We all know economic instability has a direct effect on the price of goods and services. The simple answer as to why dog food prices are going up is because the economy has tanked. However, it is more than just a bad economy that impacts the price of dog food including availability of ingredients, price of ingredients, cost of shipping ingredients, production costs, and supply and demand.
Economic Squeeze
As the cost of living continues to rise, people see their paychecks dwindling quicker and not being able to stretch as far as they used to. This also includes dog food. The prices of dog food, regardless of quality, have risen substantially. Global PETS reported that pet food prices have risen by 40% since 2020.
Availability and Price of Ingredients
With natural disasters, droughts, and wars, crops suffered immensely. The crops that were harvested or imported were subpar and significantly less than in past years. As ingredients became harder to source, the cost to secure the necessary ingredients for dog food rose.
Quality proteins such as chicken have also seen a steep decline after several poultry farms lost large flocks to disease and natural disasters. The prices for proteins have risen significantly; this directly affects the final cost of dog food. Dogs with health problems that require a special diet need specific, high-priced foods. Healthy ingredients are in higher demand and cost more.
The pet food industry began feeling the pinch of rising costs, lower-quality ingredients, and the demands of consumers to produce a wider array of pet foods. The days of one or two different types of dry kibble and canned pet food are over. Now, pet owners, especially dog owners, want several choices ranging from grain-free to free-range raised proteins, food for giant dogs, food for small dogs, food for sensitive stomachs, or food formulated for a particular breed.
Shipping Costs on the Rise
As with everything else, shipping or freight costs have risen significantly. The pet food industry has to pay the rising costs and in turn the consumer or pet owners, end up paying more for the finished product. Moving pallets of dog food across the country from the production line to warehouses and then to the stores can be costly and for the pet food companies to turn a profit, prices per bag of dog food have to keep rising.
Production Costs Along with Supply and Demand
The cost of electricity, maintaining machinery, paying employees, packaging, and so much more have risen and will continue to rise as long as the economy keeps spiraling. Dog food companies may try their best to produce quality foods, but to keep turning a profit; they have to keep increasing prices.
Forbes.com estimates that 65.1 million households in the United States own at least one dog, and many have multiple dogs. Supply and demand play a role in the rising costs of dog food. While costs inevitably had to increase, the fact that prices have risen 40% in less than 4 years shows that dog food is an essential item that most US households have to purchase.
As long as people have dogs, dog food companies will stay in business. People have to provide food for their dogs, that is a given. Most households purchase some type of commercial kibble or wet food even if they also try to feed a raw diet consisting of human foods.
Rising Dog Food Costs Hurts Shelters
As people struggle to make ends meet in an economy that has them stretching a dollar into next week, some things have to fall by the wayside. Beloved family companions are being surrendered to shelters in droves. Shelters are in crisis due to overcrowding and low adoptions. Foster families for dogs in rescues and shelters are also becoming harder to find.
Why are so many dogs being abandoned? The rising cost of dog food, treats, vet care, and so much more are the contributing factors to dogs being surrendered, dumped, or left in empty houses. Shelters and rescues are feeling the strain of so many animals coming into their facilities. Donations are at an all-time low and being able to purchase food and essentials for these shelter dogs is a strain on their limited resources.
Dog ownership should be a joyous, fulfilling experience, but with an unstable economy owning a dog is turning into more of a burden. Dog owners worry about being able to afford food and vet care for their beloved pooch. While there are dog owners who would sacrifice everything to ensure their dog had all they ever needed, there are other dog owners who cannot make such sacrifices and have to surrender their dog to a rescue or shelter.
When the economy begins to stabilize, hopefully, dog food prices will see a drop or at least maintain the same price so people can breathe a little easier and take care of their four-legged companions.
