused, then that's what I wonder.

I think I won a lottery with the CC I got from Amazon couple days ago. Use by until Feb 2025. Feel special!

 

[Piggies&buns]

That's what's worried me. It's literally life saving because of what it contains. so if it's out of date, at what point does it become redundant and might as well just used soaked pellets, or actually harmful. I stick to the 30 days (I think it is) after opening. But if package was well stored and unused, then that's what I wonder.

I think I won a lottery with the CC I got from Amazon couple days ago. Use by until Feb 2025. Feel special!

It wouldn’t be harmful, it just may not be beneficial.
If well stored and unopened but after the date then of course the longer past the date it is, the worse the issue would be. The content can’t be guaranteed beyond a date, what would be the point if you can’t be sure a poorly piggy is getting nutrients.
This is why I don’t keep it in stock (what would be the point in buying something you may never need) - Mushed pellets as the go to (and for short term use), only buy cc if syringe feeding is going to need to be done longer term (longer than a week)