MoneySaving for dog owners

MSE_Sarah

Hi,

We've written a new guide on MoneySaving for dog owners and would love your feedback.

Please let us know if it was helpful and if there are any other tips you'd add.

Thanks for your help!

Pollycat

Don't we have a 'Pets and Pet Care' board?

suki1964

Pollycat wrote: »

Don't we have a 'Pets and Pet Care' board?

Beat me to it

Really annoys me ( so Ive had a tough week ) when the paid staff cant get things right. Its bad enough when the unpaid board guides mess things up

*Robin*

Might be a good idea to put this thread on the pet board as well, just in case there are any dog owners [or potential owners] who do not look at this "main" MRF board.

The biggest problem I have with the guide is the advice on raw feeding.

Vets spend seven years studying, of which one single afternoon is dedicated to canine nutrition [we used to have a family friend who was a vet school director - he said that unless his students choose to specialise in nutrition, they get one lecture on it - sponsored by a major kibble manufacturer - so very, very biased].

Add to this that vets usually only see dogs in trouble - in fact statistically they are much less likely to see clients who are given a properly balanced raw diet, except for annual check-ups - because these animals generally have far fewer health issues than kibble fed pets [much less obesity, teeth problems and perhaps also major health issues associated with long term consumption of sugars and carbs, eg. cancer].
It's worth noting that vets get a good income from selling "specialist kibbles" - produced by the same companies who sponsored their lecture on nutrition - so obviously vets will encourage their clients to buy kibble from them.

So, suggesting that MSE members should consult a vet about canine nutrition is, frankly, not a good idea - unless of course the vet has done their own research, and thus sells a complete range of diet options, including wet tinned food or pouches, and packs of frozen raw [mine does. She actually says she only suggests kibble to clients who she thinks are incapable of providing their pets with a balanced raw diet].

These days it's not hard to find out how to source a properly balanced raw food diet. There are a number of very well informed groups on social media - google "BARF UK diet" or "Prey Model Raw". Also puppy club organisers, dog trainers and behaviourists are likely to recommend raw feeding - they see the results every day [it's like the difference between children who gorge on junk food packed with additives, and those who are given a healthy diet].

Another advantage is the output. A kibble fed dog will poo four or more times per day, whereas a raw fed animal eliminates once or twice - so an MSE saving in poo bags right there! As a practical comparison; our neighbour's Yorkie produces at least twice the volume of waste as my 18kg mutt - and wow, do the Yorkie's sloppy poos stink to high heaven!

There is now a network of suppliers who deliver great quality frozen raw pet food nationally. It costs me £10 - 14pw to feed Mutt [I don't buy the cheapest brands available]. When considering whether kibble would be more MSE, I include vet fees [for avoidable issues related to diet] in my calculation - zero this year and last [not counting annual check-up].

Your guide also mentions getting butchers' scraps for a dog - but you say nothing about the importance of freezing these scraps to avoid parasites and tummy bugs. Also be wary of "butchers' mince for pets" as this is likely to be a random mix of anything they can't sell, which certainly won't have been properly balanced in the same way as meat from a registered raw food supplier.

Finally, your guide talks about buying toothpaste and brushing your dog's teeth. This is not necessary for raw fed pets - a meaty bone regularly does a better job with a lot less effort for the owner - very MSE.

onwards&upwards

Here’s a tip to add: raw feeding is a religion to some people, don’t even mention it unless you want a massive lecture including a few slurs on vets!

HampshireH

Really annoys me when people feel the need to imply dog owners who feed dry food arent good or capable owners. Doesnt make people bag dog owners. It just means that it works for them and their dog.

She actually says she only suggests kibble to clients who she thinks are incapable of providing their pets with a balanced raw diet].!

How ignorant of your vet. Some dogs require a non-raw diet, others thrive when not on one. To suggest she only advises kibble to people she feels are incapable of managing raw is poor, so I hope that's a misrepresentation of her comments. She should offer her advice on a case by case basis taking into consideration each pets needs.

A kibble fed dog will poo four or more times per day, whereas a raw fed animal eliminates once or twice - so an MSE saving in poo bags right there

I have a dog on dry food. He eats twice a day and poos twice a day. No excess poo bag expenditure here.

When considering whether kibble would be more MSE, I include vet fees [for avoidable issues related to diet] in my calculation - zero this year and last [not counting annual check-up].

Never had a vet fee due to any food related issues either. I sit in your boat here (excluding a nasty tick in the foot and under the skin incident)

Finally, your guide talks about buying toothpaste and brushing your dog's teeth. This is not necessary for raw fed pets - a meaty bone regularly does a better job with a lot less effort for the owner - very MSE.

Our boy gets a meaty bone regularly too. These aren't unique to raw fed dogs.

My point is, each to their own. People are free to make their choices as long as their pets are well cared for and are healthy - as many dry food eating pets are. Just like raw fed ones.

Fire_Fox

*Robin*
Kibble is a US term. The US public has very different standards and very different attitudes to 'healthy' pet food, pet supplements, 'healthy' human food and human supplements. Frighteningly so.

Appearing "very well informed" is vastly different to being very well informed. Do you know what the maximum safe daily dose of fish oil is for a domestic cat? Neither does anyone else! Veterinary experts have not set one because there is insufficient research. In fact there is insufficient research on a host of 'health' supplements or 'nutritional' additives in our pets.

Where are "groups on social media ... puppy club organisers, dog trainers and behaviourists" accessing evidence-based information on nutrition and health? Hold them to the same standards of education and research as we hold veterinarians.

"The RSPCA recommends speaking to your vet before you go down this route" =/= "MSE members should consult a vet about canine nutrition"
Your translation altered the meaning of this sentence. You also disregarded the risks of a veterinarian not knowing about diet or supplements when prescribing medication or planning an operation (accident/ injury/ illness).

How is your veterinarian's income stream from alternative/ specialist pet food any different than other veterinarians' income stream from mainstream/ specialist pet food?

"... statistically [vets] are much less likely to see clients who are given a properly balanced raw diet ... because these animals generally have far fewer health issues than kibble fed pets"
Link to statistics please.

BTW I am neither fully pro- nor fully anti- a complete raw diet for domestic dogs and cats. In fact my last cat was partly raw-fed. I am not a fan of grain-laden, low quality protein diets.

My study/ work background is lifestyle healthcare (human). IMO the SkeptVet blog is decent: it highlights (the many) areas where research is limited or absent, and the strong caregiver placebo effect.

[Deleted User]

IMO the budget is wholly inadequate. It quotes £105 per month for a large dog .


Well I have a Bullmastiff and he costs about £400 a month,


Insurance / vet plan for wormers, flea, injections etc £126pm
Good quality food £150 per month
Treats £25 pm
Balance on dog sitter / walker as and when needed.