I was curious about the costs of raw. How comparible are the costs for feeding raw and feeding dry food? What are the major exspensive for raw? What do you spend a week/a month when feeding raw? I am trying to decide what way i am going to go before i get my puppy. I am not exactly rolling in money but I would like to feed raw if it is at all possible. Thanks in advance.

Jake

You know that was my same question at one point. But now that Ive been feeding RAW for a few months I can see "all" the benefits. Honestly the price difference depends on the quality of dry your comparing it to. I was feeding Canidae which was running me about $50 month. Right now on RAW I feed chicken leg quarters for the most part which I get a 10lb bag for $4.98 and I go through 2 bags a week so that comes to about $40 a month. Plus he takes Vitamin E and Omega 3 (fish oil pills) Which the bottle lasts 2 weeks- a month depending on what size I buy so really it comes out about the same for me... it actually seems cheaper in my eyes if I just look at the meat, but even if it did cost more its not that much more... maybe $10 at the most. The biggest problem I had was switching. I switched and went back to dry because I just wasnt ready for the commitment and second time was a charm. Once you get the hang of it you get in a routine and organized and it doesnt seem so time consuming. He had a skin problem which is now no longer a problem, and hes all around healthier.

Good luck to you and your future pup. I hope you choose to go with RAW.

This is a common question. Search the archived posts for other opinions. For me, it is economically better. I save about $40.00 a month (compared to feeding 'good' dry food to two dogs.) One cannot tell you how much it costs because each dog is different (size, activity, ect.)

The costs you should consider comparing are the INfrequent trips to the vet. No skin/coat issues, clean ears, clean, clean teeth (no dentals and anaethesia worries), fresh smelling breath and coat, overall better health and strong immune system. Less shedding and small, small poop piles.

So many pros to raw! It also encourages leaner, healthier dogs. All those carbs (and poisons-yes I said it!) in dry dog food is just plain bad.

The cons are: a little more time consuming, if your accustomed to shovelling out stale kibble (maybe its me, but I sure wouldn't want to eat something that's been in a bag for months.) Also storage. If your feeding one or two dogs, it's easy. Multiple dogs require more freezer space and/or trips to the supermarket. These are the cons from a raw feeder. Other cons will come from the people who wish to push processed food. And don't even listen to the Salmonella and trichonosis camps, they kill me! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> I worked food prep in restuarants for years and enjoy cooking at home. Never been sick from those (or related) diseases (nor have my dogs and cats).

I think a raw fed dog (healthier) is also a far more confident dog. JMHO! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Many on this board have sworn by 'good' dry foods and have made the switch. Speaks for itself.

There are many options open to you when you feed raw. You can find sources for many prepackaged frozen mixes of meat or meat and veggies on the web. Just look under raw dog food. These usually are quite expensive and the cost of shipping can be more than the product. I started feeding my dogs with turkey necks which are easily available and the butcher at the supermarket will get me 30# boxes of frozen necks for $10.00 a box. Also I have found two sources of lamb and beef necks which are cut up in large chunks and are a good balance of bone to meat for .50 a #. So, get on the web and do a little research. Find out if there are any raw feeding groups in your area. If there are, they would be invaluable to you as a source for purchasing food and all the how to's. I have found that the money I save on vet's bills is also a bonus. I never have to have my dog's teeth cleaned. My American bred GSD with all his terrible problems: skin allergies, colitis, among a few, is much better on a raw diet. So, like I said, do a little research and you'll find your way and you'll save money too.

Yeah I should have included more in my post... it does depend on the dog and where you buy the meat etc. Right now I dont have a separate freezer so whatever I buy has to fit in the fridge freezer, so I can only buy two 10 lb bags at a time... one is thawed and separated and the other goes in the freezer. I do plan to get a freezer eventually though.
Also when things go on sale such as lately fish has been pretty cheap so Ill buy him fish or occassionally I see turkey neck/backs at the Food-4-less here and I buy that. I also buy Beef heart and liver occassionally, and canned makerel. Theres just so much you can do.

I actually ended up saving money switching from eagle pack to raw. I get bulk chicken leg quarters for 39 cents/lb pork necks for 69 cents and I get all the meat saw shavings I can carry for 10cents/lb. I pay about $15 every 2 months for powder supplement and about $15 every 6 months for a bottle of cod liver oil.

When you feed a large adult dog the chicken leg quarters, do you need to cut them up at all?

Nope.

I always heard feeding your dog any kind of raw meat would make him aggressive. Everthing in me says that can't be true. Is it? At all possible? Ok, listening.

...and feeding them blood and mixing gunpowder(they never specify smokeless or black) and a few others. It's nonsense. I know a couple of ppl who feed RAW for thier agility/frezbie dogs and they are no more aggressive than any other shepherd dog.