Hi all -

All 3 of my dogs are currently feed a raw diet and have been for couple years now. I am running into some financial difficulties and was thinking of switching to kibble for awhile to see if it helps cut costs. I am hating the thought of doing it but I'm running out of things to cut down on or out of my budget. I can get chicken soup brand in a town an hour from here- Question, I have read that if dogs have allergies (enviromental) that eating kibble with grain could make it worse? Can someone explain the reason behind that if its true? One of my dogs has them pretty bad in the summer.

All my dogs have issues - one with hip dysplasia, one with low thyroid and the one with allergies. I'm just worrying switching to kibble is gonna make things worse. Maybe someone has had to do this switch could let me know how things went.

It may work out that I will be spending just as much on kibble as raw - My dogs are 90, 95 and 115 lbs so I'm thinking I will go through at least 2 35/40lb bags a month maybe 3? when I kind of worked with the numbers it seems as if I'll be saving money but they might not stay as healthy so I'll have vet bills??

I am just such a big believer in feeding raw, this is a tough decision.

thanks for your time

I have a couple dogs that have environmental allergies and they really are much worse depending on what kibble they are getting. Which is why I am about to take the plunge and go in the opposite direction....to a raw diet for at least some of them especially since the kibble they do well on is as much or more than raw.

The dogs that are 'borderline' tend to kick into horrid skin and worse reactions to fleas etc if they are eating Corn based something vs Diamond Lamb and Rice VS Premium Edge Skin and Coat. Used to be on corn based and had to all be moved from that to the rice and lamb.

Also the protein source will matter with some. My BC bitch can't eat a chicken based kibble or will end up with UTIs regularly. Lamb based is fine. Going to make raw interesting.

I will say that around here the Chicken Soup brand was about the same price and my dogs did NOT do as well on it as the Diamond Lamb and Rice or Diamonds Premium Edge. I am at a different point but I would say that I doubt you will save much in the long run unfortunately.

We have a dog with lots of environmental allergies and he can't eat kibble period. We tried them all, grain and no-grain, but the ones with grains definitely made it worse. What I understand about it, is that dogs are not made to process grains - they don't eat them in the wild. So when you feed grains (which are only in kibble because they use them for filler to make the food cheaper - they use less meat) then the dog isn't getting the nutrition they need, which comes from meat. That compromises their immune system and they can't fight allergies, disease, etc. as effectively as they can when they are eating foods that provide the good nutrition they need.

When we switched our allergy dog to raw, he did a lot better. Our derma vet doesn't recommend raw to her patients, but she is honest enough to say that she thinks Kasey's skin and coat look awesome for an allergy dog and admits it's got to be his diet! If you feed a quality kibble, it will cost you just about as much as raw - at least that was our experience!

Kathy, do you have a large freezer or enough freezer space to purchase large quantities of food? If so you might try to find a restraunt supply wholesaler that will sell to you? I buy most of my 'dog food' there in 40lb boxes & it is at least 1/4 to 1/2 of what I can get things for at the supermarkets, even on their sales. If you can find a place, that may make a big difference in costs. For example some of what I purchace there: I pay $12 for 40lb cases of fresh chicken necks or fresh chicken backs. $.80 lb for 10lb rolls ground turkey & $1.60 for ground beef. We have sales of 40-50% off of purdue chicken every couple of weeks here & I pick up odds & ends then. I go to the wholesaler ever couple of months.

ETA..... I also feed pork, lamb, goat & a varity of organ meats, some of which I get at the wholesaler, along with suppliments.

Kathy, I know it must be a hard decision for you, and I sympathize with you.

I had tried once to get my two to eat kibble ( after having been on all raw) and neither of them would eat it!

I too have a one with environmental allergies and feed raw only.
I would stay away from all the grains at least for the one with allergies.
The higher grade kibbles are so expensive, I too am wondering if you could save any money.
Like Lori said, the grains are basically there to act as a filler and nothing more.

I am wondering if there is some other way for you to get a better source for your raw to keep it cheaper, so you won't have to switch?
Do you currently have a bulk provider?
We recently found a bulk source that has drastically cut our expenses by half.

Thanks for the responses. I'm gonna put some more thought into my budget to see where else I can cut back, I don't want to compromise my allergy boys immune system anymore then it is already. Unfortunately the town I'm in is only around 10,000 people and there isnt many resources - I go to walmart once a month in another town an hour away and get the chicken quarters - most the other food I buy is discounted meat at the grocery store and ground turkey and ground hamburger that I can get fairly cheap. One store here has beef heart and kidneys at a pretty good price- there is a butcher/processor in a little tiny town close by here- I guess I can call them or stop by to see what they would have.

I do have a small chest freezer and my sister has a big freezer that I could use some of the space but its finding any really good deals that will be the problem. Maybe Rapid City has something, its only 2 1/2 hr from here

thanks

Kathy, I drive an hour, one way, to my wholesaler. If you can get a good deal & have the storage space, then even driving 2-3 hours is not the worse. Just purchase as much as your freezers will hold & only make the trip every 2-3 months. Still a great deal in my opinion.

There's always vermin and the trusty 22 when it all comes down to it.

Kathy,

Do you know anybody that deer hunts? I have a bunch of family that hunt, so I ask them for the carcasses when they are done with them, and I can glean a TON of meat off of them for the dogs. I also had a small buck fall into my lap this year, which is REALLY helping out the budget.

Another thing I have done is call a local sheep farmer. I have a deal with him that if any ewes die during lambing, I will get the carcass. I usually get at least one per spring lambing. I have to field dress it and cut it up on my own, but hey, that's a lot of meat for nothing but some time.

I got a yearling bull calf once for nothing too. He had gotten caught up in some wire and strangled himself. The farmer down the road called and asked if I wanted it since he knew I feed raw.

I don't know if you are in a position to call farmers or not. I just call them up and say, hey, I feed my dogs a raw diet, and if you lose any stock to natural causes, I would be interested in taking it. I let them know that I prefer chemical or drug free animals and they have been honest by letting me know if the animal had been treated. They don't have to call the ship truck, and I am there getting the carcass within the hour, so it's a plus for them. I have offered them money, but I have yet to have anyone take it.

There are ways to feed raw to the dogs for a reasonable amount of money. You just have to be creative about it

Good luck, and I hope you will be able to continue with raw. It really is better for the dogs... allergies or not.

--Kelly

 Quote: Kelly At Leerburg

They don't have to call the ship truck, and I am there getting the carcass within the hour, so it's a plus for them. I have offered them money, but I have yet to have anyone take it

What a great setup! I am trying to find something like this myself. It might look a bit odd if we strap a dead cow to the roof of our Acura, though. Even if I get somebody to help me get it here, how do we cut it up? Can't hack it to bits with my cleaver on the patio? In full view of the jogging public?