How Much Does Feeding Raw Cost?

[Kristi]

Ok I came across this article ... www.thatmutt.com/2011/04/30/how-much-does-it-cost-to-feed-my-dog-raw-food/ and even though it's for a much bigger dog, I thought it was really informative about the cost to feed raw. Anyway I wanted to share the article because the author breaks it down into a variety of methods of feeding. He bases it on chicken though which lol, none of us use that all the time once we get past the first few weeks!

To feed my 7 chis raw for a year it costs around $1200. Kinda a lot, sure. But I use a lot of pre-mades, feeding them about or more than half the time, and I also do buy beef that is more expensive but naturally raised, grass fed, hormone and antibiotic free etc. etc. etc. If you think about it though its really only about $15 per month per dog. I'm also feeding 3 "puppies" at the moment, so, that is making feeding more expensive. Laurel, Oakley and Trig barely eat anything.

[brodysmom]

Very interesting thread Kristi.

I am positive that I spend less feeding raw than I did feeding premium kibble (Orijen, etc.) Prey model is the cheapest, but pre-mades can still be affordable - especially for our little guys. Can't imagine feeding a lab or other large breed pre-mades, that would get expensive quick!

Another thing to consider is the cost of the vet. Since being on raw, Brody has only been to the vet for a neuter, baby teeth extraction (during the neuter) vaccines and later titers, microchip. No ear infections. No allergies. No diarrhea or other illness, no coat or skin issues, no parasites, no dentals.

As a whole, I think I read that raw fed dogs incur about 50% less vet bills. Not sure about how this was determined, etc. but it is an interesting concept.

Our last two dogs were fed premium kibble. Molly had ear infections pretty routinely. She also developed a lot of fatty tumors/cysts that had to be removed as she aged. Piper had horrible skin and allergies and required very extensive dermatological treatments, prescription diets, etc. They both had runny eyes and itchy skin which I now attribute to a substandard diet. I wish I would have known then what I know now.

[Kristi]

I definitely think it cuts back on vet bills -- mine only go once a year really, for an annual check up.

I think when you put it in perspective, though, approx $15.00 per dog, is NOT that expensive. I blow more than that per week often on crap I don't need.

[Lucy]

I personally have to feed the pre made mixes if I want to give enough variety to my dogs. Meat is very expensive here and if I didnt do the minced/ground mixes, they'd live on chicken!

So I worked it out, a 7kg bag of Orijen for Kiki, Gambit and Chaos (Rogue wasn't here) would last about 8 weeks. I ordered from Raw To Go and spent about £20 including shipping and I believe it will last around 4 weeks. However, thats not including organs, boney meals etc.
I'm happy to pay slightly more for it and its still incredibly cheap compared to what others pay. Although I do wish I didn't have to feed mixes as I prefer to be more in control of what they eat but there's no way they'd be getting duck, lamb, beef etc as often as they do otherwise!

[Sarah]

Interesting thread.

Costs me maybe £10 a month for 3 but I give a lot of variety. We are too using mixes 60% of the time as I need to save money ATM I don't think it's expensive if you can source stuff it also depends on where you live I think.

I know in America people advertise on craigslist for freezer burnt meat etc or left overs from hunting and give that to theirdogs if I had a big enough house a few freezers I'd love that

[Lucy]

I've scoured those kinds of list for free freezer burnt meat and nope, not a thing!

I even go to the supermarket and look in the reduced section for meat thats got its use by date ending. I've never found anything worth it seeing as its usually 400g or so for £2 or £3. That is one days worth of food lol so doesn't seem worth it. As a treat I would buy it, as obviously its better than a mix but if I'm trying to save money (which I am lol) then no, I won't buy it! I prefer to work everything out to see if its worth it, especially when I have a freezer full at home!

As I said in another thread, my dogs are my "luxury" item haha so I don't mind the extra cost of raw vs. kibble.

[Kristi]

Meat is expensive here too moreso than average American prices cuz we live in a tiny valley and everything has to be shipped in...I really should work out how to feed full on raw as I am sure it would be cheaper, ziwi is cheaper really, than what I feed, but I don't feel it is the same quite as it's not fresh. And no dental benefits. Its hard to know what you are supposed to do!

[brodysmom]

I think you just do the best you can and go with it! Don't stress. If that means more pre-mades, then so be it.