Is It Cheaper To Make Your Own Dog Food

Is Cheap Food Bad For Dogs

Inexpensive dog food, like bagged kibble, isnt necessarily bad for dogs. But, the ingredients matter here, too! Some cheaper dog foods still list meat as the top ingredient. These are the foods you should be picking up off the shelf if youre on a budget.

But, dont assume that just because a dog food contains meat that its okay for your furry companion. There are some common pet food ingredients that you should avoid at all costs, including:

• Corn and wheat gluten
• Food dyes
• Rendered fat

If you see any of those on your dog food ingredient list, its time to change brands or spring for something more expensive.

Some people think that canned dog food, even though its usually cheap, is better for dogs because it contains real ingredients. Unfortunately, that isnt always the case, either. Just because something looks like actual meat doesnt necessarily mean it is.

Inexpensive canned dog food can be prone to contamination, and dogs who regularly eat it may be at a greater risk of dental problems. Once in a while, choosing a canned dog food with high-quality ingredients can be a real treat for your canine companion. But, stick with kibble when youre able.

If you can find cheap dog food with real ingredients, there is no reason not to feel comfortable feeding it to your dog. But, you may have to do some serious searching.

How Much And When Should You Feed Your Dog

This will vary from dog to dog, but a general rule of thumb is;for every 10 lbs your dog weighs they;should be fed roughly 1 cup of prepared food.

For our 80 lb Hooch, that means 2 meals a day each containing 4 cups of food. It is important to note that, dogs with kidney problems often feel better when fed;several small meals;throughout the dayrather than just one or two large meals, so you may find that you need to adjust your feeding schedule as time goes on accordingly to keep your pup comfy!;

Does It Pay To Make Your Own Pet Food

For some consumers, treating Spot and Fluffy as members of the family extends to their diet. After all, if everyone else is getting homemade meals with organic ingredients, why shouldnt they? It might be healthier than commercial foods and cheaper, too.

Consumers have become more interested in preparing their own pet foods in recent years, due to both pet food recall scares and a human-diet emphasis on knowing whats in the foods we eat, says Dr. Jules Benson, the vice president of veterinary services for pet insurance carrier Petplan. There are some economic interests, too, depending on what you currently feed your pet. A balanced, home-cooked diet for a 30-pound dog would cost $3.52 per day; $5.58 if you go organic. Thats two to four times the price of commercial dry dog foods of similar qualities, he says, but up to half the cost of commercial wet foods.

But making the switch isnt as simple as dishing up a portion of the Sunday-dinner roast for your pet. There is science behind what your pet needs, says Dr. Benson. These diets should be developed for your pet individually. Home-prepared pet meals arent a good solution, or a safe one, for every family.

Try these other tips to delve into cooking for your pet:

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Pumpkin Carrot Bites / Pawsitively Pets

This simple dog treat recipe is one of my favorites it yields a bunch of great smelling, bite sized treats that are perfect for training rewards. For this simple recipe youll need three fourths cup canned pumpkin, one egg, one fourth cup shredded carrots, and a cup of whole wheat flour.

Four ingredients, 30-35 minute bake time.

Time Commitment Of Making Your Own Dog Food

Thankfully, it is not a lot of time. It probably takes me 5-7 minutes to throw everything in the crockpot or rice cooker and then scoop it into a container once it is done cooking. I have tried to freeze individual patties of food but that is only more time consuming and not worth the hassle.

In reality, even if it takes me fifteen minutes each time, that is 60 minutes in total to make as much food as buying a bag of Blue . So making your own dog food is like making $35 an hour.

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Addressing Common Myths And Misconceptions

Before deciding whether or not a homemade dog food diet is right for your pet, take the time to consider some common myths and misconceptions. Many dog owners believe that a homemade dog food diet will improve their dogs nutrition, but they do not understand how difficult it is to create a well-balanced homemade dog food. Below you will find a list of several misconceptions regarding homemade dog foods:

Can Dogs Eat Cheese

Cheesedogdog’scheeses can

Sarahi Buytrago

Raid your pantry For Added Nutrition

• Canned vegetables like corn, beans, peas and carrots well-rinsed and drained.
• Plain pasta cooked.
• Plain, cooked rice, couscous or quinoa avoid the flavored varieties which are loaded with sodium and spices that may upset your dog’s tummy.

Avram Hinteregger

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Homemade Dog Biscuits / Kitchen Confidante

These homemade dog biscuits made with five ingredients are one of my favorites. Youll need whole wheat flour, oats, flaxseed, beef broth, and peanut butter. If you dont have any fun cookie cutters you can use my living like a bachelor method; use the tops of your shot glasses.

Five ingredients dog treats, 20 minute cook time.

Directions For Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipe:

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Stay Away From Chain Stores

Dog food from a pet supply chain is always overpriced. The first part of saving money on food for your pet is realizing that the cat and dog food you can buy at your local pet supply chain store is at least 10% more expensive than what you should be paying. Prices fluctuate based on sales, which is not what you want to subject your wallet to. Instead, get smart about where you buy their food and how you buy their food.

Consider your options for saving money by shopping online.

The Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food

If cooking for your pup is out of the question, then buying them pet food that doesnt trigger an immune response is a good option. Weve rounded up some of the best dog food that is hypoallergenic, including two budget-friendly formulas. These limited-ingredient diets will help you keep track of what your dog isand isnteating.

Keep in mind that not all foods are right for all food allergies, and higher quality or rarer ingredients are going to cost more than your average diet.

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Is It Cheaper To Make Your Own Dog Food Why Yes It Is

Dog food is a delicacy of sorts. Unlike human food, which is deemed a necessity to human life and is therefore made to be easier to afford, dog food doesnt have to be;affordable. As a result, dog food companies are bent on giving;eye-gouging prices that continue to grow each year.

Luckily, many of the ingredients that your dog gets out of pet food can just as easily be found in the foods you already eat. With that being the case, you can easily make food thats perfect for their dietary needs. Here are just a few examples of what you can whip up for the puppers palate.

Do I Have To Cook The Food Or Can I Let My Dog Eat It Raw

If you want to feed your dog raw, you can easily do so.

Simply leave the meat raw but I would suggest cooking the carrots and the potatoes. Dogs intestinal tracts are SIGNIFICANTLY shorter than humans so it helps if you cook and puree the vegetables to help them absorb all the nutrients.

If you are going to leave the meat raw, make sure that you divide the food into daily portions and freeze what you are not using. Pull out the frozen dog food the night before you need it to ensure the freshest food possible for your pooch!

Also Check: What Foods Are Healthy For Dogs

Best Whole Food Diet Dog Food: The Farmers Dog

New York City veterinarian Jonathan Block, DVM, of the Worth Street Veterinarian Center feeds his elderly lab/golden mix Neshi, The Farmers Dog, a whole food diet crafted from human-grade ingredients. The Farmers Dog has taken the extra measures to make sure all of their formulas are perfectly well-balanced according to AAFCO , a non-profit group that sets standards for pet foods in the United States. The improved nutrient bioavailability helps his aging dogs energy levels, body conditions, mobility, and overall health. Dont miss these 12 foods you never knew were toxic for dogs.

Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Healthy Development Small Bites Dry Dog Food

Chewy.com

Formulated to support brain, eye and skeletal development, as well as a healthy immune system, this Puppy Healthy Development Small Bites Dry Dog Food from Hills Science Diet has everything your growing pup needs. Its made with wholesome ingredients like chicken and barley and enhanced with antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E and DHA to support developing organs and learning ability. Plus, the kibble is smaller than normal and easier to digest than other dog foods, so if you have a puppy who gets a little over-eager at meal times, this food will be easier for its developing digestive system to handle.

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Best Rigorously Tested Dog Food: Ollie

New York City veterinarian Imogen Slome, DVM, believes natural and fresh diets are best for people and dogs, including her pit bull, Sosa. As a vet, Im also extremely cognizant about food safety! There are so many recalls in the pet food industry, so what I like about Ollie is the rigorous testing they do on every batch for food safety, as well as nutritional adequacy, says Dr. Slome. Sosa, like many pit bulls, has sensitive skin and skin allergies, so Dr. Slome feeds her a single ingredient protein, Ollie Turkey, to keep skin issues under control. Ollie creates a personalized meal plan subscription for your pup based on a few simple questions to keep them in optimal health. Look out for these signs your healthy pooch is actually sick.

via amazon.com

Before Using Dog Supplements For Homemade Dog Food

I cannot stress this enough: the safest way to do this properly is to speak with a canine nutritionist or veterinarian who is well-versed in canine nutrition . Talk to them about your individual dog’s current nutritional requirements, dog supplements for homemade dog food you can use, and their dosage.

In the above photo, you can see which pet supplements I commonly use in my own homemade dog food recipes.

Many of those you’re likely to use as well. Most common dog supplements recommended to add to homemade dog food recipes include:

• Multivitamin supplements

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Save Money With Homemade Dog Food

When suppertime rolls around, theres nothing like a healthy home-cooked meal. This is true not only for the human members of your family, but for your dog as well. Cooking for your canine companion has many benefits, including fewer preservatives and additives, more varied and potentially better ingredients, and, of course, more interest for the canine palate.

Homemade meals may even make it possible to feed your dog well for less. A 15-pound bag of high-end dry dog food costs approximately $42, and a 5.5 oz. can of high-end wet food runs approximately $2. Feeding a medium-sized dog two cans of wet mixed with two cups of dry food costs about $5 per day. That doesnt include the treats, bones and tidbits that inevitably make their way into her tummy! Compare that with four cups of Puppy Stew at $2.25 per day. Add the cost of a vitamin/ mineral supplement and calcium, and it is still less than the cost of feeding high-end commercial food.*

As both able hunters and scavengers, dogs ate from a diverse menu when they began accompanying humans. An omnivorous diet of protein, carbohydrate and fat sources suits them; dogs in good health can also handle the fat in their diet more effectively than you can their bodies use it for energy and then efficiently clear it from the bloodstream.

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Is Homemade Dog Food Better

Because you can provide natural ingredients and organic ingredients for your dog, its often better to make your own.

There are two main things to consider with homemade dog food: quality control and bioavailability. By taking these points under advisement, you can determine whether homemade food is best.

Quality control

When youre responsible for making your pets food, you have complete control over ingredients. This process allows you to know where the ingredients come from and what goes into the formula.

Since pet parents have significant concerns about store-bought food quality, this can give you peace of mind.

On the other hand, youre solely responsible for ensuring your pets get the nutrition they need. As youre likely not a veterinarian, this is a huge responsibility for any owner. Be sure to discuss with your vet what your homemade dog food recipes typically contain.

Fortunately, you wont have to worry about dealing with the big name recalls from pet food manufacturers.

Bioavailability

Bioavailability is another advantage to homemade dog food because fresh food has far more nutrients. If you compare grocery produce to processed food, far more vitamins and minerals are ready to be consumed.

Although, it is important to remember that no matter how precise you are, your pets could be lacking nutrition. This reason is why adding a multivitamin to your dogs daily routine should be essential with homemade meals.

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Is Homemade Cat Food Better Than Commercial Diets

Making your cats food at home does offer some benefits. First, you have complete control over the ingredients that you use. Are you looking for a diet that is free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives? Do you want your cat to go organic or grain-free? Its all up to you.

Homemade food can be a good option for cats with dietary sensitivities.

If your cat has a food allergy or intolerance, its easy enough to avoid your cats triggers. You may also be able to tempt a sick cat to eat a homemade food when they refuse to touch other options.

Are Homemade Dog Treats Better

Yes, homemade dog treats are often better than store-bought treats because they dont contain preservatives, chemicals, and fillers like many packaged treats do. With homemade treats, you get to decide exactly what ingredients go into them. So, you can specifically choose the items that are healthy and safe for your dog.

Healthier ingredients means your dog will be healthier from head to toe, including their digestive system, heart, and coat.;

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Best Lightly Cooked Dog Food: The Honest Kitchen

Sarah Wallace, DVM, a veterinarian and nutrition expert for Fuzzy Pet Health, adopted Birdie, a rat terrier mix, from a shelter. She was found half-starved, but luckily Birdie eats a high quality diet now. Dr. Wallace feeds her The Honest Kitchen because it is lightly cooked food. I would never feed a raw food because I know how bad it feels to have food poisoning from bacterial contamination in my food; I want to minimize my dogs chance of getting food poisoning by feeding her cooked food. According to Dr. Wallace, lightly cooked dog food is more digestible than kibble, meaning it absorbs more vitamins, minerals, essential fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Check out the 50 secrets your vet wont tell you.

Make Sure You Have The Time To Commit To Making Cat Food

Preparing a homemade diet for you cat requires extra time .

You can make life a little easier by making a week or twos worth of food at a time and freezing meal-sized portions. Thaw the food in the refrigerator overnight and then warm it to body temperature before feeding.

Homemade food should be discarded after two hours at room temperature or after a few days in the refrigerator.

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What Are The Nutrients For A Balanced Meal For Your Dog

Just like humans, dogs require protein, fats and carbs. Back in the day, before dogs became domesticated, the dog/wolf diet consisted of primarily fats and protein.

However, over the course of time, dogs evolved away from wolf genetics and began able to digest more plant-based materials.

So, to keep your dog’s nutritional profile as close to the ancestral way of eating, a dog’s macronutrient profile should be as follows:

• PROTEIN – 56%

• Kidney beasn
• Black beans

Oats and other types of grains can be tolerated by most pets as well. However, since the total content of carbohydrates in your dog’s diet should about for only 14%, try to stick with more nutrient-dense vegetables as much as possible.