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Raw dog food: how to judge value, not just price

Raw dog food is priced and packaged very differently from bag to bag, so the number on the front rarely tells you what you are actually paying per meal. Working out the price per kilo, checking how much of the weight is genuinely edible, and matching the pack size to your freezer and your dog's appetite is a far better way to judge value than comparing headline prices alone.

Why the sticker price is misleading

Raw food is sold in wildly different formats: individual frozen blocks, chubs, minces, complete formulas with bone and offal already balanced in, and single-protein trays meant to be mixed. A higher price on one pack can still work out cheaper per kilo than a lower price on a smaller one, so the only fair comparison is price divided by weight, not price on its own.

It is also worth checking whether a formula is complete and balanced or a mixer meant to sit alongside another food. A complete raw meal and a plain mince cost differently for good reason, and comparing them head to head is not comparing like with like.

Working out the real cost per meal

Once you know your dog's daily raw allowance in grams, divide the pack price by its weight to get a price per kilo, then multiply that by the daily amount to get a genuine cost per day. This is the only number worth writing down and comparing between products.

Buying in bulk trays or multi-packs usually brings the price per kilo down noticeably compared with single portions, provided you have the freezer space to store it and the discipline to defrost only what you need for the next day or two.

What actually affects raw food value

Protein matters: poultry-based raw is generally the most affordable, while game meats such as venison or duck usually cost more per kilo. If your dog does well on a more affordable protein, there is no reason to pay more for variety alone.

Portion waste is easy to miss. A large chub that has to be fully defrosted and used within a couple of days suits a bigger dog or a multi-dog household better than a single small dog, where some of it may end up wasted rather than eaten.

Making a raw diet work day to day

Buying a mixed case of proteins rather than one flavour keeps things interesting for your dog without committing your whole freezer to a single product, and it is a sensible way to try a new protein before buying it in bulk.

A slow feeder or lick mat is worth having alongside raw feeding for a dog who bolts their food, since raw meals can disappear even faster than kibble without something to slow the pace down.

The cheaper end of the range

Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.

Reusable Washable Puppy Training Pad

Reusable Washable Puppy Training Pad

From£7.99

Dog Calming Ear Muffs For Fireworks & Thunder

Dog Calming Ear Muffs For Fireworks & Thunder

£11.99

MPS Head Cover — Breathable Dog Head & Ear Protector
Fast UK delivery

MPS Head Cover — Breathable Dog Head & Ear Protector

From£30.99

Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs
Fast UK delivery

Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs

From£16.49

Pressure-Activated Pet Cooling Mat
Fast UK delivery

Pressure-Activated Pet Cooling Mat

From£34.99

Ice-Silk Cooling Dog Bed with Bolster Edge

Ice-Silk Cooling Dog Bed with Bolster Edge

From£12.99

Dog Front-Limb Mobility Wheelchair

Dog Front-Limb Mobility Wheelchair

From£176.99

Plush Foam Pet Stairs

Plush Foam Pet Stairs

From£21.99

Real-Time GPS Pet Tracker

Real-Time GPS Pet Tracker

£29.99

Hooded Dinosaur Dog Raincoat

Hooded Dinosaur Dog Raincoat

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Disposable Female Dog Nappies

Disposable Female Dog Nappies

£8.99

Dog Sports Jacket For Medium & Large Breeds

Dog Sports Jacket For Medium & Large Breeds

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Common questions

How do I compare raw dog food prices properly?
Divide the pack price by its weight in kilograms to get a price per kilo, then multiply that by your dog's daily raw allowance. That gives you a genuine cost per day, which is the only fair way to compare products sold in different pack sizes and formats.
Is raw dog food always more expensive than kibble?
Not always, but it often costs more per day once you account for freezer space, wastage and the higher price of some proteins. Buying larger packs and sticking to affordable proteins like chicken or turkey usually brings raw feeding closer to the cost of a mid-range complete diet.
Does a bigger pack always work out better value?
Only if you can use it before it needs refreezing and your dog gets through it without waste. A large chub that goes off before a small dog finishes it is not good value however cheap it looks per kilo, so match the pack size to your household.
What is the difference between complete raw food and a raw mixer?
Complete raw food is formulated to include the bone, organ and muscle meat ratios a dog needs on its own, while a mixer or mince is meant to be fed alongside another balanced food or supplement. They are priced differently because they do a different job.

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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.