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Is feeding raw expensive?

Author

Sophia Bowman

Updated on February 22, 2026

Is feeding raw expensive?

While feeding raw is admittedly more expensive than even the highest-quality kibble, there are ways for pet owners to feed your pup raw dog food on a budget. Let's start with some of the simplest.

Keeping this in consideration, is it more expensive to raw feed a dog?

Feeding your dog with raw food typically costs more than feeding with an average, processed wet or dry food. If you want to feed raw but find it expensive, here are some tips to save money feeding raw. Type of Meat: Buy lots of chicken meals, since chicken is generally the cheapest type of raw dog food.

Secondly, how much does it cost to feed a dog raw per month? Homemade raw dog food – about $120 per month

If you want to spend significantly less on homemade raw dog food, you really need to buy directly from a butcher or buy in bulk. You can easily cut your costs for meat in half by shopping this way.

Then, why is raw feeding so expensive?

Raw dog food will save you money

The high-quality, natural ingredients like meat, vegetables and berries or specialist meats direct from farm suppliers. So the price you see for various amounts of food you order is all you pay. The more you buy, the less you pay.

Is it cheaper to make or buy raw dog food?

Making your own raw dog food has the advantage of giving you complete control over what your dog eats. It's also more cost effective to make your own than to buy pre-made raw food from a store.

Is raw food more expensive than kibble?

Generally speaking, a raw diet is more expensive than canned food or kibble. When you purchase premade raw food, you're paying for the sourcing and balancing of ingredients as well as packaging and delivery.

Can I feed raw and kibble?

Since we know that dogs fed kibble still maintain a healthy acidic pH level and that kibble doesn't digest slower than raw food, mixing kibble with raw is safe to do. From what we know now, mixing kibble and raw is okay to do in a healthy dog and a great option for dog owners.

What is the cost of raw dog food?

The cost of a raw dog food diet varies with the ingredients used and how it is prepared. For a 30-pound dog, a one-day supply of one variety of a frozen, commercially available raw chicken diet costs about $2.50; others may range up to $5 a day. A super-premium, commercial dry dog food costs about $1.

Is it cheaper to cook for your dog?

A balanced, home-cooked diet for a 30-pound dog would cost $3.52 per day; $5.58 if you go organic. That's 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.

Can I feed kibble in morning and raw at night?

Kibble in the Morning, Raw at Night

This is great as both a long-term solution and as a way to transition to a fully raw diet. Between the morning meal and the evening meal, your dog's body will have plenty of time to fully digest the food. The starch will no longer have an effect on the pH level.

Is Bella and Duke ok for puppies?

About Bella & Duke raw puppy food

Our raw puppy food is designed to provide your puppy with all the nutrients they require to flourish and thrive. We deliver an easily digestible spectrum of protein, macro-nutrients & healthy fats, along with the required vitamins and minerals.

How much does it cost to feed a dog per day?

How much does a fresh dog food diet actually cost?
Dog SizeDog Weight (lbs)Fresh Food Daily Cost
Small/Medium20 - 30 lbs$5 - $6 per day
Medium30 - 40 lbs$7 per day
Medium/Large40 - 50 lbs$8 per day
Large50 - 70 lbs$10 per day

How can I feed raw cheaply?

5 Tips to Feed Your Dog Raw on a Kibble Budget
  1. Feed One Raw Meal a Day, Instead of Two.
  2. Use Raw as a Tasty, High-Value Treat.
  3. Make Raw an Occasional Meal.
  4. Buy in Bulk.
  5. Spend Your Money on Great Food, Not Veterinary Bills.

What are the pros and cons of a raw food diet?

Pros and Cons of Raw Dog Food
Pros of feeding the raw dog foodCons of feeding the raw dog food
The raw food diet helps in getting the smaller and firm stool.Dogs can also suffer from diarrhea and bowel constructions because of eating raw dog food.

How much does it cost to raw feed a German shepherd?

German Shepherd Raw Diet Cost

We calculated the average price per pound for the most popular, high-end raw commercial foods in the market to be $6.4, with lower-end raw options costing $3.8 per pound.

How do you raw feed a dog?

It's as simple as buying ground meat or chunks and putting them in your dog's bowl. But balance is important. This means feeding a diet that's about 10% to 20% fat total, including any fats like fish oil that you add to your dog's raw diet. The remaining foundation of your dog's raw meals will be protein.

Can you lose weight on a raw diet?

You'll probably lose weight on this diet, since most of its foods are low in calories, fat, and sodium, and high in fiber. One study found that people who followed a raw foods diet lost a significant amount of weight. You'll also get nutritional perks.

What is the cheapest way to feed your dog?

8 Budget Tips for Feeding Dogs
  • Cost and Quality. A more expensive dog food may cost more to purchase but it may actually be the better bargain in the long run.
  • Homemade Diets can Work.
  • Use a Base Formula.
  • Buy in Bulk.
  • Sources of Quality Meats.
  • Find a Local Egg Source.
  • Check out Farmer's Markets.
  • Plant a Garden.

Can I feed my dog raw ground chicken?

Considering how many dog foods contain chicken as an ingredient, it's a safe bet that you can feed your dog chicken. Most sources recommend against raw chicken, due to the risk of salmonella or bacterial infections, although the movement toward raw food, including raw chicken and raw chicken bones, is growing.

Should I feed dog raw meat?

Yes, dogs can eat raw meat. RuthAnn Lobos, a Purina veterinarian, says feeding a diet consisting primarily of raw meat may not provide the complete and balanced nutrition your dog needs.

Is rice good for dogs?

Safe: Cooked White Rice and Pasta. Dogs can eat plain white rice or pasta after it's cooked. And, a serving of plain white rice with some boiled chicken can sometimes make your dog feel better when they are having stomach problems.

What cheap meat can I feed my dog?

Eggs, plain raw yogurt, and beef trimmings (beef fat). Anything that you might have available locally: lamb necks, lamb tails, whole fish, deer, rabbit farms, etc. I have seen some recommendations to use roadkill, but here in the tropics, this is not an option I would ever want to use.

What can I mix with raw dog food?

Some salad is still better than no salad!
  • Raw Eggs.
  • Goat's Milk.
  • Kefir.
  • Sardines.
  • Pumpkin Puree.
  • Bone Broth.
  • Fresh Vegetables & Fruit.
  • Fermented Vegetables.