Dented food tins: Can I still feed the dog or cat food?

Dented tins often cause uncertainty after the delivery of dog or cat food. Is the food still safe? Is there a risk for my dog or cat?

The good news is that not every dented can of food is automatically dangerous. The decisive factor is whether the damage is purely visual or whether the safety of the contents has been compromised. On this page, we explain transparently when dented cans are safe, when caution is advised and how we at PERRO handle the quality and control of our products.

What causes dented cans of dog and cat food?

Dented cans do not usually occur during production, but on the way to you

Transport & logistics: Parcels are stacked, moved and can be exposed to impacts
Package pressure: Particularly heavy deliveries exert pressure on individual cans
Protection of the packaging: Cans are designed to protect the contents, not necessarily to preserve the perfect appearance

Important to know:

A dented can does not automatically mean that the dog food or cat food is of inferior quality. The production process, ingredient quality and hygienic filling remain unaffected!

Can food from dented cans still be fed?

Whether dog food or cat food can still be fed from a dented can depends on the condition of the can - not on the dent itself. Many cans only have minor visual damage where the airtight seal is completely intact. In these cases, the food can usually be used without any problems

Check whether

Air has got into the can,
the closure has been damaged,
there are signs of spoilage.

When is the food safe?

The following criteria should be checked before feeding food from damaged cans:

The can is not bloated
No liquid is leaking out
No cracks, holes or sharp edges
The lid and seam are undamaged
Odour and consistency are unremarkable after opening

Further indications that damaged food cans are safe to feed:

Slight dents on the side or bottom are usually purely cosmetic.
The best-before date is still valid.
The contents look and smell as usual.

PERRO-Naturell-Katze-liegt-mit-Reinfleisch-Dosen

When should the food no longer be fed?

There are clear signs that dented cans are no longer safe. Please dispose of the food if any of the following signs apply

Bloated can (indication of gas formation)
Leaking or leaking liquid
Severely damaged lid or seam
Rotten, sour or unusual odour
Mould or significantly altered consistency

The above characteristics may indicate microbiological processes. In these cases, the food should no longer be fed.

Can I get a replacement delivery for dented cans?

Whether there is a replacement delivery or refund for dented cans depends on the extent of the damage. In the case of safety-relevant damage (e.g. bloated, leaking or no longer safe cans), you will receive a replacement or a refund.

In the case of purely visual defects where the contents are intact, there is usually no entitlement to a replacement or refund, as you can still feed the food safely.

Our recommendation:

If you are unsure, please contact our customer service team at service@perro.at. In order to be able to process your enquiry quickly, please also send us photos of the affected tin directly so that we can assess the case quickly and transparently.