Good News :)

[Courtneyd137]

what about purina pro plan canned dog food how is that. They have it at my local petmart for 99 cent a can.

[amalie79]

The Purina web site recommends 3 or so large cans per day for a mediumish sized dog. At that price, you can get a great dry dog food.

What does your dog weigh, and approximately how many cups of food do you feed per day?

[Courtneyd137]

she weighs 40 and 1 quart of food a day not sure how many cups that is.

[Courtneyd137]

4 cups but im starting to just feed 2 cups twice a day

[starrlamia]

Oh that's a lot, we feed high quality food and my 45 lb bully eats two cups a day. So it does even out

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[amalie79]

Yep-- when I was feeding all kibble, my very active two 45lb pit bulls and my lazy 65lb lab all ate the same amount-- 2 cups a day of Taste of the Wild (1 in the AM, 1 in the PM).

If you're getting Dog Chow at 50lbs for $20, then you're paying 40¢/lb, and feeding 4 cups per day. If you feed a food that you only need to feed half that amount (and bear in mind that what the bag says is the right amount is almost always too much-- they're trying to sell food, remember!!), then you could pay roughly twice as much on the food and come out the same, cost-wise--

so 40¢/lb at 4cups per day is equal to 80¢/lb at 2cups per day.

Does that make sense? I actually do a much more detailed cost analysis when I'm working this stuff out, but this will give you a rough idea of the cost/cost savings.

A couple of brands comparable to Kirklands (actually made by the same company) are Diamond Naturals and 4Health. 4Health Chicken and Rice is about $30 for a 35lb bag, which is 85¢/lb. Diamond Naturals Chicken and Rice is about $29 for a 40lb bag, which is 72¢/lb-- making it even cheaper than dog chow since you only need to feed half as much. Canidae is another one that's similar, and that you can often find for around $1/lb. PLUS, if your dogs are healthier, that's less money spent on vet bills.

Those three brands can usually be found at local pet supply stores, but I usually shop at Tractor Supply, Atwoods, other farm and ranch stores, or farmer's co-ops for the best prices.

[Courtneyd137]

The only thing about it we also have a lil 7 pound dog thats missing teeth and an elder cockerspaniel mix that cant eat some foods

[amalie79]

If you feed at set times instead of leaving it out all day, you can soak the kibble to make it softer and easier to eat. Can also make the food smellier, gravier, and overall more enticing for picky eaters.

[Courtneyd137]

i do i take the food out there when i take her outside in the morning but she doesnt eat right then she would rather wait until later in the day. she will not eat when you take the food out there she waits until she's ready we feed 2 cuts about 7:30 in the morning and another 2 at night when we bring her in usually about 10 at night... Yes i interact with her through out the day so she isnt out there alone

[amalie79]

I think someone addressed in an earlier post how to transition a dog to set meal times. I transitioned my dog at 13years old and he'd been free fed his whole life. Plus, she'll have less to eat all at once.

[amelie]

It sounds to me like you still live with your parents. I understand if they are stubborn and wont switch what kind of food they buy. Dog chow may not be the best but there are worse foods out there. Is there any way you could get a part time job after school and buy your choice of food for her? Even odd jobs in your neighborhood, like babysitting or mowing lawns could give you plenty of cash to buy a really good food.

[Courtneyd137]

Yeah ive been looking for a full time job since i dont go to school anymore im going to get my ged in august..

[amelie]

Don't give up. Jobs are hard to find nowadays, just keep trying. I really hope you can get her something better. As far as your mum saying the other digs teeth are bad and he can't eat other kinds....id mention to her that all kibbles are just about the same hardness as dog chow. Maybe a kind with smaller kibbles would actually be easier for him to chew.

[Courtneyd137]

yeah.. I know ive been trying to tell her that.. but they are such picky eaters

[amelie]

There are many many many different foods. There HAS to be others they will like.