I simply introduced house my third Dachshund, so I’m re-examining how a lot it value to feed my canines.
After 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 best way I’ve been feeding two will value as a lot as a automobile 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 data doesn’t immediate you to alter what you might be presently feeding your canines, it could be useful to you later.
How A lot Will it Price to Feed One Dachshund Per Month?
The minimal value for feeding decrease value, descent high quality kibble is round $41 per thirty days and the utmost is round $71.
Feeding your Dachshund commercially ready uncooked pet food will possible value someplace between $102 and $180 per thirty days.
It stunned me a little bit that feeding moist pet food can value simply as a lot or greater than feeding a uncooked weight loss program.
The month-to-month value for feeding a descent to top quality canned pet food ranged from $106 to $240.
You possibly can anticipate to pay someplace between $40 to $300 per thirty days to feed a miniature Dachshund.
Some folks need to feed their Dachshund uncooked meals however don’t need to take up freezer area 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 price for that can high out at round a whopping $300 a month for a miniature Dachshund.
In fact, the meals value will improve 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 value estimates.
What Are The Main Components That Affect the Month-to-month Price of Canine Meals?
Determining how a lot it would value you to feed your Dachshund a month is extra difficult than simply value looking for meals.
The largest elements that can affect the month-to-month value 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 could include 30 energy, whereas a ounce of one other meals could include 100 energy.
In case your Dachshund wants 350 energy a meal (see this text to calculate the variety of energy your Dachshund wants), it’s possible you’ll must feed 11 ounces of 1 meals and solely 3.5 ounces of one other.
Since pet food is offered as value 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.
Beneath, I’ve damaged down the fee to feed a Dachshund by meals kind, itemizing a number of manufacturers, and thus a variety, in every class.
My Strategies and Assumptions When Calculating Meals Prices
Some issues to bear in mind while you evaluate my Dachshund meals value calculations are:
- My analysis was performed in January of 2024. Whereas the costs are most related nearer to that date, they are going to be usually correct for years to come back as a result of the price of pet food doesn’t fluctuate that a lot.
- This data is primarily meant for myself. Because of this, I selected to check canine meals that I mostly feed, or would take into account feeding, my Dachshunds.
- My miniature Dachshunds weighs round 11 lbs, and are reasonably lively, and require a median of 450 energy per day to take care of their excellent weight. This variety of energy is what I used for my calculations.
- I selected chicken-based formulations usually as a result of virtually 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 scale back the fee.
- I didn’t use sale costs for these meals, however shopping for on sale will, in fact, 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 may well usually solely be obtained regionally or from a mail subscription service, I obtained costs from my native pet retailer in Seattle or immediately from the corporate.
Now, let’s discuss numbers…..
Disclosure: Lots of the hyperlinks on this pate are affiliate hyperlinks (Amazon Affiliate or different packages we take part in). As an affiliate, I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases.
How I Calculated Every day and Month-to-month Meal Prices – the Math
In case you need to calculate the every day and month-to-month value for a meals that isn’t on this listing, that is the way you do it.
- Step 1: Value of meals/ounces of meals per bag, can, or case of cans = value per ounce of meals
- Step 2: Energy listed on the again of the bag (this will probably be listed in kcal, which is only a calorie) in kcal/kg/35.27 (the variety of ounces in 1 kg) = energy per ounce of meals
- Step 3: the variety of energy your canine must eat in a day (you possibly can determine that out HERE)/energy per ounce (calculated above) = variety of ounces of the meals your canine must eat a day
- Step 4: variety of ounces of meals your canine must eat in a day x value per ounce of meals = value per day to feed your canine
- Step 5: value per day to feed your canine x variety of days within the month (I used 30 days in my calculations under for a good comparability) = value per thirty days to feed your canine
Notice: “x” means I multiplied, and “/” means I divided
Beneath are the prices for the meals that I calculated. I’ll possible add to the charts if I calculate the prices of further meals.
What Does It Price 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 information, 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 from time to time.
I might take into account going again to a 50-50 uncooked and non uncooked (canned and or kibble) to cut back my month-to-month feeding prices although.
To match, I calculated prices for one of many lowest high quality kibbles I might feed, one of many highest, and some in-between.
Notice: slide the charts to the left (to see what’s on the best facet) in case you are on cell to see value per ounce and energy per ounce.
How A lot What Does It Price to Feed a Dachshund Moist (Canned) Canine Meals?
After 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 choose so as to add a little bit of canned meals as nicely.
Generally, I feed them canned meals alone.
As a result of I choose to feed them simply canned meals over kibble, checked out what it might value to solely feed them that kind of meals.
What Does It Price to Feed a Dachshund Uncooked Meals?
To me, the one true uncooked meals is frozen, recent meat. It’s very minimally processed and accommodates the unique moisture ranges.
Nonetheless, I do feed my Dachshund freeze dried uncooked generally once we journey, and at all times once we are backpacking and the load of my backpack issues.
I created two separate comparability charts for these meals varieties as a result of the fee is just not immediately comparable because of the lack of water (moisture) within the freeze dried uncooked.
Notice: In case you are occupied with feeding your Dachshund uncooked meals, learn this text first.
Contemporary Frozen Uncooked Canine Meals
Freeze Dried Uncooked Canine Meals
As you possibly can see, it’s unequivocal that freeze dried uncooked pet food is dearer than recent, frozen uncooked, and is the most costly meals kind to feed general.
Month-to-month Budgeting for Canine Meals and Making My Selection
I haven’t made my last choice about what kinds of meals, or what manufacturers, I’ll feed my Dachshunds going ahead, however listed here are the elements I’m weighing.
High quality of meals
I gained’t compromise my Dachshund’s well being to save lots of a buck.
Nonetheless, the truth is that I can’t maintain 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 seek out the best steadiness, which is the primary factor stopping me from making a alternative – I’m nonetheless researching substances and meals to verify I’ve chosen the most effective one.
My finances
Whereas I might accept with the ability to feed 3 miniature Dachshunds for a similar value that I’ve been feeding two, my excellent purpose could be to feed three whereas lowering that value.
If I had my means, I might be capable to preserve an identical high quality weight loss program to what I’m presently feeding whereas lowering my month-to-month value to $250, however that isn’t affordable.
After performing some preliminary calculations, $400 is a greater estimate of what it would value, though I might be completely happy if I might deliver that value all the way down to $350.
Accounting for different elements
Apart from their regular meal, my Dachshunds additionally eat coaching treats, pure chews, and get food-stuffed enrichment toys.
Whereas these things rely towards their every day calorie allowance, thus lowering the quantity of meals given at meals, they value simply as a lot or greater than pet food.
I additionally give my Dachshunds dietary supplements.
Dietary supplements could be costly to buy, however typically final a number of months.
In different phrases, the price of the complement(s) could hit in a selected month however I solely “use” a portion of that value every month.
I’ll possible account for these prices in later calculations however, for now, I simply wished to take a look at the meals itself.
I’ll possible return to feeding kibble with a little bit of canned at one meal and frozen uncooked for the opposite. Not less than for now.
Take a look at my article if you need see the meals my Dachshunds eat. I’ll in all probability replace the listing with finances choices sooner or later.
