Skip to content

Less expensive raw food?

Basenji Feeding
  • I've been feeding my two Bs Steve's Real Food - it comes as frozen chunks in a 10-lb. bag. Both dogs love it and do very well on it. Neither of them seem to tolerate dry food, though. Anytime that one gets diarrhea, it's generally from eating a lot of kibble (Merrick's Wilderness Blend).

    I'd stick with the Steve's Real Food but it's really expensive. $30/bag, and I'm going through three bags each month.

    Any recommendations on a similar raw food that doesn't cost as much?

    Thanks in advance!

  • How about real raw food? Not sure where you're located, but there are a number of raw food groups that could help you find what you're looking for (check out Yahoo groups). I feed my boy raw for about $1/lb. He gets about 1/2 lb. a day, so he's fed for $.50 a day, pretty much.

  • My boxer is on raw because of food allergies. They kept raising the prices over 3 months so eventually it was costing me $70. per week! I bought my own grinder over the internet. It's in between a commercial and home use one and should work for me. Because she does have allergies, I have started with a base of hamburger only (her sire is allergic to chicken) and will start adding things to it. There is also a vitamin called Bio Vites that can be added to raw food for people who make their own raw. Right now it's costing me about $20 per week to feed a 65 lb dog. Just a thought you might want to keep in mind if prices keep going up. While I am limited in what I can give her, you could add your own ingredients. I believe it's about 10% organ meat, 10% veggies, and whole eggs crushed in, shells and all in a base of food. I'm still working on my levels, but it's something I had to do. If I get it right, I may change the Basenji's over as well. I know they do better on raw than kibble, but it will be something to think about.

  • Well, I may try making the raw food for the Bs. Does anyone have a good recipe (including both ingredients and process - I've never done this before and can't even cook for myself!)? Do I need a food processor of some kind?

    Lori

  • I know you'll need a grinder that can grind bones, which is why I opted for one of the stronger ones. Chicken bones are fairly easy to grind up, they are light bones. I'm sure if you look on the internet, there are raw food groups that can help you. Like I said, I am limited, here's one website that had a listing: http://www.animalhomeopathy.net/id19.html.
    Here's another link on FAQ that I found interesting as well. http://www.rawlearning.com/rawfaq.html
    Hope these help.

  • Here is what Only Natural Pet carries, maybe it might give an idea of what Raw brands are out there, http://search.onlynaturalpet.com/search.aspx?searchterms=raw-pet-food

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    4 Posts
    4k Views
    dmeyD
    every time I hear things like that about raw feeding I ask myself the same questions.. what about Prime rib? what about steak served rare?. what about carpaccio, steak tartare, sushi,. and all kinds of meat and vegetables we eat raw..and like you mention. what about everyday handling of meat by.. uh everyone?
  • Food recall

    Basenji Feeding
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    11k Views
    sabaS
    Ive just put one of my guys on TOTW, and just bought a bag yesterday. Thankfully this bag appears to not be affected, BUT… I have 4 sample packs, one of which is open and has been fed to the dog... I cant find a Production Code box on any of the sample packs ??? Should I just chuck them out, or does anyone know how I can check to see if these are contaminated ??? ETA Im in Australia, and have heard nothing about this recall, until I came here today...
  • Dry food and real food!

    Basenji Feeding
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    7k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Fran, what does BAB after your name stand for?
  • Food Question

    Basenji Feeding
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    tanzaT
    @agilebasenji: If you and your vet are happy with their weight, I would not change the amount you're feeding them. However, my pups need more calories in the winter to maintain their weight. Treats - my pups love sweet potatoes and raw (or cooked) zucchinis. sometimes dogs like green beans or carrots. at my house, tri-ing is really bad about taking the carrots, chewing them up and spitting them out all over the place. Yea, thanks Jet. Otherwise, they also like cheese, waffles, eggs, etc, but given you pup's allergies, you may not want to try the later. LOL…. leave it to the "Tri-ing" to make a mess out of the carrots!!!!
  • Good Food

    Basenji Feeding
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    6k Views
    Chelbell26C
    @Robin_n_Jack: I was having the same problem with Jack recently…he's 2...he wouldn't eat, I called it his anorexic phase. He would eat acouple of bites in the morning, ad about half of his food in the afternoon. There has been a lot of excitement around lately (Dad's home, and we are packing to move) so I thought that might have something to do with it, and I figured he would eat when he was hungry. He hasn't been acting lethargic or sick, just not eating. Finally, after trying everything I could think of, treats in with the food (worked for a little while) pretending to eat it my self and trying to hand feed him(he looked at me like "If you think it is so good, why don't you eat it?) this morning I mixed some water in with the food. Next thing I know, it was all gone. Yay! no more Ally McBeal doggie! Glad to hear that he is eating again. :-) I think we all know what its like to worry that your B isn't eating enough. :rolleyes:
  • Homemade food…

    Basenji Feeding
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    7k Views
    youngandtiredY
    I have now switched from Blue Buffalo food to Merricks wet and dry. The Blue Buffalo was hard to get, I had to buy it out of town. I get Merricks locally, and Sahara absoutely eats it better than all the rest. She is a picky eater and doesn't have a big appetite, but man oh man is she waiting when it is meal time now. She cleans her dish, a new thing for her. I am very happy, I use the dry also with about 1/4 cup of wet mixed in. I add alittle warm water to the dry (it makes it's own gravy) heat the wet alittle and add to the dry. Yes, I know Sahara is spoiled b/c I heat her wet food but what the heck, she is worth it, only takes a few seconds. Merricks is pricey $2 per can but I make it last for about 4-5 meals. Anyways, if you read the can and bag of the dry you will see what I mean, it is very good dog food and the family that has the company has been in business for 3 decades.