The Cost to Feed Raw Pet Food

The cost is one of the biggest hurdles that keep pet parents from transitioning to a raw diet. It’s no secret that commercially made raw dog food is more expensive than kibble. But when everything is factored together, how much are you really saving by buying kibble?

Cost: Kibble vs. 100% Raw Dog Food

Many people feel that the price of raw food is beyond their financial reach.  It is my argument and belief that with a little creative financial juggling, anyone can afford a raw diet.  If the only food you feed is a high quality, grain-free kibble and you want to transition to a raw diet, you will spend approximately 1.5 times more to do so. You may be thinking “Whoa, that is too much… there is no way I can afford that,” but hold on, the dollar amounts are not as alarming.

I calculated the feeding cost of five top grain-free dry pet foods by first determining the weight of a cup of kibble (4oz per cup). Then I determined the recommended feeding amount per cup and solved for the weight that it represented.  In the end, I determined that the average daily cost to feed a grain-free diet to a 50-pound dog is $1.66. If you were to transition to feeding 100% Steve’s Real Food it would cost you $2.38 more each day. That seems like a lot, but it is about the cost of one cup of coffee and quite a bit less if you get the fancy lattes or cappuccinos. It is even less if you have a smaller dog such as a 25-pound Cocker Spaniel which would only cost $1.19 more.

Cost: 75% Kibble & 25% Canned vs. 100% Raw Dog Food

The cost difference gets even less if you are feeding a mixed diet such as canned and raw. I calculated the daily feeding amounts and cost for feeding a quality kibble such as NOW by Petcurean and a canned diet made by PureVita. If you feed 75% kibble and 25% canned then you are spending an about $2.37 per day. To go from that diet to Steve’s would cost a $1.67 more per day. That is just over a 3/4^th increase for an astronomical improvement in quality and nutrition. Remember, with a kibble and canned diet you are still missing out on any type of enzyme-dense raw nutrition.

Cost: 85% Kibble & 15% Freeze Dry vs 100% Raw Dog Food

A lot of people have decided to add raw nutrition to a dry diet by adding a freeze-dry product as a topper. To get the full advantage of the raw nutrition from these products, it is recommended to add 8oz of freeze-dry food topper to a kibble diet. That comes out to be about 15% of the recommended amount compared to a 100% freeze-dry diet. Therefore, if you are feeding NOW by Petcurean 85% of the time and Stella and Chewy’s 15%, then you are spending about $5.28 per day, over a $1.00 more than if you were to feed a 100% Steve’s Real Food diet.

Raw Brands Vary In Price

It is important to note that all these price comparisons are for transitioning to Steve’s Real Food and not other raw brands. Many raw foods are $1 to $2 more expensive per pound than Steve’s Real Food.  We believe that all pets should be fed a raw diet 100% of the time, so we keep our MSRP per pound down. We do NOT do this through low-quality ingredients, we do this by keeping our margins low and offering large package sizes.

Veterinarian Bills

People who feed their pets a wholesome, raw diet will see a great increase in health for their pets.  Many chronic diseases can be managed or eliminated through proper nutrition. This means if your pet is having health issues that require expensive vet visits, shots, or medication, the need for those expenses can be eliminated through feeding raw.  You will save money in the long run by spending more on their dog food because it can save you medical costs in the future.

Your pet is worth it:  If you are reading blogs on the internet about raw pet food, then it is reasonable to assume you have a healthy obsession with giving your dog (or cat!) a good return on the love and adoration they lavish on you.  Your animal depends on you to make sure they are safe, healthy, and happy.  They are trusting you, and you have accepted that responsibility, because you know what we know – they make life good.  Your pet enriches your life, and feeding a healthy, raw diet – ensuring their long term health and happiness – is totally worth paying for.

In Summary:

• Going from feeding Kibble to Raw Dog Food it will cost you one cup of coffee each day.
• Going from feeding a Kibble & Canned Diet to raw dog food will cost you a cup of yogurt.
• Going from feeding kibble with freeze dry topper to raw dog food will actually save you money.
• Raw food keeps your pet healthy and happy, and they are worth it.