Price Range of Raw Diet?

[slinger]

I feed Prey Model raw, and Casino eats between 1 3/4 and 2 lbs. a day. He weighs around 95 lbs. at almost 1 year old. He has eaten this amount since he was 7 weeks old, and has always been lean and muscular.

Those of you who feed ground, just remember that teeth cleaning is one of the biggest benefits of feeding raw. So be sure to feed some complicated food occasionally.

As far as cost goes, I buy most of my meat in bulk, and it all averages out to about $1 a lb.

[beans]

I have a 63 lb nottweiler girl. I feed home-prepared raw (ground turkey, ground beef, turkey necks, turkey wings, beef liver/kidney/heart, and veggies). Though I don't feed it, chicken is usually pretty inexpensive, and you can often find good deals on cases of necks or backs. The butcher I go to sells ground meat scraps for .55 cents a lb, and chicken backs for .34 cents a lb.

I usually buy 2 months worth of meat at the butcher, and then prepare a months worth - which goes into daily gladware containers (I am a bit more anal about preparation then many folks who feed raw.) I think it works out to about 2.5 lbs of food per day (shes got a high metabolism-high energy). Since I was at the butcher this weekend, I can tell you what I spent. Total was appx $85 for a month of food (meat and vegs). Ground Turkey $1.34 lb, Ground Beef $2.50 lb, Turkey Wings $1.78 lb, Beef Kidney .89 lb, Beef Heart $1.48 lb, Beef Liver $1.10 lb. I pay an additional charge for the turkey neck to have the butcher grind it for me (they are .90 a lb as is).

Many areas will have raw food co-ops, which allow you to buy in bulk for good prices. You'll save $ in the long run if you can get a freezer, and buy in bulk. Good luck!

[TravisBlanchard]

I was wondering if any one has had a problem with feeding their dog commercial dog food after having them on a raw diet. I wish to put my pup on a raw diet from the beginning but I don't want to spoil my pup to the point that he would not eat commercial dog food if I were unable to prepare his raw diet for a week or so.

[AngelBunny]

Our personal dogs are two bitches, 8 yo and 9 yo (give or take--both are rescues, so we're not 100% sure).

Up until June 27, 2007 they were fed premium kibble when they were switched (cold turkey) to a raw diet (raw prey model).

Since then, they've eaten a handful of kibble meals (CA Nat).

They had not problem gobbling down the kibble.

Because my dogs aren't picky eaters? Or ate kibble for so many years?? I don't know.

But, I do know that no healthy dog is going to starve him or herself to death if they can't get their preferred meal for a couple of days.

If I were you, I'd go ahead and fed a raw diet and not worry about your dog starving to death if you can't provide raw for a few days.

[TravisBlanchard]

Thanks for the advice, it's much appreciated.