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 mathematics and Yikes! Feeding three Dachshunds the best way I’ve been feeding two will value 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 data doesn’t immediate you to alter what you might be presently feeding your canines, it might be useful to you later.
How A lot Will it Value to Feed One Dachshund Per Month?
The minimal value for feeding decrease value, descent high quality kibble is round $41 monthly and the utmost is round $71.
Feeding your Dachshund commercially ready uncooked pet food will doubtless value someplace between $102 and $180 monthly.
It shocked me a little bit that feeding moist pet food can value simply as a lot or greater than feeding a uncooked food plan.
The month-to-month value for feeding a descent to top quality canned pet food ranged from $106 to $240.
You’ll be able to anticipate to pay someplace between $40 to $300 monthly to feed a miniature Dachshund.
Some individuals wish to feed their Dachshund uncooked meals however don’t wish 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 an alternative.
The fee for that may prime out at round a whopping $300 a month for a miniature Dachshund.
After all, the meals value 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 value estimates.
What Are The Major Components That Affect the Month-to-month Value of Canine Meals?
Determining how a lot it’s going to value you to feed your Dachshund a month is extra sophisticated than simply value searching for meals.
The largest components that may 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 might comprise 30 energy, whereas a ounce of one other meals might comprise 100 energy.
In case your Dachshund wants 350 energy a meal (see this text to calculate the variety of energy your Dachshund wants), you might must feed 11 ounces of 1 meals and solely 3.5 ounces of one other.
Since pet food is bought 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.
Under, I’ve damaged down the associated 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 assessment 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 typically correct for years to come back 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 take into account feeding, my Dachshunds.
- My miniature Dachshunds weighs round 11 lbs, and are reasonably lively, and require a mean of 450 energy per day to take care of their ultimate weight. This variety of energy is what I used for my calculations.
- I selected chicken-based formulations usually 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 scale back the associated 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, contemporary uncooked pet food, as a result of it will probably usually solely be obtained regionally or from a mail subscription service, I received costs from my native pet retailer in Seattle or immediately 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 information, I transitioned each canines to grain free kibble an then contemporary, frozen uncooked pet food.
Whereas my Dachshunds nonetheless primarily eat a uncooked food plan, they do eat kibble occasionally.
I’d 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’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?
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 want so as to add a little bit of canned meals as nicely.
Generally, I feed them canned meals alone.
As a result of I want to feed them simply canned meals over kibble, checked out what it could value to solely feed them that kind of meals.
What Does It Value to Feed a Dachshund Uncooked Meals?
To me, the one true uncooked meals is frozen, contemporary meat. It’s very minimally processed and accommodates 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 load of my backpack issues.
I created two separate comparability charts for these meals varieties as a result of the associated fee is just not immediately comparable as a result of lack of water (moisture) within the freeze dried uncooked.
Notice: If you’re interested by feeding your Dachshund uncooked meals, learn this text 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 contemporary, frozen uncooked, and is the most costly meals kind to feed total.
Month-to-month Budgeting for Canine Meals and Making My Selection
I haven’t made my ultimate resolution 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 gained’t compromise my Dachshund’s well being to save lots of a buck.
Nonetheless, the fact 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 appropriate steadiness, which is the primary factor stopping me from making a selection – I’m nonetheless researching components and meals to ensure I’ve chosen the perfect one.
My funds
Whereas I’d accept having the ability to feed 3 miniature Dachshunds for a similar value that I’ve been feeding two, my ultimate purpose can be to feed three whereas lowering that value.
If I had my approach, I’d be capable of preserve an identical high quality food plan to what I’m presently feeding whereas lowering my month-to-month value to $250, however that’s not affordable.
After performing some preliminary calculations, $400 is a greater estimate of what it’s going to value, though I’d be completely happy if I may convey that value all the way down to $350.
Accounting for different components
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 each 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 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 value every month.
I’ll doubtless account for these prices in later calculations however, for now, I simply needed to take a look at the meals itself.
I’ll doubtless 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 would like see the meals my Dachshunds eat. I’ll in all probability replace the record with funds choices sooner or later.