Cheap dog food doesn’t have to mean cheap ingredients that are harmful to your dogs health, and while the very cheapest brands contain low quality ingredients like byproducts, corn and wheat there are still some very affordable foods on the market that are both healthful as well as wallet friendly.

The main thing when seeking out cheap dog foods is finding one at a low price that contains a larger quantity of high quality ingredients. Keep in mind ingredients found on the bag are listed in order of density inclusive of water weight. Also, meat should be the  primary ingredient in any dog food.

When selecting a cheap dog food make sure the brand you choose does not include certain ingredients.

Ingredients To Avoid In Cheap Dog Food:

Corn, corn gluten meal
Animal by products, chicken by products, by products of any kind
Wheat if at all possible

Examples of Good Ingredients:

Meat listed simply (chicken, beef), meat listed in meal form (chicken meal, salmon meal)

Stay away from grocery store brands.

While it can be convenient and often times inexpensive to pick up cheap dog food while shopping at your grocery store, the brands found in such stores tend to be not only cheap but filled with unsavory ingredients such as by products, corn and other fillers, as well as an over abundance of fat (cheap dog food brands are often sprayed with animal fat in order to make them palatable). Instead, opt for a trip to your local pet store where there are affordable dog food brands available, and while they may not be top of the line, they contain a much higher quantity of better quality ingredients than you’ll find in cheap grocery store dog food brands.

A couple of cheap dog food brands that you may consider are Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul (which we did a write up about on our Dog Food Ratings) page, as well as Kirkland which is available at Costco. Both of these brands are easy on the wallet while being safe food choices for your dogs.

Of course, there are proponents for and against the BARF raw diet for dogs, with critics pointing out that domesticated dogs are not wolves, and do not have the same protein and meat requirements due to more sedated lifestyle. As we know too much protein in any species can be potentially damaging to the kidneys, resulting in serious health complications up to and including death. Also, there are those that would worry about bacteria in raw food, as while dogs do have a shorter digestive track and can usually ingest raw food without harm, should the raw meat not be stored properly it could become a potential bacteria danger.

Those are are for the raw diet would cite that many dogs these days are dying from cancer, as well as other diseases that may be attributed to the commercial dog food (further studies will need to confirm or deny this) that most dogs today are fed as their main food source. Furthermore, many who have fed a raw diet to their dogs have noted improvements in the skin, coat, energy level, and breath of their dogs, as well as a decrease in amount of stools. It is well known that higher quality foods tend to decrease the amount of bowel movements that a dog needs to have, as they also need to eat less food to meet their nutritional requirements. Another consideration is that many commercial dog kibbles contain corn and/or wheat, ingredients that many dogs are allergic to. Corn has no nutritional value to a dog and is unfortunately the chief ingredient in many lower grade dog kibble brands.

What exactly does the BARF raw diet for dogs consist of? The BARF diet suggest feeding dogs a diet that closely resembles that of what their wolf ancestors would have been eating in the wild. Raw meat including meat from muscles and organs, as well as raw animal bones (never give a dog cooked bones as they could splinter and cause internal damage and even death), and some amount of raw vegetables are generally incorporated into the raw diet for dogs. NOTE: When implementing a raw diet for dogs it’s important not to overlook the importance of adding raw bones into the dog’s diet as chewing bones is a great natural way to keep your dog’s teeth and gums clean and healthy.

NB: GoodDogBreeds.com does not endorse any specific canine diet and suggests that all dog owners do adequate research before deciding if a raw diet for dogs is best for their pets.

Also, you’ll certainly want to keep an eye on your dog’s general overall health, and if you notice anything out of the ordinary such as lack of appetite, loose stools/diarrhea, vomiting or lethargy consult a veterinary professional immediately. Even if you are low on funds, a phone call costs nothing and a veterinarian can let you know if there is cause for alarm. If you are concerned that there is something wrong with a batch of your pet’s food, you should also call the manufacturer and inquire whether or not others are reporting the same or similar issues. Furthermore, a quick Google search will often indicate whether other dog owners are also experiencing issues with the same brand of food, or if your dog may be suffering symptoms from another cause.

Unfortunately, there are likely to be many more dog food recalls in the future, and just like with human food recalls they should be taken seriously as they directly effect the health of your dog.