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The switch to a fresh food dog diet can be a tempting but intimidating idea, as it tends to be more expensive than kibble. The Ollie dog food cost starts at less than $4 per day and goes all the way up to $12, depending on your dog’s size and breed.
If you’re wondering if Ollie food can fit your budget and your pup’s needs—as well as being entirely worth the cost—let’s dive into the specifics of what you can expect to pay, and how Ollie food might work for your dog.
How Much Does Ollie Dog Food Cost Per Month?
While it’s difficult to give an exact estimate of your pet food bill every month without having the specifics of your dog, below is a rough guide.
Small dogs may be fortunate enough to pay a little under $4 per day while large dogs can go up to $12. The average is $8 per day.
Ollie’s food looks like this on a monthly budget:
- Small dogs: Around $105+ per month.
- Medium dogs: Around $240+ per month, which works out at the average price.
- Large dogs: Large and giant breeds can go up to $360 or more per month.
With dog food usually costing $45-$345 per month, this definitely isn’t a cheap option, as someone with a larger or giant breed could be paying more than this. But this is a dog food custom made for your dog’s specific needs so this will be a more expensive option.
If you are interested in trying Ollie, they usually give a discount on the first order so you don’t have to commit to the full price without knowing if your dog will even like it. They also make canceling the subscription easy so if your pup isn’t a fan, you can easily turn off the auto-renew within your online account-no annoying phone calls!
Is Ollie Worth it?
Whether Ollie dog food is worth it for you and your dog will very much depend on their individual needs, but this company does value dog nutrition and takes into account the potential health benefits of providing fresh dog food.
For us, Ollie is 100% worth the cost. Our picky eater dog, Aloy, loves the taste and we have finally found a food she is enthusiastic about eating! Check out our full Ollie Dog Food review.
Every meal that Ollie provides is formulated to make sure your dog gets every nutrient they need to thrive in one portion. They include grains, proteins, vegetables, and fruit.
They see every dog as an individual. You’ll be asked to fill out a quiz about your dog to ensure they get the food they need for energy and health, and each meal will come preportioned so you don’t need to fuss with it.
They can also take into account food allergies, so if your pup is one of the unlucky 0.2% with an allergy, they’ll make sure this isn’t included in the meals they provide
It’s been formulated with veterinary nutritionists at the helm, so you can rest assured that your dog’s health has been at the forefront of their mind and experts have weighed in.
With almost 4,000 recall incidents of pet food between 2003 and 2023, the same can’t be said for all kibble, and there does seem to be an inherent risk in buying a bag of pet food from the grocery store. That’s persuaded a lot of pet parents to make the switch.
It can also help with your dog’s weight, given that the food is preportioned in advance when it comes to Ollie and there’s no risk of accidental overfeeding (though you can always adjust as you go, as every dog’s metabolism and exercise regime is different).
Your Ollie subscription is also conveniently delivered right to your door when you need it, so there’s no need to worry about forgetting to buy dog food.
Is Ollie Dog Food Considered Expensive?
Next to dry dog food, and even canned food, fresh dog food is much more expensive because the meals are custom-made. Compared to other fresh dog food, Ollie is slightly more expensive —The Farmer’s Dog, for example, is a slightly cheaper option.
This is likely why over 75% of dog parents choose to feed their pets kibble, though kibble isn’t usually formulated for your specific dog so doesn’t have the same customized health benefits.
There is a reason this food isn’t on the cheap side.
If you are working with a budget, and your dog tolerates commercial dog food, then it is possible to feed them a high-quality kibble for much cheaper. Your pup will still be receiving all the nutrients and minerals they need to stay healthy.
Additionally, you can also try adding Ollie as a topper to the dry kibble instead of having it as the full meal to spread it out over multiple meals to make it a little bit more budget-friendly. The frozen nature of it makes this easy to do!
Can You Prepare Your Own Dog Food Instead?
When some people see the admittedly high price of fresh food, they sometimes look into creating their own.
If you’re willing to do your research, this might be an option. The problem with cooking fresh food at home is that people often aren’t clued up on exactly what a dog needs, and going full steam ahead with doing your due diligence can result in your dog not getting all of the nutrients they need (or a mistake with your dog’s calorie intake overall).
The six basic nutrients a dog needs are:
- Water
- Proteins
- Fats
- Carbohydrates
- Minerals
- Vitamins
A dog needs every single one of these in the right amount to ensure their body can function and they stay healthy.
Finding a recipe that incorporates them all in the right measures—as well as making sure it’s tasty enough that your dog will love it and doesn’t contain any toxins—can be a tricky task, which is why it’s often better to go with a prepared food by experts (if it’s in the budget).
That’s not to say you can’t create your own fresh food that your dog will love and thrive on—just that finding the recipe is no easy task.
Is There a Way to Make Ollie Dog Food Less Expensive?
While this dog food is certainly the more convenient and foolproof option than making your own, it can be hard to justify the price—especially if it’s just not in the budget. There are, however, a couple of ways you can get the food cheaper.
The first is a promo code. Ollie offers 50% off your first box so you can test if your dog loves the food without having to pay the full price.
After all, there’s no use in splashing out if you have a fussy pup who might turn their nose up at their new meal!
The second way to reduce the cost is to feed your dog a mix of kibble and fresh food. While any kibble you feed your dog should be a high-quality one, relying a little on dry food instead of just fresh food can reduce the cost while providing benefits to your dog.
Mixing the two together can also keep their food fun, fresh, and interesting, which will encourage them to eat if you have a dog who needs a little help.
How to Transition to Ollie Dog Food
Making the transition to Ollie should be done slowly and carefully, like with any dog food.
Start out by mixing around 10% of the new Ollie food in with your dog’s usual brand. If they like it, you can slowly increase that to 20% and then so on. Doing this over a period of a week until your dog is fully on the new diet can decrease the risk of stomach upset, which often happens to dogs who are put on a new diet.
Watch for any signs of vomiting or diarrhea with the new food, as this could be a sign they have an intolerance to something in the fresh food. However, if all goes well and the transition is done slowly, they should be able to move smoothly onto the fresh food!
Final Thoughts
If you have the budget, Ollie is a great option for your dog. With pre-portioned meals that are formulated to meet their exact needs and a veterinary nutritionist having overseen the exact recipe your dog will get, you know your dog is taken care of when you feed them Ollie.
However, it’s far from a cheap option. If you want to try Ollie but are worried about the cost, try feeding your dog a mixed diet with Ollie making up only half, or utilize their 50% off offer for the first box to determine if it’s worth it.
