How much should good dog food cost: an analysis of 38 foods

In a sample of 38 dry foods (regular prices, 01.10.2026), food with a named animal ingredient listed first and about 29% crude protein on a dry matter basis starts at UAH 44–48 per 1,000 kcal; for a 20 kg dog that is UAH 47–50 a day. Above this level, composition barely explains price anymore: among the 19 foods priced above mass-market economy, the correlation between price and protein drops to 0.12, and with an animal ingredient listed first to 0.03. Digestibility, which the label does not show, does not track price either: in a test, protein from the cheapest of four foods was 83.7% digestible, and from the most expensive 84.2% (Geiger and Weber, 2022).

Key points

• The cheapest food in the sample with an animal ingredient listed first and at least 28.9% protein on a dry matter basis costs UAH 44.2 per 1,000 kcal (34.4% DM), which is UAH 46.8 a day for a 20 kg dog.
• From UAH 60 to 100 per 1,000 kcal, median crude protein does not change and stays at 28.9% on a dry matter basis (25 adult foods).
• Without the 6 mass-market economy foods, the link between price and composition almost disappears: 0.12 for protein and 0.03 for an animal ingredient listed first.
• Among the same 19 foods, price is linked to the word "fresh" in the ingredient list (0.50) and to being imported (0.35; median UAH 77.2 vs 56.8).

How much does good food cost per calorie?

The price per 1,000 kcal is the price per kilogram divided by the food's energy content; it shows how much the same energy costs in different bags. Across 25 adult dog foods it ranged from UAH 24.5 to 167.5, a 6.85-fold spread, with a median of UAH 68.7.

See also: Dog food rating

The cheapest foods in the sample with a named animal ingredient listed first and at least 28.9% protein on a dry matter basis: Carpathian Pet Food Medium Adult at UAH 44.2 per 1,000 kcal and Brit Premium by Nature Adult M at UAH 47.5. A 20 kg shepherd mix with moderate activity needs about 1,059 kcal a day, so that is UAH 46.8 and 50.3 a day.

Regular prices without promotions, manufacturer websites and store listings, 01.10.2026; energy content per NRC 2006; our own calculation. Prices change.

Does protein rise with price?

Up to UAH 60 per 1,000 kcal it does, beyond that it does not. In the band up to UAH 40, median crude protein is 22.2% on a dry matter basis, and an animal ingredient is listed first in only 1 food out of 4; in the UAH 60–80 band it is already 28.9% and 8 foods out of 8. In the next band, UAH 80–100, the median is the same.

Across all 25 adult foods, the link between price and protein looks convincing (0.54 Spearman), but almost all of it comes from the 6 mass-market economy foods: without them it is 0.12, and the link with an animal ingredient listed first disappears (0.03). Five foods in the sample cost more than UAH 88 per 1,000 kcal and contain less protein than the UAH 47.5 food, including Hill's Hypoallergenic (UAH 161.5; 21.6% DM) and Hill's Science Plan Adult Medium (UAH 99.7; 23.4%).

What are you paying for above UAH 60 per 1,000 kcal?

Among the 19 non-mass-market foods, three features are linked to price, and none of them is about composition. The word "fresh" in the ingredient list gives 0.50: a median of UAH 91.4 per 1,000 kcal versus UAH 69.3 for foods without it. A declared moisture content also gives 0.50. Being imported gives 0.35: Ukrainian brands in the sample have a median of UAH 56.8, imported ones UAH 77.2.

The class printed on the bag adds nothing for that money. According to the WSAVA guidance on selecting pet food (2021), "unregulated terms such as 'holistic' or 'premium' tell you almost nothing for evaluating a food" (our paraphrase). The classes themselves are covered in our article on dog food classes, and the retail markup in the piece on why food from the manufacturer is cheaper.

Is it true that more expensive food is better digested?

Both stores and blogs say so, but primary research does not confirm it. Geiger and Weber (2022) compared 4 foods priced at $2.08, $3.23, $6.61 and $8.50 per kilogram in dogs: protein digestibility was 83.7%, 68.6%, 82.0% and 84.2%, and the authors state directly that there is no relationship between protein digestibility and price. In Daumas et al. (2014), of 8 foods, the best digested was a basic-nutrition category food.

The belief breaks down because digestibility is not printed on the bag. In its 2025 guidelines, FEDIAF bases its minimums on the assumption that dietary protein is at least 80% digestible, and advises raising essential amino acids by at least 10% if that 80% is not guaranteed.

Why does the price of 100 g of protein vary 3.7-fold?

The price of 100 g of crude protein is the price of the food divided by the amount of protein in it. Across 25 adult foods it ranges from UAH 47.4 (Pan-Pes) to UAH 174.0 (Hill's Science Plan Adult Medium).

The cheapest protein is in the foods that contain the least of it: the 6 mass-market economy foods have a median of 22.2% DM at UAH 37.6 per 1,000 kcal, while the other 19 have 28.9% and UAH 75.0.

DELICATE is a dry food for adult dogs made at our own facility in Dnipro: 397 kcal per 100 g (calculated per NRC 2006), 32% crude protein according to the product page, and a 10 kg bag costs UAH 1,188. For a 20 kg dog that is 267 g and about UAH 32 a day, and a bag lasts 37 days. We do not place our own food in the bands above: that would require a laboratory analysis of a batch, which we do not have yet. It suits a dog without food allergies (chicken option); the food is not intended for an elimination trial.
See the food — UAH 1,188

What won't the price and the label's ingredient list tell you?

Bilan, Havrylina and co-authors (Dnipro, 2019) tested one sample each of economy, premium and super-premium food for small breeds. The super-premium sample contained 13.88% fat against a declared 18%, and an undeclared soy concentrate was found. This is the only Ukrainian laboratory comparison we found, and it covers three samples.

The ingredient list itself is silent too: according to WSAVA, an ingredient's name says nothing about its nutritional quality or digestibility.

What should you do for your own dog?

• If you are choosing between two bags, convert both to 1,000 kcal: divide the price per kilogram by the energy content. The sample had no food with an animal ingredient listed first and at least 28.9% protein on a dry matter basis for less than UAH 44 per 1,000 kcal.
• If a food costs more than UAH 60 per 1,000 kcal, look on the bag for a visible reason: an animal ingredient listed first, a declared moisture content, protein and fat figures. The word "fresh" raises the price but not the protein.
• If your dog weighs 20 kg and is moderately active, it needs about 1,059 kcal a day, which is 267 g of food with 397 kcal per 100 g: at UAH 44.2 per 1,000 kcal that is UAH 46.8 a day, at UAH 100 it is UAH 106. For your own dog, use the portion calculator or the feeding table by weight.
• If the composition suits you, ask the manufacturer for a batch analysis: according to the FEDIAF 2025 guidelines, feeding amount calculations rely on the assumption of 80% protein digestibility.

Questions and answers