[Dog_Obsessed]

Oops, I meant NuriSource, not Nutro. Nutro is pretty good too, but the price is about average for a food of that quality, not particularly budget friendly.

• This reply was modified 11 years ago by Dog_Obsessed.
• This reply was modified 11 years ago by Dog_Obsessed.

[crazy4cats]

OooH! A Christmas puppy! Fun, fun, fun! I don’t think a border collie is considered a large breed, is it? IF not, then calcium isn’t that much of a concern. First of all, I’d try to find out what puppy is eating now and buy some. It’s best to keep them on the same food they are currently eating for a while until they get acclamated to their new home. Once things are settled, you can slowly transition to a new food. IMO, it’s not necessary to spend $100 on a bag of food. I choose to buy budget friendly kibble and add a little extra canned, fresh or frozen protein to it to make it more nutritional.

You could always print the best puppy foods list and take it with you to the store to see what is available locally. It would be great if you could post a picture of your pup when you get it. Good luck!

[Dog_Obsessed]

There are some budget friendly options that are good! Nutro is a good option, and is usually pretty easy to transition to. I know a lot of forum users really like Victor, and from what I understand it is pretty budget-friendly if you can find it in a store (I can’t). Other good budget friendly foods are Earthborn Holistic, Dr. Tims, and Merrick/Whole Earth Farms. If you can’t find these brands locally, Chewy.com has a pretty good selection. I’m sure other users will give their suggestions, too. Good luck!

[Elizabeth G]

I am not sure if Big Dog Natural is budget friendly but their chicke surpreme dehydrated 1 pound makes 4 pounds @ 2.00 a pound

$1.65 if you purchase 5 pounds and it makes 20 pounds 1.65 per pound
they have many varieties let me know what you think. They sell direct to public

https://www.bigdognatural.com/chicken-supreme

[Naturella]

@Akari_32, AKARI, AKARI, and everyone!!! I did it! For the first time! It is so exalting!!!
Soooo…

I went to buy Snowy food today and I had prepared the following: 4 Wellness $7-off coupons + 4 $5-off specialty brand PetSmart coupons together, and 3 $5-off Castor and Pollux Organix/Ultramix coupons + 3 $5-off specialty brand PetSmart coupons together.

I got:
2 x Wellness CORE Original @ $14.99 before coupons, at $2.99 after coupons.
1 x Wellness CORE Puppy @ $16.99 before coupons, at $4.99 after coupons.
1 x Wellness Simple LID Salmon @ $16.99 before coupons, at $4.99 after coupons.
2 x Castor and Pollux Ultramix GF Adult (with and without poultry) on sale at $15.99 (Original Price $19.99) before coupons, at $5.99 after coupons.
1 x Castor and Pollux Organix GF Adult (with and without poultry) on sale at $14.99 (original price something above $14.99) before coupons, at $4.99 after coupons.

The manager was so nice to override and get all coupons in on the same order! Such a kind person! Total is 7 bags of food, 31lbs total, at $37.49, with square $89.00 in savings!!! HELLO!!! I can’t believe it! I had budgeted exactly $40 to spend and the bill fit! I am so excited, Snowy is set with great foods for 6-7 months, and coconut oil, and I just couldn’t be happier! 🙂

NOW… I want to outdo myself for Bruno… I am so sorry, I can’t resist these deals. I won’t buy anything else anymore after this as he will be set till like Jan. 2016 or beyond, SO… Here is my plan… I will use:

4 Wellness $7-off coupons + 4 $5-off specialty brand PetSmart coupons together, and 3 $5-off Castor and Pollux Organix/Ultramix coupons + 3 $5-off specialty brand PetSmart coupons together for almost the same items, except I want to buy Wellness CORE Puppy, Small Breed, Ocean, and Wild Game. After coupons those should add up to $24.00 (Ocean and Wild Game are $18.99 a piece! So after coupons, $6.99 ($7)). Then the Castor and Pollux, same ones, for $17. And then, I have a $3-off Nulo plus $5-off specialty brand, that will make $8-off Nulo, it sells at $15.99, so I will get it for $7.99 (8). THEN, I have a Buy 4, get 2 free Nulo cans, selling for $2.00/can, I will spend $3.00 for 6 cans (I will use it with the $5-off Specialty Brand coupon). Also, I have a Petland Coupon that I hope they honor for $10-off $25+, and another PetSmart coupon for $5-off total purchase. SO, this should add to:
$37.00 (when rounded up) before taxes. With taxes on the total purchase it may go to $45.00 or so.

This is going to be 35.5lbs of food plus 6 cans (4.8lbs of wet), for $45.00, let’s say. It is 40.3lbs for $45, ALMOST nailing the $1/lb for top notch food ($1.12/lb, and that’s AFTER taxes…$.92/lb before taxes). Booyaaaaah! I will have no regrets.

And THEN… I will stop. Forreal.

So let’s see how I do tomorrow… Wish me luck, I will post pics too!

P.S. Akari, will they let me make a similar purchase to today’s on the same Pet Perks, Pet Rewards, or whatever they call it account? I have my husband’s, but I can open my own under my phone number and our new address, should I? And I know I could just go for the cheapest Wellness CORE Original at only $2.99 after coupons, and I MAY substitute the Puppy one and the Small Breed for the Original, I was just protein-level greedy, but maybe 2% more protein is not worth the extra $2.00/bag? If I do, my total should be about $41.00 after taxes, so damn near hitting my $1/lb… Maybe I will do that! And instead, use the new $2.00-off canned coupons and buy as many CORE cans, 95% cans, and Petite Entrees as I can use coupons for and enough so I can use one more $5-off Specialty Brand PetSmart coupon. So my total may remain at $45.00 or so, but my volume will increase. So yeah. And I REALLY want to try the Ocean and the Wild Game ones, so I will bite the bullet on the price, meh… 🙂

• This reply was modified 11 years ago by Naturella.
• This reply was modified 11 years ago by Naturella.

[Naturella]

Rich, I am not a pro at senior dogs, but many brands do contain some glucosamine and chondroitin, just not in high enough amounts. Supplementing should be better is what I’ve read. But other higher-protein, grain-free, and budget-friendly options are the Victor Grain-free line (the green one also has extra Glu-Chon) and the Earthborn Holistic Grain-free line. Both are for all life stages if I am not mistaken, and are affordable, quality products. I have personally fed and still have in my stash bags of both, and I can report great success with my “youngin”, almost 2-year old pup. As others have mentioned, rotation is best, so if you can get your new friend on Fromm Grain-Free, Victor Grain-Free, and Earthborn Holistic Grain-Free, you can alternate the flavors between the brands and see what she (or he) does well on.

[Lynn J]

I am in the same boat. I was feeding a rotation of Orijen and Acana foods, but despite the fact my dogs were doing great on them, it’s really beyond my budget to keep it up. I’ve added Wellness Core to my rotation, both the original and the ocean. Wellness Core is still a 5 star food and the company seems to be reputable. For a cost comparison using Chewy.com, Acana Grasslands (15 lb) is 45.99 or $3.066/lb. Wellness Core original (12 lb) is $25.95 or $2.16/lb. My dogs are doing very well with this in their rotation.

[DogFoodie]

While not particularly budget friendly, Nature’s Variety Instinct LID meets your other criteria. It’s calorically dense, so you do feed less than you might of some other foods. Also Wellness has a LID line that it’s pretty budget friendly and is also lower in protein.

[Jennifer H]

Hi all! You all gave ma great advice when my Kaia was suffering from some intestinal issues, so thought I would get some additional ideas on foods. We currently have her on Canidae Pure Sky, which she seems to love. The vet recommended a hypoallergenic food, but the prices at the vet’s office for those foods is astronomical. They said Canidae would be a good option. However, after reading some other things on this site. I’m beginning to wonder if we made the right choice? She was on TOTW Roasted Fowl, which she loves as well. But I also noticed the Canidae was extremely high in protein.

Can anyone recommend a budget-friendly dry food, that is lower in protein, that is grain-free and is a LID diet? What do you all think of Natural Balance?

Thanks so much!

[theBCnut]

For a good food that is budget friendly and made the list, look for NutriSource Large Breed Puppy. For training treats I use freeze dried or dehydrated meats and liver. My favorites are Vital Essentials and Pure Bites.

[crazy4cats]

Did you have a complete urinalysis done? If yes, What was the crystal level? Was there any bacteria suggesting an infection? I just want you to be careful because increasing canned and water did not fix my cat. I’m lucky he’s not dead. I don’t think dogs are at the same risk as male cats, but you still should be careful. Anyway, Nature’s Domain found at Costco, 4Health @ Tractor Supply and Pure Balance at Walmart are my favorite budget canned foods. Too bad you have to work. Have a great Thanksgiving!

[Ben H]

Hi all…new to the forum. This thread is awesome but a little overwhelming to search through 79 pages of replies…LOL. We are going to be welcoming home to Lab pups at 8-9 weeks coming up soon and want to be sure to get them started out well. I am compiling all the new puppy stuff, a trainer to help with the hurdle of bringing two dogs home, and all the other fun stuff. 2 Questions. I have checked out HDM’s list (awesome btw) but was hoping for someone to point me in the right direction. I need something that is good, while being somewhat budget conscious. Our local pet store carries Best Breed and highly recommended it. I’ve attached the link. http://www.bestbreed.com/puppy-diet.html Also, can someone give me a good idea for training dog treats? I went to the store and walked out thoroughly overwhelmed. I’ve raised pups before but it has been awhile. LOL Thanks

[Dog_Obsessed]

Merrick makes a canned food called Whole Earth Farms that is rated 5 stars and fairly budget friendly: http://www.chewy.com/s/grain-free,canned-food?query=whole+earth+farms&dept=all

[Karen J]

I do have a picky dog but withholding food just starts her eating her feces again. She did it a little while as a puppy and stopped. I put cayenne pepper on it tonight.

I want to find a grain free budget canned, hopefully with a variety of flavors I think she gets bored. She will have a little bowl of kibble to nosh all day, I’d rather have her free feed than eat her poop. My other dogs had kibble available all day.

The food is put away at night because rats could come in the doggie door, although with her so far so good I think the terrier in her might go after them.

I’ve been giving her her cranberry and vitamin C with cream cheese now she’s getting suspicious. I took a syringe and forced her to take it tonight, maybe she’ll be open to the cream cheese again so we can control the crystals. Cheese and peanut butter don’t work.

That is my new plan.

[Karen J]

Well she is the right weight, don’t want to wantonly choose, my last dog had IBD so I’m very keen on a good diet within my budget. True, she won’t starve, she will eat eventually.

But don’t want her eating only because she is so hungry anything will do. I have heard that dogs do self fast.

Can’t they have both kibble and wet. There seems to be a prevailing point of view that it has to be either or. She doesn’t free feed, my last 2 dogs did and did fine with it.

Oh well, I’ll just try EVO kibble and some wet food. Moisture is best for crystal control.

[BeachDogs]

Good to know about the calcium and joint health. Thanks! Both dogs are coming from deboned lamb and deboned chicken formulas, and the Victor has beef meal, chicken meal and pork meal. That is where the glucosamine and chondroitin would come from I’m thinking. It’s not a deal breaker right now anyway. I’m wondering if picking Victor was a good decision. It has a decent protein amount at 33%, though, that’s a tad more than they’ve been getting. The source might not be the best in Victor. I do plan on trying a rotational diet and could switch to something else in a couple of months.

Perhaps I’ll look at NutriSource again and Earthborn. As you might have noticed, I am looking for a good food with a budget-friendly price for now.

Thanks for the reply!

[Linda P]

Sportmix Wholesomes Chicken and Rice. I understand the other Sportmix formulas are only a 3.5 rating but this formula is rated by you guys as 4. I buy it because it is very budget friendly and yet is rated a 4. In addition, I show German Shepherds and have a number of dogs being fed this food right now and I’ve fed it long enough to see the condition, energy, and beautiful coats they have as a result. I’ve tried several different brands rated both 4 and 5 and so far, the best results on my dogs is this one. Also 40 pound bag is less than $30.00 at Tractor Supply! Another big plus is that the dogs really like it. What good does it do to feed a highly considered food that the dogs won’t eat unless they are starving and even then are hesitant? I’ve had that happen a few times also!

[Hound Dog Mom]

Hi Michael –

The reviews for Pinnacle products can be found here .

To see others’ opinions of Blue Buffalo you may wish to read through the user comments that follow the product reviews.

If you’re looking for budget friendly options here is our list of recommended budget friendly foods.

If you’re looking for a puppy food, here is our list of recommended puppy foods (it includes a list of foods appropriate for large and giant breeds).

Hope that helps.

[Naturella]

Hello, all!

I know we all have a passion for dog health and love to spread the word to other dog lovers. This thread can be for our success stories, if anyone cares to share.

For me, I have several (3, really). I think you have heard them before, but one is a close friend of mine who used to feed Shep and is now a crazy dog food lady like me, feeding 3.5-5-star foods, rotating all the time, and giving canned or THK as toppers. Another friend used to feed whatever Walmart carries and is cheap, so Beneful, Pedigree and the like. Now she feeds Victor, TOTW (every once in a while), Holistic Health Extension and Pure Balance, with various canned as toppers. The third story is the lady I babysit for and they used to feed their dog Kibbles ‘N’ Bits, Beneful, Iams, etc, and now I am in charge of their dog’s menu and I also shop the dog food for them on a budget, so she ate 3 bags of Dogswell LiveFree and is about to start a Wysong bag. She also had 2 bumps on or really close to her ribs before I started her food change, and I almost can’t believe it, but I can’t feel those bumps anymore! Is that even possible? I don’t know. I plan to get her 3-4 bags of various Earthborn Holistic next and maybe a bag of something else to stick in the middle. I’ll see what deals there may be around Black Friday online and in stores. She’s also been on a daily teaspoon of coconut oil for about a week now, and also I advised the family to use it as a “leave-in conditioner” after bathing her, so she gets it on her skin and coat as well. In a month or so she should have nice, healthy, shiny coat, in addition to loving her food and being more energetic. I want to introduce her also to having a lightly cooked or raw egg once a week and maybe some sardines too. I will take it slow though – I want them to notice the benefits of coconut oil first so that they know I am not doing crazy experiments with their dog, lol.

[Kayla]

What are some Probiotics that are safe for Dogs and help with digestive issues? I was looking on amazon, and not really sure if I want to spend a lot of money and knowing it might not work. Do you know any that are safe and budget friendly? My dog is starting to have some digestive issues and I am thinking probiotics will help.

[Naturella]

Melissa, if shopping online is an option for you, websites such as http://www.petflow.com , http://www.chewy.com , http://www.wag.com often have great sales on food, especially on Petflow you can find stuff for about $1.00/lb, which is a great deal. Just check those sites about once/week or so and type in the word “trial” for Petflow and it will give you deals with “trial” sizes (usually smallest size bags – 4-5lbs, but for $1/lb). They have other great deals too, on food and treats and supplies. 🙂

But I second DogFoodie on her suggestions for budget-friendly foods – I have used Dr. Tim’s, Earthborn Holistic, and some of Victor (and a few friends have used it too) with great success and no issues, plus, they are quite affordable. One other option, if you must, you can also use Pure Balance from Walmart – it is not half bad for the price it is.

[DogFoodie]

No worries about not going raw! It’s not for everyone for various reasons. You can always added canned food as toppers.

Here’s a link to a great download (it’ll cost you $2.95): http://www.seespotlivelonger.com/home/sll/page_41_1. It’s written by Steve Brown, one of the authorities on raw feeding, and will show you how incredibly simple it is to add fresh whole foods to your dog’s diet. Simple, fresh foods like fresh cage free eggs, pureed dark leafy greens and sardines are amazing additions to a diet of kibble. So easy!

Fromm is a great choice! Other budget friendly foods that I really like are Dr. Tim’s, Victor, Horizon and Earthborn Holistics.

[Amy H]

I am adopting an epileptic lab mix rescue pup, 10 months old, and I am told about 60 lbs. I have looked over these forums and printed out a few articles from the Mercola site to bring to my first vet appt with him. Once he is settled in our home I will begin transitioning him to a higher protein, lower carb, grain free diet. The first bag I bought for that is EB Holistic Primitive Naturals. He is on KBr already, as he had multiple grand mal seizures after poison ingestion, but he has been seizure free for several months. I am looking for advice from others who have dealt with this – what worked for you, and what didn’t? I am not up to a raw diet, but herbals and supplements would be manageable within budgetary reason. I wonder whether a rotation diet is still advisable, since I need to worry about affecting his KBr blood levels with varying salt content in different foods. Most labels I’ve checked don’t list sodium content. I read through about 55 pages of the large & giant breed puppy food forum, and think he is old enough that I at least don’t need to worry about calcium content. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

[crazy4cats]

Hi Linda J-
Welcome to DFA. My labs’ favorite dry food is grain free Victor Joint Health. I feed other kibble now and then also, but usually end up back with this again. I mix something in with every meal, such as canned, dehydrated, raw or fresh foods. Once a week, I try to feed them a kibble free meal with the See Spot Live Longer dinner mix. I stick to mostly the budget friendly list for both kibble and canned.
Also, most pet stores will take back a bag of food if your dogs don’t like it, or it doesn’t agree with them. Who knew that feeding your pets could be so complicated? LOL!
What do your dogs eat now? I’m sure you will get some more opinions. Good luck!

[Bobby dog]

You are very welcome!

Not sure if the fish you bought is cooked or not, but do not feed raw salmon or trout to the dogs because they may contain bacteria that causes death in dogs. Good idea to puree it if you are uncertain about the bones, better safe than sorry.

You will really find that PDF useful. On top of it being packed with great info, it’s an easy read and written so that you can reference info easily. Your questions about food and portions should be answered in there. I don’t feed the ABC diet in one day, I feed all the extras throughout the week as toppers. Please ask if you can’t find what you are looking for; someone here should be able to help.

It does sound like a yeasty skin issue. Dandruff is much better than open sores so the Malesab must have helped. How do you stand budget wise with purchasing more shampoo? I found another budget friendly option for shampoo if you are interested.

My dog had a bad yeast infection last year. It took 8 months of consistent care and tweaking his diet to rid him of it. Changing his diet was integral in the healing process. If at all possible getting them off Ol’ Roy will be the most help. I know it’s not up to you, but if your uncle could at least switch to a food without chemicals, dyes, and meat & bone meal it would be a step in the right direction. With the added fresh foods you are improving their diets regardless, however by eliminating the chemicals etc. I believe you would see their health continue to improve. You might have a fighting chance to prove your point because more than likely some of the issues the dog had a few months ago will show up again after a few weeks back on Ol’ Roy.

I was feeding Bobby a canned food along the lines of Ol’ Roy that contained chemical preservatives and dyes, the kibble I fed was not bad. He had a skin infection so I took him to the Vet. During the visit my Vet discussed the importance of a healthy diet and suggested I stop feeding that canned food and choose another. When I eliminated it from his diet I saw an improvement in his skin within two weeks. That gave me the incentive to find out what else I could do for him.

I can’t answer your questions about enzymes, I don’t use them. Having no teeth would not necessarily be a reason to add enzymes. There was a very interesting conversation on the review side about using enzymes and whether or not they even survive the stomach. This did not pertain to enzymes used for pancreatic issues. Maybe someone else will be able to answer your questions.

I love the results I get from probiotics; wish I started using them long ago. I feed my cat kefir 3x/wk and my dog daily. I upped Bobby’s dose of probiotics when he had a yeasty skin relapse a month ago. When I feel he’s back on track I probably will feed it every other day. I think your choice of probiotics is a good one. Even though I am feeding kefir, it is more out of convenience for me since Bobby and the cats are doing well and like it. Kefir is very affordable, but I think your choice is more economical in the long run and you get more strains of probiotics. Write back with the weights of the dogs who will be getting them, I have info on dosage for human probiotics.

Canned food is much easier for dogs to digest since it is not as processed as dry food. There are several budget friendly canned foods out there. Depending on if they have teeth pulled mixing kibble with canned is an option too. At this point I am guessing it depends on what your Uncle decides to feed them. At the very least, you can add enough water to kibble prior to feeding them to make it a canned consistency if necessary.

I am not sure about specific exercises for arthritis & hip dysplasia. Keeping arthritic animals slim and fit is extremely important. The fish you are adding to their food is really good for arthritic pets! Try searching the forum for this topic and hopefully someone with experience on this subject will stop by.

[crazy4cats]

Hi Tiffany-
I am all about budget friendly! The best valued can food, IMO, is Costco’s Natures Domain Turkey and Pea Stew, Walmart’s Pure Balance, and Tractor Supply’s 4health canned. They are mostly all rated 5 stars. I also use eggs and sardines a few times a week as well. The best prices for sardines are at Winco or Walmart. Walmart also sells a brand of canned called Variety that is a little more expensive, but cheaper than most.
If you have Victor dry food in your area, it is more budget friendly than Wellness. Those are lucky dogs you are taking care of. Thank you!

[Tiffany K]

What ideas does anyone have to make dry food more appealing and tasty that are budget friendly? I have been targeted as a “dump” site and am currently feeding eight dogs. Feeding them all Wellness is bankrupting me. I wanted them to have quality meals.

I have added hot water to their kibble to make a gravy, and and have also made them oatmeal on many occasions to keep things interesting. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Allison A]

Naturella, thanks for the advice on where to buy cheap pet food! It’s so hard to balance my Aussie’s food demands (highly allergic to Poultry) with my college-student budget!

[Naturella]

Sounds like your boy has quite the good diet so far, Crystal! 🙂 Don’t be afraid to try new recipes (brands) and new flavors within a brand. Plus, adding canned or THK is great for them – adds moisture to a usually dry diet, and helps with its absorption! 🙂

I also feed a rotational diet of about 75-80% kibble – it is great on the budget because it allows me to take advantage of sales, and also great for my dog, who gets a new food with every small bag, and he gets to try different proteins and recipes. I top all kibble meals with additives at breakfast (coconut oil, plain yoghurt/plain kefir, raw egg, canned sardines), and at dinner with THK (I alternate between 4 flavors) or Big Dog Natural tripe, with an RMB once/week. So far so good – Bruno is happy and healthy and even if a food doesn’t sit well with him, I have a backup in the rotation of a food he’s had before and done well on to patch him up until the next new recipe! 🙂

[Bobby dog]

🙂 You’re welcome! I have been eyeing two Infinia recipes to replace my “budget friendly” 4Health GF from TSC. I am not sure those last two recipes won’t go to Diamond at some point. Quick reply from them too.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 2 months ago by Bobby dog.

[Travis A]

Thank you for the helpful info I appreciate it, I’ll try some soft food to mix with it, I’ve done that before when i have it but they just recently started being picky about their kibble. I too am on a “the best i can afford” thought but my budget isn’t very high so i try to stick with the cheapest best quality i can find for my price range. But i’ll try to mix some things up, again thank you all for your information.

[Bobby dog]

I agree with Akari, mix some canned food in with the kibble; reduce the kibble accordingly so you don’t over feed. The added moisture is healthy and canned is easier for them to digest. Pure Balance stews at Wal-Mart are five star rated and $1/can. Tractor Supply has 4Health for 99 cents/can and they are 4.5 star rated.

Rachael Ray Zero Grain does not include K3 in it’s recipe; it’s in the other kibble recipes.

Beyond still includes K3.

Infinia is Purina Mills Incorporated (PMI) Nutrition (Land O’ Lakes, no checkered flag), not Purina (Nestle’). I believe at one time they were part of Purina, not positive though. I am not sure if PMI manufactures their food or uses a co-packer.
http://www.infiniapetfood.com/default.aspx

Check out this thread started by Akari for some recommendations:
/forums/topic/budget-friendly-dog-foods/

And check out this thread for more recommendations on food and suggestions to help out with pet food budgets:
/forums/topic/2-dogs-2-different-sizes/

[jakes mom]

I have a friend whose Chihuahua/border terrier has just been diagnosed with diabetes. There’s also another chi in the house who’s had issues with pancreatitis. Can anyone suggest a good food for them both? Budget is a very big concern. I’m sure raw is not an option, both because of the cost and also the “yuk” factor for the humans. I’m thinking something in the 3 star range, since they eat Purina now.

[Susan]

Hi Korey,
When looking for budget friendly kibble make sure that you stick with the same ingredients that’s in the Blue that he’s eating or as close as you can get, try & stay away from high carb kibbles with potato, most Grain free kibbles have potatos, also look at the Omega 3 & 6 make sure its high, compare what the Omega 3 & 6 is in the blue as well…here’s a few kibbles, Good-Luck Korey

Holistic Select Anchovy, Sardines & Salmon meal
Eagle Pack
Victor Select
Whole Earth Farms or the Whole Earth Farm G/F
Horizon Complete
Dr Tims
Healthwise
Pro Pac
Simply Nourish Source

[Judy M]

Which do (u all, and Mike) consider to be the most “budget friendly” raw diet (already prepared ready to feed – so that I don’t have to source and grind and mix ingredients myself). I MA currently feeding my 7.5 ur old, 22-lb spaniel mix dog Darwins. naturals, mostly duck, but exploring other options die to q new higher fat ratio formulation combined with an increase in price. what to do the best for my dog’s health and longevity, but keep the budget in mind. I felt the naturals, ( no antibiotics, no added chemicals and or hormones,organic better for her health, which I am ok with spending more for her (tho I can’t really afford to so for myself but dogs live such short lives not want to do the very best for her, but it has to be do-able, convenient enough that I will have time for it and not end up wasting ingredients that Ia don’t have time or energy to psirce ingredients, prepare prepare and, mix and prepare and have enough energy and nough time to prepare it myself and not end up wasting ingredients when. I do t have energy to learn how to and do the work of concocting thr daily ears foe her myself. (Darwins is so easy, just thaw, open and feed. is it worth the extra cost by being that much more healthy for her, or would it be just as healthy to switch to something else. ,( I notice that even Fresh Pet (available at grocery store) has received 4 stars). is premium or gain raw really that much vm open Should I stick with Darwins (given those considerations, even tho they at hey will n exchanging the ingredients formulation,raising the price and at same time adding more fat? should d I not be concerned with the fat increase I. the new formulation. like I said, just want my 7.5 ur old beloved dog to live as long and healthy q life as possible. any advice welcome. thanks for all replies , sorry for any typos. touchscreen learning curve)

[pugmomsandy]

Dr. Tim’s dog food uses low ash chicken meal and I’ve heard it’s budget friendly too.

[theBCnut]

Here’s the reviews
/dog-food-reviews/nutrisource-dog-food-canned/
/dog-food-reviews/nutrisource-dog-food-dry/
/dog-food-reviews/nutrisource-grain-free/
It’s one of my favorite foods to suggest, because it’s easy to switch to and easy on the budget.

[Bobby dog]

Hi Chris:
All good recommendations for your dogs! I have a certain budget I have to follow for pet food too; here are some of the things that help me keep the cost down.

Here is a link, posted by Akari a regular DFA poster, for a $5 coupon from Petsmart good for any size Authority and several other kibbles. This link is also posted on page 15 of the coupon thread. The coupon is always valid, the date changes each time you access it:
http://pages.email-petsmart.com/coupons2014?g=6e33a451-2f8c-401b-b420-888b86bf1199&ab=foodcenter_coupon_dog

Think about rotation feeding for your dogs. Many regulars feed a rotation diet; I believe it is the healthiest way to feed your pets. The added benefit for the owner is if you find a good price on food you can take advantage of the savings because you already know your dog does well eating it.
Rotation feeding info:
/frequently-asked-questions/diet-rotation-for-dogs/

Sign up for e-mails from Petsmart, Petco, or any other place you would purchase dog food so you can receive alerts for sales and coupons. Also, sign up for e-mails from pet food companies. Some send coupons or other promotional deals through e-mail and look into frequent buyer programs too; Nutrisource is one company that has a frequent buyer program through retailers, buy 12 bags and the 13th is free. Some offer frequent buyer programs directly through them such as by Nature or EVO. Wellness offers coupons for kibble and canned food monthly through e-mail when you sign up for their newsletter. You could stack the Wellness coupon with the Petsmart coupon for additional savings.

Check out the coupon thread Akari started. It is a place to post info on coupons, sales, or other pet food promos that DFA posters find. Post questions if you have them too, Akari pops in to answer them.
Page one is the intro of the coupon thread:
/forums/topic/coupons/
Current page of coupon thread:
/forums/topic/coupons/page/15/

As BC posted you can find Rachael Ray Zero Grain Free at Wal-Mart. On her website she offers coupons for pet food (under news & offers tab). Most of the time there is a $4 coupon for any size of the Zero Grain: http://nutrish.rachaelray.com/switchto

Here are some recommendations for dog food sold at Wal-Mart:
/forums/topic/need-advice-about-walmart-brands/

You mentioned Tractor Supply Company 4Health brand; I feed the canned dog & cat food and I have fed the beef GF. The canned food is labeled for growth and maintenance, not sure about the kibble. The only kibble in that line I would recommend are the Beef or Turkey grain free (and the GF cat food if you have cats). Diamond manufactures all of the other kibble varieties and due to their recall history I choose not to feed anything they make; depends on your comfort level. Good luck with your pups!

[Naturella]

Depending on the area, NutriSource may or may not be budget-friendly. Diet rotation is both good for the dog AND good for the budget, because it allows you to take advantage of sales and what not. If shopping online is an option, Petflow.com , chewy.com , wag.com and petfooddirect.com are good websites that often have great sales. Brands like Victor, Dr. Tim’s, Earthborn Holistic, Wysong, and Tractor Supply’s 4Health are all good brands and reasonably-priced too. On those websites mentioned above, you can type “sample” or “trial” and see deals for sample-sized or even full-sized bags of food. I would check them out weekly.

[LabsRawesome]

Hi Halina, Victor is a great food. If you can buy it local, it’s a budget friendly food. The grain free formulas, and 1 grain inclusive formula (Active Dog and Puppy) are rated 5 stars. I pay just under $40 for 30lbs of GF Ultra Pro 42. Some of the formulas are available in smaller bags too. Here’s a link to Victor’s site. http://www.victordogfood.com/ Check out the dealer locator for stores in your area. 🙂

[Halina H]

I have 2 dogs that I want to feed a quality dog food to, but like many, I’m on a tight budget. What dog food out there gives you the best quality ingredients for the best price point?

[Naturella]

I would not want to repeat what the above posters have said – I think they got you covered, Dog_Obsessed. I would just add that, depending on your area, some of those budget-friendly foods are not-so-budget-friendly. For example, I live close to Atlanta, GA (north of Atlanta) and in my immediate area with 5 pet stores I can EASILY get to, NutriSource is severely overpriced. Earthborn Holistic and Victor are decent though (I LOVE Victor btw – small kibble, great quality food). Dr. Tim’s is not sold in any of “my” local stores. So it just depends, but do some research on those brands mentioned above, and you will find for yourself what foods cost what where. Also – websites such as petflow.com , chewy.com , wag.com often have sales and/or deals that you can take advantage of. Petflow sometimes sells “trial sizes” (usually 4-5lb bags!) of good quality food for about $1/lb! I have gotten me some Nutrisca Chicken and Chickpea, Dogswell LiveFree Salmon (although they had Turkey, Lamb, and Chicken too), Wysong Nurture with Quail from them all for $1/lb. AND, The Honest Kitchen dehydrated food – 4 boxes, 2 lbs each, for I think $2/lb, which is UNHEARD of a price for this food – it was 97% off so that tells you what it usually costs! It is worth it though! 🙂

[DogFoodie]

Although “budget friendly” is very much a relative term, some excellent dry foods that I feel are budget friendly, and that I feel I can confidently recommend, are Victor, NutriSource, Earthborn Holistics, Eagle Pack, Dr. Tim’s and even Pure Balance made by Ainsworth that’s sold at Wal-Mart or Nature’s Domain Turkey and Pea Stew canned from Costco.

[Dog_Obsessed]

I definitely agree that price and quality often have less to do with each other than people think. Diamond brands tend to be cheap in general, so many people feed it for that reason. As aquariangt said though, there are other budget friendly options that are better.

[Akari_32]

Check out my Coupons thread. You can get just about any food you want for a budget friendly price if you put in the tome to look for deals. I litterally have a closet full of Wellness that I got for *free* with coupons.

[Dog_Obsessed]

I am looking for budget-freindly options to suggest to people. What others do you know of?

[aquariangt]

that is the angle people make for Diamond. However, there are other budget friendly options

[Naturella]

I feel you – my husband and I are in college, and a few of the regular posters here are too. We also shop on a budget, but manage to find good deals very often. Pure Balance is good, but if you feed rotational – switch between brands of kibble and between protein types (fish, chicken, beef, lamb, etc.) you can take advantage of good sales. If shopping online is an option, check out http://www.petflow.com , http://www.chewy.com , http://www.wag.com – they all have good sales often. On Petflow, go there at least once/week and type in “trials” in the search bar, it will give you super cheap foods in a “trial” (usually regular smallest) size (4-5lbs) for about $1/lb! It’s a steal! Also, this is a good thread to check out: /forums/topic/coupons/page/15/ It has all kinds of information on coupons and deals! 🙂

As for the natural chews, I put vice grips on Bruno’s bully sticks, cow ears, and fish skins to prevent gulping of big pieces and it works. With the Himalayan chews and antlers, I would take it away when it approaches less than an inch (maybe for your dog, 2 inches will be a good time to take the chew away and replace it). Also, they are good for teeth cleaning.

As for toys, Bruno likes the Nylabone and JW bone-shaped chews. He loves ropes too but he eats them often. He likes the tough Kong products too, I stuff them with doggie ice-cream (homemade), freeze and serve. Or play tug with them. He has a rubber ring we play tug with too. We never have nor will get him squeaky chews, those are evil to humans! LoL. But yeah, more often than not Bruno would prefer his natural chews (antlers are pretty loved in our household), or peacefully gnaw on a JW bone, or bring his Walmart rope to ask me to play tug with. 🙂

[crazy4cats]

Hi Kayla-
I always mix something in with my dog’s kibble. I have two golden labs. Both male and about 80 pounds. Every morning they get a few heaping Tbs of canned with their kibble. In the afternoon, they get either eggs, sardines, dehydrated or fresh meat with their dry food. I don’t think that dry kibble is the best to feed regardless of how many stars it gets. However, it is convenient and budget friendly. I do believe that a premium canned food is healthier, but also much more expensive. Especially with two large dogs. And oh yes, four medium cats! Good luck and welcome to DFA!

[Kayla]

Thank you so much!!!! and, I am slowly transitioning him to Pure Balance. It had 4 star rating and good reviews. I am a college student on a low budget so it was in my price range. Just need better treats. So glad I found this website. Learned so much already.