It is not uncommon for individuals to search for affordable dog food options rather than opting for a more expensive brand, given that dogs have hearty appetites. Nonetheless, the composition of high-end brands can differ significantly, prompting valid concerns regarding the quality of budget-friendly alternatives.
We have selected 13 various budget-friendly food options to evaluate and demonstrate the significant differences between brands. We will provide our opinions and critiques regarding each type of food, as well as offer insights into the ingredients and health advantages offered by each brand. In addition, we have included a brief buyer’s guide that explains the factors that differentiate superior brands and the necessary ingredients for each food.
This year, we have compiled a list of the best affordable dog food options by considering factors such as kibble size, ingredients, health benefits, cost, and more. Join us in exploring these options to make a well-informed purchase decision.
The 13 Best Budget Dog Foods
1. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Dog Food – Best Overall
Our top choice for the best budget dog food is Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Dog Food. Its main ingredient is US farm-raised chicken, and it also includes other high-quality ingredients to provide a complete and balanced meal. Brown rice and beet pulp contribute fiber and prebiotics to support your pet’s digestive health. Probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria in your dog’s gut, are necessary for proper digestion and a balanced digestive system. Additionally, the chicken fat in this food contains omega fats that promote healthy eye and brain development and contribute to a softer and shinier coat for your pet.
Rachael Ray Nutrish contains no soy or corn ingredients or chemical preservatives, with the only drawback being that certain dogs may not enjoy it due to their preference for less healthy food options.
2. Purina ONE SmartBlend Adult Dry Dog Food
Our runner-up for the best overall dog food is Purina ONE SmartBlend Adult Formula Dry Dog Food. This brand offers options with lamb, chicken, or turkey as the first ingredient. It is enriched with omega fats, which promote a glossy coat, and is also a natural source of glucosamine. Glucosamine is known to aid in joint health and arthritis, and is frequently prescribed by veterinarians for older dogs. However, younger dogs can benefit from it as well. Additionally, this dog food boasts a highly digestible formula that is gentle on your pet’s sensitive gastrointestinal tract.
The main issue with Purina ONE SmartBlend, similar to other nutritious dog foods, is that certain dogs may refuse to consume it.
3. Purina Puppy Chow Dry Dog Food – Best for Puppies
Our top pick for the best budget dog food for puppies is Purina Puppy Chow Complete Dry Dog Food. This brand specifically caters to puppies under one year with their specially formulated formula. It provides abundant carbohydrates for additional energy and incorporates up to 27% protein to support the rapid development of their muscular system. Additionally, it includes vitamin C to enhance the immune system, and the recipe boasts high digestibility, ensuring it won’t disrupt your pet’s sensitive digestive system.
One aspect of Purina Puppy Chow Complete that we were not fond of is its inclusion of corn, as it may result in digestive problems for certain animals.
4. Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Dry Dog Food
The Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Dry Dog Food is made with carefully chosen ingredients to guarantee a well-rounded diet that is free from chemicals and harmful preservatives. The primary ingredient listed is turkey, and it is also enriched with various complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, oat groats, pearled barley, and millet. Additionally, it contains taurine, which aids in multiple nervous system and brain functions. The food is strengthened with antioxidants and probiotics to enhance the immune system, while omega fatty acids support brain and eye development as well as promote a healthy coat.
One aspect we were not fond of regarding Gentle Giants is that the kibble size may be too large for smaller dogs, and additionally, some dogs did not enjoy it.
5. Iams ProActive Health Adult MiniChunks Dog Food
Our dogs really enjoyed Iams ProActive Health Adult MiniChunks Dry Dog Food, which has chicken as its main ingredient. The kibble size is smaller, making it ideal for smaller dogs. It contains ample fiber and probiotics to promote a healthy digestive system, and antioxidants are added to support your pet’s overall health. Additionally, this brand does not include any artificial colors or dyes.
Despite the fact that our dogs are fond of this brand, we were unable to rank it higher on the list due to certain concerning ingredients. One issue is its high corn content, which can be problematic for certain dogs, and it also contains chicken byproduct meal that we make an effort to steer clear of.
6. Purina Dog Chow Adult Dry Dog Food
Purina Dog Chow Complete Adult Dry Dog Food provides your pet with complete and balanced nutrition. It contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals, as well as omega fats to aid in your pet’s healthy development. Additionally, it includes whole American-raised chicken in its ingredients.
The main drawback of Purina Dog Chow Complete is that it primarily consists of corn, which may be challenging for certain dogs to digest. Additionally, it contains food dyes that can potentially lead to issues in numerous dogs, and some may even experience allergic reactions. Furthermore, when a bag is opened, it emits a strong odor that permeates the entire room, and we consider it to be quite pricey considering it predominantly relies on corn as its main component.
7. Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Dry Dog Food
The Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Dry Dog Food brand is designed for adult dogs. It is enriched with antioxidants and includes necessary vitamins and minerals. The inclusion of whole grains ensures a significant fiber content that aids in maintaining the balance of your pet’s digestive system. Additionally, it provides omega fats to promote a healthy coat.
Regrettably, the primary ingredient in Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition is corn, which is an ingredient we aim to steer clear of. Additionally, we observed that this particular brand led to excessive gassiness in our pets, resulting in uncontrollable flatulence. Moreover, certain dogs in our group experienced difficulty in chewing this type of kibble.
8. Kibbles ‘n Bits Original Dry Dog Food
Kibbles ‘n Bits Original Dry Dog Food comprises crunchy kibble and soft bits to introduce some diversity to your pet’s meal. Our dogs all appeared to enjoy the additional chicken and beef flavor, and it is enriched with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that aid in enhancing your dog’s immune system.
Regrettably, Kibbles ‘n Bits Original consists of numerous low-quality ingredients that we would typically advise against. The primary ingredient is corn instead of wholesome meats such as chicken, beef, or turkey. It is worth mentioning that no whole meat is listed in the ingredients. Furthermore, this food caused discomfort and itching in some of our dogs, and their coats appeared less glossy.
9. Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Adult Dry Dog
Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula Adult Dry Dog food is made with a variety of top-notch ingredients such as flaxseed, taurine, and carrots, and also includes superfoods like blueberries, spinach, and kale. This product is enriched with essential vitamins such as E, A, and B12, as well as vital minerals like copper, zinc, and iron. Additionally, it contains a special probiotic blend to promote a balanced digestive system and omega fats for a shiny coat.
The Diamond Naturals blend does not contain whole meats, but rather an ingredient called beef meal. Although some of our dogs enjoyed it, it resulted in loose stools and occasional diarrhea. We attribute the loose stools to the inclusion of pumpkin in the blend, but it may be wise to introduce this food gradually to your pet to avoid the onset of diarrhea. Additionally, eggs are another ingredient that numerous dogs have allergies to, so if your pet does not already consume food containing eggs, caution should be exercised.
10. True Acre Foods Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Despite being the last brand on our list to review, True Acre Foods Grain-Free Dry Dog Food still possesses some positive attributes. Its primary ingredient is chicken, and it further includes antioxidants, fiber, and Omega fats. This food does not contain corn or artificial dyes, and the fruits and vegetables used are farm-grown and thoroughly inspected for quality.
Many of our dogs did not have a consistent experience with True Acre Foods. Some of them did not like this brand at all. The dogs that did enjoy it would experience gas and need to go outside frequently. Our main issue was the presence of poultry byproduct, although it is not ranked high on the ingredient list. Additionally, the kibble may be difficult for certain dogs to chew and tended to be dusty.
11. Diamond Naturals All Life Stages Chicken & Rice
Diamond Naturals All Life Stages Chicken & Rice is an affordable dry dog food of excellent quality. It does not include corn and wheat, but does include grains and all the beneficial ingredients you desire for your dog’s diet. It avoids artificial flavors, color, and preservatives that you wouldn’t want to feed your dog.
12. Nature’s Recipe Adult Lamb, Barley & Brown Rice
Nature’s Recipe Adult Lamb, Barley & Brown Rice is a wallet-friendly option that provides delicious food without artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors. This kibble includes grains to promote satiety and support healthy digestion.
13. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
Although slightly pricier than other options on our list, Blue Buffalo’s Life Protection Formula offers numerous benefits as it is created using high-quality ingredients to ensure your dog receives the healthiest possible diet.
Characteristics of a Good Dog Food
Although it is understandable that you want to save money on dog food, it is still crucial that you ensure your dog receives high-quality food.
When selecting one of the most affordable dog foods, it is important to follow these step-by-step guidelines and consider the following concepts.
- Only purchase dog foods made in the USA, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, or New Zealand . Foods made in these countries are subject to much stricter safety standards than foods made in developing nations. Pet food from countries like China may contain harmful ingredients and are less likely to be the subject of recalls, putting pups at risk.
- Avoid dog foods that contain artificial colors, flavors, or other additives . Good dog foods will appeal to your dog without these unnecessary and potentially harmful ingredients. Many dogs, for example, suffer from food allergies courtesy of the artificial dyes in their food.
- Good dog foods are meat-based recipes that list a whole source of protein first . For example, rather than chicken meal, good foods list whole chicken as their first ingredient. Chicken meal and other labeled meat meals are great sources of protein, but it’s always best to stick to whole proteins whenever possible.
- Good dog foods do not contain unidentified or vaguely characterized meat meals or by-products . While many owners often eschew meat meals and byproducts, these items can be valuable additions to good dog food. The important thing is that they are labeled correctly. For example, chicken meal is a perfectly acceptable ingredient; poultry meal is not.
- Good dog foods include a variety of fruits and vegetables . These items help supply carbohydrates, additional proteins, and a broad array of vitamins and minerals to your dog. Many improve a food’s taste, too, in addition to providing natural fiber for digestion. Colorful fruits – tomatoes, blueberries, and carrots – are particularly valuable, as they are typically packed with antioxidants.
- Good dog foods address any specific health concerns your dog has . You’ll always want to keep your dog’s specific health issues in mind when selecting a food — even if you’re trying to save money while doing so. For example, dogs with sensitive stomachs may need foods containing probiotics or limited ingredient lists, while dogs with dental issues may need a wet dog food.
Where Do You Compromise For Budget-Friendly Dog Food?
If manufacturers were capable of producing a low-cost premium dog food, they would have done it already. However, superior ingredients are more expensive compared to lower quality ones. As a result, inexpensive dog foods generally compromise when formulating their recipes.
The key is to differentiate between the ones that make acceptable compromises to lower the food cost and those that do not.
Below are some of the compromises that are considered acceptable.
Grains
In recent years, grain-free dog foods have gained popularity among owners, making them a likely better option compared to those containing wheat and corn.
If your dog is not allergic to a particular grain, it might be cost-effective to choose a dog food that includes grains.
Furthermore, due to the FDA’s discovery of a connection between DCM (Canine dilated cardiomyopathy) and grain-free foods, the popularity of grain-free dog food has diminished and it might not be the most suitable option for your dog.
Although grain-inclusive dog foods are now more commonly recommended, it is still important to ensure that a genuine protein remains as the primary ingredient.
When considering food choices, it is preferable to select foods that contain whole grains instead of processed grains. Whole grains offer a higher amount of fiber and have fewer calories per pound compared to processed grains.
It is important to consider that various grains possess different nutritional values. Some grains are more suitable for your pup compared to others.
Some examples of grains that are considered healthier are:
- Brown rice
- Oatmeal
- Barley
However, grains of lesser quality should be steered clear of, for example:
- Wheat
- Corn
- Brewer’s rice
Probiotics
The inclusion of probiotic ingredients is becoming more common in premium dog foods.
These aids are believed to enhance digestion, regulate the colon of your pup, and decrease the population of detrimental bacteria residing in your dog’s gastrointestinal system.
They can be helpful for any breed or combination thereof, but are particularly beneficial for breeds with known digestive issues like dachshunds and German shepherds.
Just like any other ingredients, canine probiotics come with a price.
Most budget-priced brands choose not to include them in order to reduce costs. However, although they are beneficial and valuable when part of a dog food recipe, the lack of these ingredients does not make a food unworthy of consideration.
If your dog can handle yogurt, you can consider mixing a small amount of non-sweetened dog-safe yogurt with their food.
Probiotic bacteria can be found in certain yogurts, which may offer a more cost-effective method of promoting a healthy gut flora for your dog.
Meat Meals and By-Products
Dog owners often avoid meat meals and meat by-products because the methods used to produce these products are generally unappealing.
However, these ingredients frequently serve as a reliable, straightforward, and economical approach to increasing the protein level of a food.
It is crucial to bear in mind that chicken meal (for instance) and meat meal are two completely different things.
The main components of chicken meal will be dehydrated chicken muscle, whereas meat meal can contain a wide range of animals from various sources, including some unpleasant sources like roadkill or euthanized pets.
By-products, in contrast, often include innards or feet, which may appear unappetizing to humans but are valuable sources of nutrition for many animals in their natural habitats.
Omega Fatty Acids, Antioxidants, and Other Supplements
Modern dog foods often contain added ingredients, such as omega fatty acids, antioxidants, chondroitin, glucosamine, or other beneficial components, to provide dogs with nutritional benefits.
While they come with various advantages, these options can also be costly.
Unless your dog has a specific need for these ingredients, such as dry skin or joint problems, it may be wise to choose foods that do not contain them.
Supplementing your dog’s food with fish oil and other substances containing omega fatty acids may be a more cost-effective option, similar to probiotics.
Additionally, foods that are lacking antioxidants can be enhanced by incorporating a few blueberries or a slice of tomato. Similarly, the inclusion of a scoop of plain pumpkin contributes to the promotion of digestive health by providing a dose of fiber.
Best Budget-Friendly Dog Foods FAQ
To simplify the process of finding quality dog food within your budget, we have addressed the most frequently asked questions related to this subject.
What is the healthiest, most economical dog food?
To choose the healthiest inexpensive dog food for your dog, consider their specific requirements. As long as you opt for a trustworthy brand that caters to your pet’s dietary needs and adheres to AAFCO standards for their current life stage, you are making an excellent decision.
When you browse individual foods, make sure to choose those that have a whole, high-quality protein as the primary ingredient and wholesome, easily digestible carbohydrates like brown rice if your dog can handle grains. It is also beneficial to check the ingredients as many of the current commercial dog foods have added supplements such as probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids, which may replace the need for separate supplements you may be using and provide more value for your money.
A few examples of affordable dog food brands that are still of superior quality include Diamond Naturals, Rachael Ray Nutrish, and Iams.
What cheap food can I feed my dog?
If stored properly, dry kibble can offer significant cost savings and a reasonable shelf life. Brands like Diamond Naturals, IAMS, Purina One, and Rachael Ray Nutrish are among the affordable options that provide kibble. While it is important to check the ingredients, these brands generally strive to offer balanced nutrition with natural ingredients at an affordable price.
What do you feed a dog on a budget?
When shopping on a budget, the first step is to choose the appropriate type of dog food. Dry kibble, which is the least expensive option, is highly recommended for pet owners with a limited budget due to its long shelf life and added essential vitamins and minerals. In terms of cost savings, opting for a larger bag is also a wise decision. If you prefer wet food, consider purchasing larger cans as they provide more value for your money, considering the usually high price of canned food.
When searching for brands, prioritize those that provide well-rounded nutrition with natural ingredients whenever possible, such as whole proteins, real produce, and grains. Although opting for these brands might be slightly more expensive than the cheapest alternatives, it can ultimately save you money on veterinary expenses, particularly if your dog has sensitivities. Additionally, some brands include additional benefits like salmon oil, probiotics, and glucosamine, which can potentially save you money on buying supplements separately.
Diamond Naturals, Purina ONE, and Rachael Ray Nutrish are dog food brands that are inexpensive while still providing high-quality nutrition for adult dogs.
Is it OK to feed your dog cheap dog food?
Yes, it is important to keep in mind that feeding your pet is clearly preferable to not feeding them. Do not feel obligated to purchase expensive products if they are beyond your budget. In reality, many affordable dog foods provide a well-balanced diet and contain a generous amount of nutritious ingredients, including real chicken and whole grains. On the other hand, this cannot be said for certain high-end brands that cost double or even more.
There are multiple suitable options to ensure your dog’s well-being on a tight budget. Any of the products mentioned above would be a great choice for your pet. However, it is important to consider your dog’s specific requirements before making a decision.
Have you discovered any budget-friendly healthy dog foods that you’d like to share with us? Perhaps you’ve come across a dry dog food that is both affordable and meets your budget. Maybe you’ve experimented with various inexpensive dog food options and found one that you prefer. We are eager to hear about the foods you’ve utilized to stay within your budget.
