Best budget dog food

[CauliflowerBalti]

I need some advice please. We’ve just taken in a dog in an emergency, which isn’t mine to share. She arrived three days ago in something of a rush, with her bed, lead and a bag of dry Pedigree dog food that isn’t enough for her full stay. She’ll be here about 8 weeks.

I have a dog that eats raw food. The visiting dog has gone wild for this and is now refusing her Pedigree. I can’t migrate her to raw as that’s a choice her owner needs to make, not me. And they’re feeding her Pedigree so it gives me an idea of what they can afford to spend.

I’ve been Googling for more palatable affordable dry dog foods but I can’t find any sources I trust. Do you guys have any ideas how I can get this dog to eat?! It’s all new and unsettling, so I’d understand her being off her food - if she wasn’t all over my dog’s raw. It’d be the easiest thing in the world to slowly switch her but I don’t think her owner would thank me.

I could ask, but I don’t want to bother them. They have bigger fish to fry right now.

Would Forthglade be a good compromise?

Harringtons is inexpensive but half decent?

Aldi or Lidl bags of dry dog food is cheap and absolutely fine. I think around £2.30 for 3kg, larger bags available too

If it’s a wet food that he’s excited about, I’d suggest Butcher’s. It’s very cheap and contains no additives or cereal. Mine have Royal Canin dried, but also butchers. One is 7, the other is 3, both are as fit as the proverbial butcher’s dog and no upset tummies!

I would never have recommended before but ddog is diabetic and prone to pancreatitis. On recommendation of the vet he is on chappie. It's been the best thing we've done for him. It's the lowest fat by dry matter food you can get.

Whatever you decide as a dry food try a roller to entice her, some tuna water, yogurt, small amount of meat etc.

Chappie is genius and I don’t know why I didn’t think of it - I had a dog with pancreatic enzyme deficiency and yes, it’s vet-recommended. I knew this! I could put some of the wet through the Pedigree biscuits to see if she’ll bite. Also going to investigate Aldi and Harrington - I think forthglade might be too expensive long-term. The dog is HYPER and I don’t think her food is helping much, but we are where we are. Thanks guys.

www.amazon.co.uk/Autarky-Hypoallergenic-Succulent-Salmon-Added/dp/B01FWJI4Z6?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Autarky has decent ingredients (salmon better than chicken) for budget, really to compare price best to work out as cost per meal than bag cost as some can need to feed nearly double amount which obviously means they also poo more.

@Scattyhattie

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Autarky has decent ingredients (salmon better than chicken) for budget, really to compare price best to work out as cost per meal than bag cost as some can need to feed nearly double amount which obviously means they also poo more.

I was going to recommend this. It’s a fraction of the price of brands like Royal Canin and 4 times the quality. Op if you want to look up dog food then go on the website allaboutdogfood. They do independent reviews so aren’t paid to recommend overpriced shite like Royal Canin

Crikey. I just used the allaboutpetfood website. The Auturk has 68% nutritional rating. Pedigree has 4%! They’re exactly the same price.

I’ve ordered a bag. It ticks all the boxes and I can start to blend it with the Pedigree. I’ll buy some Chappie to sweeten her in the meantime tomorrow. Thanks everyone.

Good luck!

Autarky is VAT free which helps as classed as working dog food, but isn't high energy type.

There is a mature/lite version too, one of my dogs preferred that one maybe as it doesn't have that oily coating and despite being younger and much more active than my senior hound was prone to weight gain.

My other budget tip is with some wet food can just use a slither and mash with water as it coats the kibble more easily and then lasts longer as with having big dogs it add lot to costs. I use natures diet/forthglade but I think chappie was more soft than chunky.

Can do similar with tins of sardines in tomato sauce and pop in a container with water to make a kinda soup to tip over kibble, which can then cover good few meals. Useful to give that stinky aroma but less calories & risk of upset if have sensitive tum than straight. Can freeze in ice trays for storage if prefer and use up all sorts of leftovers even water from boiling veg. I had a fussy begger dog.

Our labrador has wainwrights dry food and a pouch of Morrisons own wet food for his breakfast and same again for tea. He loves it!

My rescue dog is really fussy with a sensitive tum, and despite trying much more expensive alternatives, she will only eat the Lidl chunks in gravy and the Lidl complete dry food (and only then if they are in separate bowls).

Fallulah - this is my worry. I’m making assumptions on why Pedigree is the food of choice. I’m speaking to the owner on Tuesday I think - I’ll see if I can ask.

I put a teaspoon of my dog’s raw food through her kibble tonight and she ate 3/4 of it. The Autarky arrives tomorrow but maybe I’ll just keep it as training treats. I dunno now. I was worried but I feel better now she’s eaten a bit.

I was coming to recommend Chappie too, the only food that doesn’t upset my little one with IBD.
My other bigger breed thrives on Dr John’s, another inexpensive VAT free working dog food.

Autarky, Chudleys, Field and Trial, Mole Valley Premium.