Feeding your dog the cheapest food is not a wise thing. These usually have animal fat, soybean meal, bone meal, and even BHA which can cause cancer.On the other hand, raw food is much better but also more expensive. Cheap and healthy raw diet for my dog is something you can make by yourself.
Here we will teach you how you can do it and what you need to do. Your dog will benefit from his food and he will be happier than ever before.
Why Is Commercial Raw Food So Expensive?
Commercial dog food is available all over the world and you can see countless options available. But it is still not better than a cheap and healthy raw diet for my dog you can make at home. In simple terms, commercial food is expensive because it is premium and companies know that.
They will charge more for this food. A large dog can eat tons of this food meaning you will need hundreds of dollars per month for food only.
As you can see there are two main options. One is to get cheaper food which is not that great and the second option is the one we are presenting here. It is to make a raw diet plan for your dog by yourself. You can do it and it is more affordable than you may believe.
Cheap Raw Ingredients
At the end of the day, it all comes to ingredients. A good thing here is that you have a lot of cheap options out there that are healthy, delicious, and easily available. This is the most important part of the process. Once you know which ingredients to use, you can mix and match and also try to be original. Maybe you will make something that your pet adores. Anyway, let’s see the best and the cheapest ingredients you can get.
- Pig head, pork neck, and pork intestine.
- Chicken backs, chicken carcasses without breasts, chicken feet, and chicken necks. You can find these in a local poultry slaughterhouse or even in your grocery store. The latter option is not that common but possible.
- Beef lungs, beef kidneys, heart, pancreas, etc. Here you have tons of options and they are great for dogs.
The best part is the fact these are only a few examples. You do have a lot more options. For instance, you can find locally lamb necks or tails, whole fish, vegetable peeling, etc. One interesting option is free fruit and vegetables you can find easily. These are bruised and are not going to end up for sale. But you can get these cheaply for your dog. They are still healthy and delicious.
We know that some dog owners will recommend road kill as well. It is free. This is not a great idea and you should avoid it. All of the ingredients we have here are actually healthy and they are something you can eat as well. Of course, most of these don’t sound or look great but they are still healthy. In most cases, you get the same nutrients and ingredients as in raw commercial food.
Don’t Worry About AAFCO
Now you can say that these ingredients are not approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials or AAFCO. But, you don’t need to worry about that.
These ingredients are not bad and they are still healthy. If you believe that they don’t have vitamins but commercial raw food has, you are wrong. All the foods you will cook at 290 degrees Fahrenheit will lose the vitamins so a dog will get the same type of food.
Additional Things You Need To Know
Once you know which ingredients are cheap but also healthy you can mix and match. Try to find all the ingredients your dog needs. Keep in mind that meat, fruits, and vegetables are great when you mix these together. At the same time, they make a complete diet.
Don’t use just one of two ingredients from the list. Feed your dog different ones every single day and ideally, you would like each meal to be different. By using this method you can make sure that the dog will enjoy all the nutrients, vitamins, and more. These ingredients are still loaded with nutrients and vitamins dogs need so you don’t need to worry about anything.
The next thing you need to know about is that plain foods of this kind are the best. Avoid using sauces, seasonings and spices. These can be toxic for dogs and they can cause a lot of issues. For example, onions and garlic are toxic for dogs and they can cause severe health problems.
We are adding this here because some dog owners will try to make this food look and smell better. This may be important if you want to eat it. But, dogs are looking at the food in a different way so they don’t need seasoning and spices. They like plain food best and this is something they will prefer actually.
When introducing new food to a dog, start slowly. Allow him to adapt as long as he needs and always start with small portions and then increase them until you find the perfect amount. Be free to talk to your vet about this matter. Most vets will recommend this option and you can imagine why. There are no big disadvantages here.
The Final Word
There are a lot of options you have available. But, a cheap and healthy raw diet for my dog is the best option. Your pet will get all the perks of expensive raw food but you will save money.
Yes, this needs some time to adapt for but it is something most dog owners and most dogs will manage. If you want the same nutritional benefits for your dog, then you need commercial, expensive raw food that will cost you thousands of dollars per month.