The Real Cost of Food Allergies for Dogs
Written By: Tiffany Ruiz Dasilva, VMD, cVMA | Professional Services Veterinarian, Wild Earth
Dealing with food allergies in dogs can be a challenging and costly endeavor. Food allergies can lead to various health issues in dogs, including skin irritation, gastrointestinal problems, and chronic ear infections. Treating these conditions often involves multiple trips to the veterinarian, diagnostic tests, and medication. Over time, these expenses can become significant, and the financial burden adds up. However, switching to a dog food free from common food allergens, such as Wild Earth, can offer a cost-effective solution that benefits both your dog and your wallet.
By transitioning to our food, which is free from the top five most common food allergens for dogs, you can likely address the underlying cause of your dog's food allergies and potentially eliminate the need for ongoing treatments, saving money in the long term.
To illustrate this point, let’s use real life examples and consider both a 25-lb dog named Prince, and a 50-lb dog named Nahla.
The Average Cost of Food Allergies for 25-lb Dog
Let’s consider a 25-lb dog named Prince. If Prince were to have gone to the vet 3 times for recurrent ear infections (about $150/visit including diagnosis, ear cleaning and medication) it would add up to $450. Then, let’s say Prince were to do a food trial to confirm food allergies with a prescription dog food for 3 months, that would add up to about $230. And it is likely that Prince would also need to receive 30 mg ($71.35/vial) Cytopoint injections every 4 to 8 weeks (let’s use every 8 weeks), which would add up to $428.10/year. With the associated fees for vet visits ($50/visit), estimating roughly 7 visits, would add $350. All together this would roughly cost $1,458.10.
The Average Cost of Feeding Wild Earth to a 25-lb Dog
Now let’s consider the cost of feeding Wild Earth to Prince for one year which would be about $1.88/day or $686.20/year. So starting with Wild Earth would save Prince’s owner $771.90.
Many of you who have dogs suffering from food allergies have likely considered or been recommended a prescription hypoallergenic dog food. The cost of feeding Royal Canin HP to a 25-lb dog for a year is roughly $889.20.
The Average Cost of Food Allergies for 50-lb Dog
Now, let’s consider a 50-lb dog named Nahla. If Nahla were to have gone to the vet 3 times for recurrent ear infections (about $150/visit including diagnosis, ear cleaning and medication) it would add up to $450. Then, let’s say Nahla were to do a food trial to confirm food allergies with a prescription dog food for 3 months, that would add up to about $583. And it is likely that Nahla would also need to receive 60 mg ($107.95/treatment) Cytopoint injections every 4 to 8 weeks (let’s use every 8 weeks), which would add up to $647.70/year. With the associated fees for vet visits ($50/visit), estimating roughly 7 visits, would add $350. All together this would roughly cost $2,030.70.
The Average Cost of Feeding Wild Earth to a 50-lb Dog
Now let’s consider the cost of feeding Wild Earth to Nahla for one year which would be about $3.75/day or $1,368.75/year. So starting with Wild Earth would save Nahla’s owner $661.95.
For comparison, the cost of feeding Royal Canin HP to a 50-lb dog for a year is roughly $2331.60.
Wild Earth - Helping Pets and Their People
As you can see, while the upfront cost of Wild Earth may initially seem higher to some, potential savings in veterinary bills and the improved quality of life for your four-legged friend make it a worthwhile investment. By providing a nutritionally balanced diet that supports your dog's specific needs, our plant-based food can help alleviate symptoms and reduce the frequency of veterinary visits, thus lowering overall healthcare costs.
