I simply introduced house my third Dachshund, so I’m re-examining how a lot it price to feed my canines.
Once I solely owned one or two Dachshunds, I didn’t care how a lot I used to be spending on their meals.
However now I’ve three mouths to feed.
I did the maths and Yikes! Feeding three Dachshunds the way in which I’ve been feeding two will price as a lot as a automotive fee!
I re-evaluated the meals I’m feeding them, and didn’t need my hours of analysis to go to waste, so I summarized it on this article.
Even when the knowledge doesn’t immediate you to vary what you might be at present feeding your canines, it might be useful to you later.
How A lot Will it Value to Feed One Dachshund Per Month?
The minimal price for feeding decrease price, descent high quality kibble is round $41 per 30 days and the utmost is round $71.
Feeding your Dachshund commercially ready uncooked pet food will probably price someplace between $102 and $180 per 30 days.
It shocked me a little bit that feeding moist pet food can price simply as a lot or greater than feeding a uncooked weight loss program.
The month-to-month price for feeding a descent to top quality canned pet food ranged from $106 to $240.
You may anticipate to pay someplace between $40 to $300 per 30 days to feed a miniature Dachshund.
Some individuals need to feed their Dachshund uncooked meals however don’t need to take up freezer house with it, deal with the meat, or fear about thawing parts earlier than hand, in order that they select to feed freeze dried uncooked as a substitute.
The associated fee for that may prime out at round a whopping $300 a month for a miniature Dachshund.
After all, the meals price will enhance with a number of canines within the family, particularly if one additionally owns a bigger breed canine.
Learn on to see which meals I analyzed and the way I arrived at these price estimates.
What Are The Major Elements That Affect the Month-to-month Value of Canine Meals?
Determining how a lot it is going to price you to feed your Dachshund a month is extra difficult than simply worth looking for meals.
The largest components that may affect the month-to-month price of pet food are:
- What number of energy your Dachshund must eat a day
- The kind of meals – canned, kibble, or uncooked
- The calorie density of the meals
Totally different canine meals have totally different calorie densities, so an oz. of 1 meals might include 30 energy, whereas a ounce of one other meals might include 100 energy.
In case your Dachshund wants 350 energy a meal (see this text to calculate the variety of energy your Dachshund wants), you could must feed 11 ounces of 1 meals and solely 3.5 ounces of one other.
Since pet food is bought as worth per quantity (ex. 5 lbs, or 80 ounces, per bag at $35.99 per bag), the meals with the decrease calorie density can find yourself costing you extra.
Under, I’ve damaged down the associated fee to feed a Dachshund by meals sort, itemizing a number of manufacturers, and thus a spread, in every class.
My Strategies and Assumptions When Calculating Meals Prices
Some issues to remember if you evaluation my Dachshund meals price calculations are:
- My analysis was carried out in January of 2024. Whereas the costs are most related nearer to that date, they are going to be typically correct for years to return as a result of the price of pet food doesn’t fluctuate that a lot.
- This info is primarily meant for myself. Because of this, I selected to check canine meals that I mostly feed, or would contemplate feeding, my Dachshunds.
- My miniature Dachshunds weighs round 11 lbs, and are reasonably lively, and require a median of 450 energy per day to keep up their ultimate weight. This variety of energy is what I used for my calculations.
- I selected chicken-based formulations most often as a result of nearly each model makes one and consistency in protein supply permits for a extra correct comparability.
- I used 4-6 lb luggage of kibble for my calculations, as a result of shopping for smaller portions permits the meals for use earlier than it goes rancid. Shopping for in bulk can cut back the associated fee.
- I didn’t use sale costs for these meals, however shopping for on sale will, after all, prevent cash.
- Used Chewy and Amazon for costs for canned, kibble and the freeze dried uncooked canine meals. For frozen, recent uncooked pet food, as a result of it will possibly sometimes solely be obtained regionally or from a mail subscription service, I received costs from my native pet retailer in Seattle or instantly from the corporate.
Now, let’s discuss numbers…..
Disclosure: Most of the hyperlinks on this pate are affiliate hyperlinks (Amazon Affiliate or different applications we take part in). As an affiliate, I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases.
What Does It Value to Feed a Dachshund Kibble?
My first Dachshund ate low to moderate-quality kibble for the primary 6 years of his life. He was my first canine as an grownup and I didn’t know higher.
By the point I had adopted my second Dachshund, I had labored at a pet retailer for over a yr the place I realized extra about pet food vitamin.
Armed with extra data, I transitioned each canines to grain free kibble an then recent, frozen uncooked pet food.
Whereas my Dachshunds nonetheless primarily eat a uncooked weight loss program, they do eat kibble every now and then.
I’d contemplate going again to a 50-50 uncooked and non uncooked (canned and or kibble) to scale back my month-to-month feeding prices although.
To match, I calculated prices for one of many lowest high quality kibbles I’d feed, one of many highest, and some in-between.
How A lot What Does It Value to Feed a Dachshund Moist (Canned) Canine Meals?
Once I feed my Dachshunds kibble, it’s by no means simply out of the bag.
I generally, I add water to their kibble, however I desire so as to add a little bit of canned meals as properly.
Typically, I feed them canned meals alone.
As a result of I desire to feed them simply canned meals over kibble, checked out what it will price to solely feed them that sort of meals.
What Does It Value to Feed a Dachshund Uncooked Meals?
To me, the one true uncooked meals is frozen, recent meat. It’s very minimally processed and comprises the unique moisture ranges.
Nonetheless, I do feed my Dachshund freeze dried uncooked generally after we journey, and all the time after we are backpacking and the burden of my backpack issues.
I created two separate comparability charts for these meals varieties as a result of the associated fee just isn’t instantly comparable because of the lack of water (moisture) within the freeze dried uncooked.
Observe: In case you are fascinated by feeding your Dachshund uncooked meals, learn this text first.
Recent Frozen Uncooked Canine Meals
Freeze Dried Uncooked Canine Meals
As you possibly can see, it’s unequivocal that freeze dried uncooked pet food is costlier than recent, frozen uncooked, and is the most costly meals sort to feed total.
Month-to-month Budgeting for Canine Meals and Making My Alternative
I haven’t made my ultimate choice about what kinds of meals, or what manufacturers, I’ll feed my Dachshunds going ahead, however listed here are the components I’m weighing.
High quality of meals
I received’t compromise my Dachshund’s well being to avoid wasting a buck.
Nonetheless, the truth is that I can’t hold spending the $500+ a month on my unbridled, and considerably fiscally unconscious, shopping for of no matter I really feel like for my canines.
I’ve to search out the precise stability, which is the principle factor stopping me from making a selection – I’m nonetheless researching elements and meals to verify I’ve chosen the most effective one.
My price range
Whereas I’d accept with the ability to feed 3 miniature Dachshunds for a similar price that I’ve been feeding two, my ultimate purpose can be to feed three whereas lowering that price.
If I had my manner, I’d be capable of preserve the same high quality weight loss program to what I’m at present feeding whereas lowering my month-to-month price to $250, however that isn’t cheap.
After doing a little preliminary calculations, $400 is a greater estimate of what it is going to price, though I’d be pleased if I may convey that price right down to $350.
Accounting for different components
In addition to their regular meal, my Dachshunds additionally eat coaching treats, pure chews, and get food-stuffed enrichment toys.
Whereas these things rely towards their day by day calorie allowance, thus lowering the quantity of meals given at meals, they price simply as a lot or greater than pet food.
I additionally give my Dachshunds dietary supplements.
Dietary supplements may be costly to buy, however typically final a number of months.
In different phrases, the price of the complement(s) might hit in a selected month however I solely “use” a portion of that price every month.
I’ll probably account for these prices in later calculations however, for now, I simply wished to take a look at the meals itself.
I’ll probably return to feeding kibble with a little bit of canned at one meal and frozen uncooked for the opposite. At the least for now.
Try my article if you’d like see the meals my Dachshunds eat. I’ll in all probability replace the checklist with price range choices sooner or later.
