The cost of having a dog is rising as prices of everything continue to increase. One of the common concerns about raw feeding is the perceived expense. Yes, you will spend more monthly on food, but let's look at the big picture and see what you will save over your dog's lifetime by feeding fresh food. After all, food is just one expense related to your dog. Veterinary bills can actually be a much more significant expense. What if feeding a raw diet can actually reduce veterinary costs, both routine and unexpected emergency expenses?

There are hundreds of dog food brands and types. According to a 201 survey9, standard kibble products are the least expensive, averaging $2.00 per pound. A higher-quality kibble can run $3.75-$4.00 per pound. Dehydrated and freeze-dried options are more costly at $10.00 per pound and $33.00 per pound, respectively.

Understanding Commercial Dog Food Differences

There are considerable differences in the types and quality of commercial dog food. As a dog parent, you are responsible for deciding which food is best for your dog and, if feasible, within your budget. To help narrow down the choices of which food to use, create a "food philosophy" by listing attributes vital to you.

Can you get honest answers from the company about the food?

Are they testing the food for digestibility?

Are they testing for contaminants such as euthanasia solutions, pesticides, or heavy metals? Have the nutrient levels for each batch been tested? 

Are synthetics added to meet nutritional requirements?

Ingredient sourcing: where are the ingredients produced? 

Which food or diet is feasible on my budget?


Can you identify the different ingredients?

Can the ingredients be traced back to their original source?

Are the food components human grade or ingredients deemed inedible for humans, as well as spoiled or outdated meat from grocery stores? 

Genetically modified organisms (GMO)-What is your personal philosophy about GMOs in your diet, and do you want to apply that same philosophy to your dog's food?

Organic - What is your preference for organic versus non-organic, and do you want to apply the same principles to your dog's food?

Pasture-raised/ free-range animals or factory farm animals?

Dog parents must consider all the above points before grabbing the first attractive-looking bag within their budget. A thorough analysis of the foods may be very educational and eye-opening. Your attitude toward commercial food may be forever changed!

The food costs are soaring, so switching your dog to a raw diet can be intimidating. So, let's look at ways to minimize costs by purchasing in bulk, using co-ops, and working directly with reputable butcher shops.

If you have enough freezer space, buying the raw diet components in bulk will save you a lot of money. You can also save time by preparing several days' worth of food and freezing meal-sized portions.

Check out the Real Dog Food  Directory for a list of co-ops throughout the United States. The directory also provides tips on where to source many of your food components.

Now, nationwide online services provide "perfect"  "organic fruits and vegetables for great prices. Farm co-ops in your area may also have great deals. 

The best part of buying all the right foods for your dog is that you can use many components to make your diet healthier! 

Many of the most common reasons for veterinary visits—poor oral health, diabetes, skin problems, gastrointestinal diseases, heart conditions, and obesity—may be avoided if you feed your dog a raw diet. Let's look at the cost of these conditions and how they contribute to the overall annual cost of keeping your dog healthy.

Skin and fur conditions are the most common complaints in a veterinary clinic. The causes of skin diseases are often nutrition-based. A deficiency in protein and essential fatty acids (EFA), including Omega-3, zinc, copper, vitamin A, or vitamin E, either singly or in combination, can cause chronic skin disorders and ear infections in your dog.

Clinical signs of skin disorders include hair loss, dry, itchy, flaky skin, thickening of the outer skin layer (hyperkeratosis), oily and yeasty-smelling skin, and open sores or hot spots. A typical veterinary visit for skin disorders can cost $200-$400, depending on the prescribed treatments. This is per visit. Skin problems often require numerous visits with multiple doses of anti-inflammatories, steroids, antibiotics, and antihistamine drugs. All of these medications harm your body. 

Common Medications for Skin Irritation and Negative Effects

The common medications used for skin irritations are Apoquel® and Cytopoint®. Long-term treatments can become costly and, over time, ineffective. Apoquel® is in tablet form so that it can be given at home, but an injection of Cytopoint® will include an office visit charge for each dose, running on average $75-$150 per injection, and must be repeated every 6-8 weeks.

According to the FDA, the potential use of Apoquell® carries a very high cost, causing the development of new neoplasms (tumors), both cancerous and non-cancerous. 

Grooming for dogs with skin disorders can be expensive. We want our dogs to be healthy and have soft fur. The tactile pleasure of petting your dog is vital to the human-dog bond. Maintaining a dog's coat with severe skin disorders is time-consuming and costly.

Ensuring your dog eats high-quality protein, essential fatty acids, and adequate zinc, copper, vitamin A, or vitamin E can prevent chronic skin and ear infections.

In dogs, gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorders can range from a simple case of vomiting and diarrhea to a life-threatening case of gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) or bloat. Imbalances of the gut microbiome often cause disorders such as leaky gut syndrome, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, chronic diarrhea, and inflammatory bowel disease.

These GI tract disorders require at least one veterinary visit for diagnostics and treatments. For most cases, bloodwork and other diagnostic procedures will be required. The typical cost of a full panel of blood tests ranges from $100-$200. 

Emergency surgery for a GDV case can cost $2000-$7500 or more, depending on the size of your dog, the type of complications, and the length of post-operative care.

It has been established that 75-85% of dogs have periodontal disease caused by plaque accumulation by two years of age! Annual dental exams with teeth cleaning average between $300-$700 or more, depending on the extent of damage to the teeth and gums. If teeth have to be removed, there are fees for each extraction. 

Risks associated with dental cleanings include the need for anesthesia and infection. Most veterinarians will prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. However, this only creates a different problem for your dog, disrupting his gut microbiome.

You can prevent most oral health diseases by feeding your dog a raw diet that includes raw meaty bones (RMBs) and whole animal parts that include fur and feathers to give his teeth natural brushing and flossing.

Type I diabetes in dogs has risen dramatically over the past 30 years, climbing nearly 80% since 2006! The initial diagnosis costs can range from $500 to $3,000, while maintaining a diabetic dog with insulin injections and constant monitoring of blood sugar levels will cost $100-$250 per month, depending on the size of your dog.

Why is there such a rise in diabetes in dogs fed kibble? Because the high carbohydrate level in kibble causes blood sugar fluctuations, it can lead to insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes. In human medicine, people are told to avoid foods containing complex carbohydrates like corn, soy, rice, and grains, yet these are the main components in dry dog food! Feeding your dog an ancestral raw diet of 80-85% protein, 5% liver, 5% other-secreting organs, and 5% fiber and fur will not experience drastic blood sugar fluctuations.

There are So Many More Expensive Medical Problems!

Maintaining your dog's health is instrumental in minimizing veterinary costs. The examples listed above are just a small sampling of conditions that can be avoided with proper nutrition. Heart disease, kidney disease, pancreatitis, and bone and joint disorders have nutritional components. When you feed your dog a natural species-appropriate diet, his body has the right tools to maintain good overall health.

Yes, it may be more expensive to feed raw than dry kibble monthly, but in the long run, the overall reduction in veterinary costs will counter that added cost. All cost estimates provided here were obtained from the pet insurance websites. Veterinary prices will vary according to the region of the country and the type of veterinary practice. 

As a pet parent, you need to establish your "food philosophy to be able to choose what diet you should feed your dog.

Many veterinary expenses can be avoided through preventative measures, especially by feeding a species-appropriate diet.

Check out the Real Dog Food Directory for a list of co-ops throughout the United States. The directory also provides tips on where to source many of your food components. 

Vet Visit Costs & Prices for Pets | CareCredit  

Answers in our Cost of Pet Health Care Report 2019  

The cost of having a dog is rising as prices of everything continue to increase. One of the common concerns about <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/raw-feeding">raw feeding</a> is the perceived expense. Yes, you will spend more monthly on food, but let's look at the big picture and see what you will save over your dog's lifetime by feeding fresh food. After all, food is just one expense related to your dog. Veterinary bills can actually be a much more significant expense. What if feeding a raw diet can actually reduce veterinary costs, both routine and unexpected emergency expenses?

There are hundreds of dog food brands and types. According to a 201 survey9, standard <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/kibble">kibble</a> products are the least expensive, averaging $2.00 per pound. A higher-quality kibble can run $3.75-$4.00 per pound. Dehydrated and freeze-dried options are more costly at $10.00 per pound and $33.00 per pound, respectively.

Check out the <a href="https://www.feedreal.com/raw-dog-food-directory">Real Dog Food  Directory</a> for a list of co-ops throughout the United States. The directory also provides tips on where to source many of your food components.

Many of the most common reasons for veterinary visits—poor oral health, diabetes, skin problems, gastrointestinal diseases, heart conditions, and <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/obesity">obesity</a>—may be avoided if you feed your dog a raw diet. Let's look at the cost of these conditions and how they contribute to the overall annual cost of keeping your dog healthy.

Skin and fur conditions are the most common complaints in a veterinary clinic. The causes of skin diseases are often nutrition-based. A deficiency in protein and essential <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/fatty-acids">fatty acids</a> (EFA), including <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/omega3">Omega-3</a>, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/zinc">zinc</a>, copper, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/vitamin-a">vitamin A</a>, or <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/vitamin-e">vitamin E</a>, either singly or in combination, can cause <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/chronic">chronic</a> skin disorders and ear infections in your dog.

Clinical signs of skin disorders include hair loss, dry, itchy, flaky skin, thickening of the outer skin layer (hyperkeratosis), oily and yeasty-smelling skin, and open sores or hot spots. A typical veterinary visit for skin disorders can cost $200-$400, depending on the prescribed treatments. This is per visit. Skin problems often require numerous visits with multiple doses of anti-inflammatories, steroids, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/antibiotics">antibiotics</a>, and <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/antihistamine">antihistamine</a> drugs. All of these medications harm your body. 

The common medications used for skin irritations are <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/apoquel">Apoquel</a>® and Cytopoint®. Long-term treatments can become costly and, over time, ineffective. Apoquel® is in tablet form so that it can be given at home, but an injection of Cytopoint® will include an office visit charge for each dose, running on average $75-$150 per injection, and must be repeated every 6-8 weeks.

In dogs, gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorders can range from a simple case of vomiting and diarrhea to a life-threatening case of gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) or bloat. Imbalances of the <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/gut-microbiome">gut microbiome</a> often cause disorders such as leaky gut syndrome, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, chronic diarrhea, and inflammatory bowel disease.

It has been established that 75-85% of dogs have <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/periodontal-disease">periodontal disease</a> caused by <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/plaque">plaque</a> accumulation by two years of age! Annual dental exams with teeth cleaning average between $300-$700 or more, depending on the extent of damage to the teeth and gums. If teeth have to be removed, there are fees for each extraction. 

Why is there such a rise in diabetes in dogs fed kibble? Because the high carbohydrate level in kibble causes blood sugar fluctuations, it can lead to <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/insulin-resistance">insulin resistance</a> or Type 2 diabetes. In human medicine, people are told to avoid foods containing complex <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/carbohydrates">carbohydrates</a> like <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/corn">corn</a>, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/soy">soy</a>, rice, and grains, yet these are the main components in dry dog food! Feeding your dog an ancestral raw diet of 80-85% protein, 5% liver, 5% other-secreting organs, and 5% fiber and fur will not experience drastic blood sugar fluctuations.

Maintaining your dog's health is instrumental in minimizing veterinary costs. The examples listed above are just a small sampling of conditions that can be avoided with proper nutrition. Heart disease, kidney disease, <a href="https://feedreal.com/glossary/pancreatitis">pancreatitis</a>, and bone and joint disorders have nutritional components. When you feed your dog a natural species-appropriate diet, his body has the right tools to maintain good overall health.

Is Feeding Fresh Food Expensive?

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