Most pet owners would prefer to have their dog or cat live beyond 10 months however. The responsibility for finding and feeding a good diet is on the owner. Don't be satisfied with empty slogans. When buying pet food, look for a fresh bag. You can't read some production code that substitutes letters for numbers and dates.
Nutrients degrade over time if exposed to air.
Unless you are buying frozen, freeze- dried or vacuum sealed, its best to get the most recently made. Pet food manufacturers like to have a shelf life of 18 months. Fine, but this isn't an all or none process. It happens over time. Additionally, the vitamins and minerals also degrade over time.