My dog's kibble used to be around $45 a bag, now it's close to $70 at the same store, and the bag even looks smaller. I've been looking at store brands but I'm not sure they're as good. Has anyone switched to a cheaper brand without their pet getting sick or refusing to eat it? Any brands actually worth it, or is this just the new normal for pet food too?
Store brands are often fine as long as the label says the food meets AAFCO standards for your pet's life stage (that line is usually in small print on the back). The key is switching slowly: mix the new food in over about 7–10 days so the stomach adjusts. It also helps to compare price per pound rather than per bag, since bags keep shrinking. If your dog has health issues, a quick check with the vet before switching is worth it.
Same here — the jump from $45 to $70 for what looks like a smaller bag is hard to ignore. I switched my dog over gradually, mixing the new food in a little at a time, and so far he seems fine with the store brand. Checking the price per pound really helped, too.
Same here, it is hard not to notice that kind of jump. I switched my dog over gradually too, mixing the new food in over about a week, and he has been fine so far. Checking the price per pound instead of just the bag price really opened my eyes, because the bags do seem to be getting smaller. I still keep an eye on the ingredients, but the store brand has saved us a noticeable amount each month.
One more money saver: some stores and online shops knock 5–10% off with autoship subscriptions, and you can usually cancel anytime. Larger bags almost always win on price per pound too, as long as you can store them sealed so the food doesn't go stale. And if your dog is on the heavier side, measuring portions with a cup instead of eyeballing it often cuts how much food you go through.
Кормъ для животных правда сильно подорожал. Что обычно помогает: брать большие упаковки, если питомец уже привык к корму (на килограмм выходит заметно дешевле), следить за акциями в зоомагазинах и переводить на новый бренд постепенно, за 7–10 дней, чтобы не было проблем с животом. Перед сменой корма у пожилого животного лучше спросить ветеринара.