I simply introduced house my third Dachshund, so I’m re-examining how a lot it value to feed my canines.
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 maths and Yikes! Feeding three Dachshunds the way in which I’ve been feeding two will value as a lot as a automobile 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 knowledge doesn’t immediate you to vary what you might be presently feeding your canines, it might be useful to you later.
How A lot Will it Price to Feed One Dachshund Per Month?
The minimal value for feeding decrease value, 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 possible value someplace between $102 and $180 per thirty days.
It stunned me slightly that feeding moist pet food can value simply as a lot or greater than feeding a uncooked weight loss program.
The month-to-month value for feeding a descent to top quality canned pet food ranged from $106 to $240.
You possibly can count on 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 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 price for that can high out at round a whopping $300 a month for a miniature Dachshund.
In fact, 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 Main Components That Affect the Month-to-month Price of Canine Meals?
Determining how a lot it is going to value you to feed your Dachshund a month is extra sophisticated than simply value looking for meals.
The most important components that can 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 completely different calorie densities, so an oz of 1 meals could include 30 energy, whereas a ounce of one other meals could include 100 energy.
In case your Dachshund wants 350 energy a meal (see this text to calculate the number of calories your Dachshund needs), chances are you’ll must feed 11 ounces of 1 meals and solely 3.5 ounces of one other.
Since pet food is offered 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 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 remember while you overview 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 supposed for myself. For that reason, I selected to match canine meals that I mostly feed, or would contemplate feeding, my Dachshunds.
- My miniature Dachshunds weighs round 11 lbs, and are reasonably lively, and require a median of 450 energy per day to keep up their supreme weight. This variety of energy is what I used for my calculations.
- I selected chicken-based formulations usually as a result of virtually 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 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, contemporary uncooked pet food, as a result of it might probably sometimes solely be obtained domestically or from a mail subscription service, I obtained 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 links (Amazon Affiliate or different packages we take part in). As an affiliate, I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases.
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 yr the place I realized extra about pet food diet.
Armed with extra data, I transitioned each canines to grain free kibble an then contemporary, frozen uncooked pet food.
Whereas my Dachshunds nonetheless primarily eat a uncooked weight loss program, they do eat kibble every now and then.
I might contemplate 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 might feed, one of many highest, and some in-between.
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 favor so as to add a little bit of canned meals as properly.
Generally, I feed them canned meals alone.
As a result of I favor to feed them simply canned meals over kibble, checked out what it might value 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, 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 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 isn’t immediately comparable as a result of lack of water (moisture) within the freeze dried uncooked.
Word: If you’re serious about feeding your Dachshund uncooked meals, learn this article first.
Recent Frozen Uncooked Canine Meals
Freeze Dried Uncooked Canine Meals
As you possibly can see, it’s unequivocal that freeze dried uncooked pet food is costlier than contemporary, 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 remaining resolution about what sorts 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.
Nonetheless, the truth is that I can’t maintain 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 correct stability, which is the principle factor stopping me from making a selection – I’m nonetheless researching substances and meals to ensure I’ve chosen the most effective one.
My price range
Whereas I might accept with the ability to feed 3 miniature Dachshunds for a similar value that I’ve been feeding two, my supreme aim can be to feed three whereas lowering that value.
If I had my approach, I might be capable of preserve an analogous high quality weight loss program to what I am currently feeding whereas lowering my month-to-month value to $250, however that’s not affordable.
After doing a little preliminary calculations, $400 is a greater estimate of what it is going to value, though I might be completely happy if I might convey that value all the way down to $350.
Accounting for different components
Apart from their regular meal, my Dachshunds additionally eat training treats, natural chews, and get food-stuffed enrichment toys.
Whereas this stuff 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 supplements.
Dietary supplements may be costly to buy, however typically final a number of months.
In different phrases, the price of the complement(s) could hit in a selected month however I solely “use” a portion of that value every month.
I’ll possible account for these prices in later calculations however, for now, I simply wished to have a look at the meals itself.
I’ll possible 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 in order for you see the food my Dachshunds eat. I’ll most likely replace the record with price range choices sooner or later.
