Dog Diet - How to grade your dog's food

Dog Diet - How to grade your dog's food

I found a very interesting and useful method of rating dog food that helps us to evaluate and rate any dog food just by seeing the ingredients.Let us see how it works -

Start with a score of 100 points
- For every listing of "by-product" = - 10 points
- For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal) reference = -10 points
- If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin = - 10 points
- For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source = - 5 points
- If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice", "brewers rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain) = -5 points
- If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients = - 3 points
- If it contains any artificial colorants = - 3 points
- If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn = - 3points
- If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients= - 2 points
- If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil = - 2 points
- If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources) = - 2 points
- If it contains soy or soybeans = - 2 points
- If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergic to wheat) = - 2 points
- If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergic to beef) = - 1 point
- If it contains salt = - 1 point

Extra Credits:
+ If any of the meat sources are organic = + 5 points
+ If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist = + 5 points
+ If the food is baked not extruded = + 5 points
+ If the food contains probiotics = + 3 points
+ If the food contains fruit = + 3 points
+ If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains) = + 3 points
+ If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free= + 2 points
+ If the food contains barley = + 2 points
+ If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds) = + 2 points
+ If the food contains oats or oatmeal = + 1 point
+ If the food contains sunflower oil = + 1 point
+ 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 point
+ if it contains glucosamine and chondroitin = + 1 point
+ If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free = + 1 point

Ratings

94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D
69 <= F

Dog Food scores:
Here are some foods that have already been scored.

Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
Canidae / Score 112 A+
Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+
Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A
**** Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
**** Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+
Foundations / Score 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 D
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Innova Dog / Score 114 A+
Innova Evo / Score 114 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+
Purina Benful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A