I have four dogs that range from about 15 years old (I don't know the exact details because they are rescue dogs) to 8 and a half years old, and I've managed to raise them to senior status. I've had dogs around all kinds of dogs my whole life. So many dogs. And there's one thing I learned a long time ago that still stands today. That means there's a lot of value in expensive pet food.
I value quality nutrition for myself and those around me, so you'll never catch me feeding my animals Kibbles and Bits or Ol' Roi. I always buy “good stuff”. Despite all the challenges, I'm sure that's a big part of what has kept my dog going this long.
According to Synchrony Bank's Pet Lifetime Care Survey, we spend approximately $434 to $684 per year on food for each dog and $351 to $584 per year on food for each cat. It is important that you get the best return on these expenses.
What a veterinarian told me about pet food
I have 4 senior dogs so I spend a lot of time at the vet. But it also allows me to talk to the staff, which is great for me and the dog. I will study a lot. One day, the topic of pet nutrition came up as my vet was recommending transitioning my dog to a geriatric food.
I asked him which one was the best. And he taught me several brands, but his most important lesson was that you need to pay close attention to the label on the bag. Commercial dog foods (i.e. non-prescription foods made to meet specific needs) must complete and pass feeding testing that meets AAFCO standards.
Although many dog foods can carry a label that says they are “nutritionally equivalent to products proven using AAFCO feeding trials,” it is not the same. AAFCO feeding trials measure what goes into your dog's body (what the food is made of), what stays in the dog's body (which nutrients are used by the body), and what comes back ( which nutrients were not processed).
Differences in pet food prices
Foods that have completed and passed AAFCO feeding testing tend to be more expensive because the hard work of testing is costly. For example, a 16-pound bag of Kibbles and Bits costs about $0.94 per pound on Chewy.com, and an 18-pound bag of Pedigree costs $0.95. Neither food has undergone his AAFCO feeding trials. However, Hill's Science Diet costs $3.88 per pound for a 15.5 pound bag, and Purina Pro Plan costs $2.92 per pound for a 17 pound bag.
|
brand |
AAFCO feeding test? |
bag size |
price per pound |
total amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kibbles & Bits |
no |
16 pounds |
$0.94 |
$14.97 |
|
Pedigree |
no |
18 pounds |
$0.95 |
$16.98 |
|
hills science diet |
yes |
15.5 pounds |
$3.88 |
$59.99 |
|
purina pro plan |
yes |
17 pounds |
$2.92 |
$49.58 |
Data source: Chewy.com. Data is accurate as of March 7, 2024.
As you can see, it's not cheap to feed a brand that even goes as far as feed testing, but it's still important. Much is known about these foods and will help guide your dog's lifelong medical decisions, as opposed to cheaper foods that are all guesswork.
Prescription dog foods are a completely different story, but they're often covered by pet insurance, so you can at least have some help cutting down on those costs.
The main unexpected advantage of expensive pet food: Consistency
It seems silly to say that knowing what goes in and what comes out of a dog during a feeding trial will lead to a more consistent understanding of how the food works. It may sound like. After all, it's food, we know how it works.
But feeding your dog grains is not the same as going to the market and buying tomatoes. Formulated foods don't always work as planned because nutrients, such as vitamin D and calcium, need to be present at the same time to be effective. If you don't get enough vitamin D, even if you get all the calcium in the world, you'll only end up with urinary stones and brittle bones.
Knowing what your dog can absorb from food can help answer your questions. For example, my oldest dog recently developed anemia, but she is eating food that has passed the AAFCO feeding test for her age and condition, so I am sure she is getting enough iron in her diet. You can see that there are.
By making a quick diagnosis, you can eliminate other possibilities, save time, and quickly move on to improving her quality of life. It can also save you (and your pet insurance) money by potentially skipping tests that you know aren't necessary.
Expensive pet food is worth more than the price
So are expensive pet foods worth it? That's true. I feel like it's great value for what I get. It may be on the surface, but it lasts for a long time. Additionally, I was able to keep my active senior dog well-fed and even grow a malnourished kitten into a large, lean cat.
Even if you have insurance for your pet, high-quality pet food will help them live their best life.
