HOW TO RATE YOUR DOG'S FOOD (Rated List)
Start with 100 points. 94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D
<70 = F
|
Ingredients |
100 Points |
|
For every listing of “by-product” |
-10 |
|
For every nonspecific animal source (“meat” or “poultry,” Meat, Meal or fat) reference |
-10 |
|
If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin |
-10 |
|
For every grain “mill run” or nonspecific grain source |
-5 |
|
If the same grain ingredient is used two or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. “ground brown rice,” ‘”brewer’s rice,” “rice flour” are all the same grain) |
-5 |
|
If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients |
-3 |
|
If it contains any artificial colorants |
-3 |
|
If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn |
-3 |
|
If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients |
-2 |
|
If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil |
-2 |
|
If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources) |
-2 |
|
If it contains soy or soybeans |
-2 |
|
If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergic to wheat) |
-2 |
|
If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergic to beef) |
-1 |
|
If it contains salt |
-1 |
|
Extra credit |
|
|
If any of the meat sources are organic |
+5 |
|
If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist |
+5 |
|
If the food is baked (not extruded) |
+5 |
|
If the food contains probiotics |
+3 |
|
If the food contains fruit |
+3 |
|
If the food contains vegetables (Not corn or other grains) |
+3 |
|
If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free |
+2 |
|
If the food contains barley |
+2 |
|
If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds) |
+2 |
|
If the food contains oats or oatmeal |
+1 |
|
If the contains sunflower oil |
+1 |
|
For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one – count “chicken” and “chicken meal” as only one protein source, but “chicken” and “ “ as 2 different sources) |
+1 |
|
If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin |
+1 |
|
If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free |
+1 |
FOODS ALREADY SCORED
Authority Harvest Baked 116 = A+
Bil-Jac Select 68 = F
Blue Buffalo 94 = A
Canidae All Life Stages Chicken & Rice 101 = A+
Canidae All Life Stages Lamb & Rice 114 = A+
Canidae Platinum 91 = B
Chicken Soup Senior 115 = A+
Diamond Maintenance 64 = F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice 99 = A
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula 92 = B
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium 122 = A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato 106 = A+
Doctors Foster and Smith Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Formula 101 = A+
Doctors Foster and Smith Adult Lamb & Brown Rice Formula 102 = A+
Eagle Pack Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Adult Formula 101 = A+
Eagle Pack Super Premium Large & Giant Breed Puppy Formula 97 = A
Eagle Pack Super Premium Natural Formula 96 = A
Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Formula 82 = C
Foundations 106 = A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold 93 = B
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium 73 = D
Iams Smart Puppy Large Breed Formula 81 = C
Innova Dog 114 = A+
I n n ova Evo 114 = A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables 110 = A+
Natures Recipe Lamb Meal & Rice 96 = A
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice 87 = B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy 87 = B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult 86 = B
Nutro Max Large Breed Adult 85 = C
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice 23 = F
Premium Edge Chicken, Rice &Vegetables 111 = A+
Premium Edge Lamb, Rice &Vegetables 110 = A+
Premium Edge Puppy Large Breed Lamb, Rice & Vegetable 104 = A+
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley 103 = A+
Purina Beneful 17 = F
Purina Dog 62 = F
Purina Come-n-Get It 16 = F
Royal Canin Bulldog 100 = A+
Royal Canin Large Breed Giant Adult Formula 95 = A
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult 106 = A+
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice 97 = A
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ 63 = F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies 69 = F
Wellness Fish & Sweet Potato (for skin & coat issues) 108 = A+
Wellness SuperS Mix Chicken 110 = A+
Wolfking Adult Do (bison) b Solid Gold 97 = A
Here is information on the ingredients on some dog food brands
Eukanuba Adult Chicken, chicken-by product meal, corn meal, ground whole grain sorghum, ground whole grain barley, chicken fat, fish meal, brewers rice
Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Chicken, Corn Meal, ground whole grain sorghum, Chicken by product meal, brewers rice, chicken flavor, dried beet pulp,fish meal (26% protein)
lams Chunks Chicken, corn meal, ground whole grain sorghum, chicken by-product meal, chicken fat, dried beet pulp, natural chicken flavor
Kibbles N Bits Corn, soybean meal, ground wheat flour, beef and bone meal, Original animal fat, BHA used as preservatives, corn syrup,wheat middling, water sufficient for processing, animal digest
Kirkland Super Premium Rice and Vegetable Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled Adult Dog Chicken, Barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols and Vitamin E) (protein 26%)
Kirkland Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Lamb, lamb meal, wholegrain brown rice, white rice, rice brand, egg product, cracked pearled barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols and Vitamin E (Protein 23%
Nutro Natural Choice Chicken meal, ground rice, corn gluten meal, wheat flour, rice flour
Large Breed Puppy Rice Bran, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Poultry Fat (preserved withT ocopherols a sourse of Vitamin E (Protein 28%)
Pedigree Complete Nutrition Ground yellow corn, meat and bone meal, corn gluten meal,chicken by-product meal, animal fat (preserved with BHAIBHT), wheat mill run, natural poultry flavor, rice, wheat flour
Pro-Pac Adult Chuck Chicken meal, ground yellow corn, chicken fat, rice flour, dried beet pulp, natural flavoring (unspecified), flaxseed, salt
Purina one Natural Blend, Chicken, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, brown rice, oat meal, animal fat, beet pulp, calcium phosphate
Purina Beneful Original, Ground yellow corn, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole wheat flour, beef tallow, rice flour, beef soy flour, sugar
Purina Dog Chow Complete Formula, Ground yellow corn, poultry by-product meal, animal fat, corn gluten meal, brewers rice, soybean meal, animal digest
Sportmix Lamb, Lamb meal, brewers rice, chicken meal, rice four, rice bran, Chicken fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, (a source of Natural Vitamin E) Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Egg Product, (230o protein)Science Diet Adult, Ground whole grain corn, ground whole grain sorghum, ground whole grain wheat, chicken by-product meal, soybean mea animal fat, corn gluten meal, brewers rice