I simply introduced residence my third Dachshund, so I’m re-examining how a lot it price to feed my canine.
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 mathematics and Yikes! Feeding three Dachshunds the way in which I’ve been feeding two will price as a lot as a automotive cost!
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 canine, it could be useful to you later.
How A lot Will it Price to Feed One Dachshund Per Month?
The minimal price for feeding decrease price, 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 seemingly price someplace between $102 and $180 per thirty days.
It shocked me somewhat that feeding moist pet food can price simply as a lot or greater than feeding a uncooked food regimen.
The month-to-month price for feeding a descent to prime quality canned pet food ranged from $106 to $240.
You may anticipate to pay someplace between $40 to $300 per thirty days to feed a miniature Dachshund.
Some folks wish to feed their Dachshund uncooked meals however don’t wish 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 can high out at round a whopping $300 a month for a miniature Dachshund.
After all, the meals price will enhance with a number of canine 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 Components That Affect the Month-to-month Price of Canine Meals?
Determining how a lot it’ll price you to feed your Dachshund a month is extra difficult than simply worth searching for meals.
The most important components that can 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
Completely different canine meals have totally different calorie densities, so an oz. of 1 meals could comprise 30 energy, whereas a ounce of one other meals could comprise 100 energy.
In case your Dachshund wants 350 energy a meal (see this text to calculate the number of calories your Dachshund needs), you could have to 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 price to feed a Dachshund by meals sort, 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 if you overview 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 usually correct for years to return as a result of the price of pet food doesn’t fluctuate that a lot.
- This data is primarily supposed for myself. Because of this, I selected to check canine meals that I mostly feed, or would think about feeding, my Dachshunds.
- My miniature Dachshunds weighs round 11 lbs, and are reasonably energetic, and require a median of 450 energy per day to keep up their best 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 baggage 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 price.
- 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 might sometimes solely be obtained regionally or from a mail subscription service, I obtained costs from my native pet retailer in Seattle or instantly from the corporate.
Now, let’s discuss numbers…..
Disclosure: Lots of the hyperlinks on this web page are affiliate links (Amazon Affiliate or different packages we take part in). As an affiliate, I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases.
How I Calculated Each day and Month-to-month Meal Prices – the Math
In case you wish to calculate the day by day and month-to-month price 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 = price 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 may 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 price per ounce of meals = price per day to feed your canine
- Step 5: price 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) = price per thirty days to feed your canine
Be aware: “x” means I multiplied, and “/” means I divided
Under are the prices for the meals that I calculated. I’ll seemingly 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 12 months the place I realized extra about pet food vitamin.
Armed with extra information, I transitioned each canine to grain free kibble an then recent, frozen uncooked pet food.
Whereas my Dachshunds nonetheless primarily eat a uncooked food regimen, they do eat kibble now and again.
I might think about 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 might feed, one of many highest, and some in-between.
Be aware: slide the charts to the left (to see what’s on the appropriate facet) if you’re on cell to see price per ounce and energy per ounce.
How A lot What Does It Price 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 want so as to add a little bit of canned meals as properly.
Typically, I feed them canned meals alone.
As a result of I want to feed them simply canned meals over kibble, checked out what it might price to solely feed them that sort 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.
Nevertheless, I do feed my Dachshund freeze dried uncooked generally after we journey, and at all times after we are backpacking and the load of my backpack issues.
I created two separate comparability charts for these meals sorts as a result of the price just isn’t instantly comparable as a result of lack of water (moisture) within the freeze dried uncooked.
Be aware: In case you are enthusiastic about feeding your Dachshund uncooked meals, learn this article first.
Recent Frozen Uncooked Canine Meals
Freeze Dried Uncooked Canine Meals
As you may 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 Selection
I haven’t made my last choice about what forms of meals, or what manufacturers, I’ll feed my Dachshunds going ahead, however listed below are the components I’m weighing.
High quality of meals
I received’t compromise my Dachshund’s well being to save lots of a buck.
Nevertheless, 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 canine.
I’ve to search out the appropriate steadiness, which is the primary factor stopping me from making a alternative – I’m nonetheless researching elements and meals to verify I’ve chosen one of the best one.
My finances
Whereas I might accept with the ability to feed 3 miniature Dachshunds for a similar price that I’ve been feeding two, my best purpose could be to feed three whereas decreasing that price.
If I had my method, I might be capable to preserve an identical high quality food regimen to what I am currently feeding whereas decreasing my month-to-month price to $250, however that isn’t affordable.
After performing some preliminary calculations, $400 is a greater estimate of what it’ll price, though I might be joyful if I may convey that price all the way down to $350.
Accounting for different components
Moreover their regular meal, my Dachshunds additionally eat training treats, natural chews, and get food-stuffed enrichment toys.
Whereas this stuff rely towards their day by day calorie allowance, thus decreasing the quantity of meals given at meals, they price simply as a lot or greater than pet food.
I additionally give my Dachshunds supplements.
Dietary supplements could be costly to buy, however usually final a number of months.
In different phrases, the price of the complement(s) could hit in a specific month however I solely “use” a portion of that price every month.
I’ll seemingly account for these prices in later calculations however, for now, I simply wished to take a look at the meals itself.
I’ll seemingly return to feeding kibble with a little bit of canned at one meal and frozen uncooked for the opposite. A minimum of for now.
Take a look at my article if you’d like see the food my Dachshunds eat. I’ll in all probability replace the listing with finances choices sooner or later.
