Study: Kibble costs less than comparable canned or home-cooked diets to treat dogs with chronic GI issues

(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) January 4, 2023—Dry commercially produced diets are the least expensive option for treating dogs with chronic gastrointestinal issues, followed by homemade diets and canned food, a new study shows – matching results found for the management of other diseases such as obesity, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, according to the study’s authors.

“Home-cooked diets cost more than commercially prepared dry kibble diets for dogs with chronic enteropathies,” published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA), found that the median cost of dry commercially produced diets for the nutritional management of dogs with chronic enteropathies was $0.29 per 100 calories, while home-cooked diets formulated by veterinary nutritionists averaged $0.55 and canned diets averaged $1.01.

This study is included in a special supplemental issue of JAVMA addressing emerging and practical topics in nutrition for both large and small animals.

“When we talk to clients, they often have concerns about the cost of veterinary therapeutic diets for their dogs; in many instances they’d rather prepare home-cooked diets because they believe it will be more cost-effective,” said Dr. Valerie J. Parker, clinical professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and corresponding author of the study. “This is why we decided to take on this research, and the results show that while home-cooked…