Found this - how to rate your dry dog food

[norm258]

This is something I came across while searching for reviews on a different large breed puppy food for my GSD pup who is 6 months old. I was feeding her Acana large breed puppy, but she just didn't like it. I'm now feeding her Fromm Large Breed Puppy and she loves it.

Hopefully the following will be helpful for those who are looking at how to rate your dog food. I'm sure not everyone will agree to the rating system but its better then guessing.

How to grade your dog’s food: (Some brands are done at the very bottom)
Start with a grade of 100:

1) For every listing of “by-product”, subtract 10 points.

2) For every non-specific animal source (”meat” or “poultry”, meat, meal or fat) reference, subtract 10 points.

3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points.

4) For every grain “mill run” or non-specific grain source, subtract 5 points.

5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. “ground brown rice”, “brewer’s rice”, “rice flour” are all the same grain), subtract 5 points.

6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points.

7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points.

8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points.

9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points.

10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points.

11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points.

12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points.

13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points.

14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergic to beef), subtract 1 point.

15) If it contains salt (or sodium, as it is also called), subtract 1 point.

Extra Credit:

1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points.

2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points.

3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points.

4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points.

5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points.

6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points.

7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points.

8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points.

9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points.

10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point.

11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point.

12) 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 “salmon” as 2 different sources), add 1 point.

13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point.

14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free add 1 point.

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

Here are some foods that have already been scored.

Dog Food scores:

Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 = A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 = F
Blue Buffalo / Score 114 = A+
Canidae All Life Stages Chicken & Rice / Score 94 = A
Canidae All Life Stages Lamb & Rice / Score 101 = A+
Canidae Platinum / Score 91 = B
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
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 = A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 = A+
Doctors Foster and Smith Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Formula / Score 101 = A+
Doctors Foster and Smith Adult Lamb & Brown Rice Formula / Score 102 = A+
Eagle Pack Holistic Select Large & Giant Breed Adult Formula / Score 101 = A+
Eagle Pack Super Premium Large & Giant Breed Puppy Formula / Score 97 = A
Eagle Pack Super Premium Natural Formula / Score 96 = A
Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Formula / Score 82 = B
Foundations / Score 106 = A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 = B
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 (Costco brand) / Score 110 = A+
Natures Recipe Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 96 = A
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 = B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 = B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult / Score 86 = B
Nutro Max Large Breed Adult / Score 85 = C
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 = F
Premium Edge Chicken, Rice & Vegetables / Score 111 = A+
Premium Edge Lamb, Rice & Vegetables / Score 110 = A+
Premium Edge Puppy Large Breed Lamb, Rice & Vegetable / Score 104 = A+
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 = A+
Purina Beneful / Score 17 = F
Purina Dog / Score 62 = F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 = F
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 = A+
Royal Canin Large Breed Giant Adult Formula / Score 95 = 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 Fish & Sweet Potato (for skin & coat issues) / Score 108 = A+
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 = A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 = A

[Melinda]

yahoo, mine scores 117

I feed performatrin lamb and brown rice.

[DoubleRR]

Orijen scores 132.

[Masha]

Whats the score for raw?

[happycats]

Kirkland scores an A+ ?!!

[norm258]

I didn't do the math -- just copy and pasted... but maybe do the math again - perhaps there is a difference between what is sold in the US to what is sold in Canada or something else like a premium brand.

[Melinda]

its just for kibble Masha, not sure if you can rate raw, it would all depend on what you add to his/her food..

[Masha]

Originally Posted by Melinda

its just for kibble Masha, not sure if you can rate raw, it would all depend on what you add to his/her food..

Oh I know, i was just throwing it out there.... I noticed a lot of times that raw gets overlooked all together as an option when comparing different types of foods... so i like to give it a plug when possible.

[Melinda]

oh alrighty. I've tried often to get Brina to eat raw, almost like a comedy show, mind you, she eats raw frozen bones, but give her anything else...she tosses it right back at you.

[cassiek]

Thx norm for posting this!

Melinda I have the OPPOSITE problem with raw, my dogs try to steam-roll me for it, haha! They will even try to get me up at absurd times in the morning hoping they can have breakfast early LOL. Mind you, each of mine do have their preferences and will refuse some meats... Furby is not keen on beef, and Sassy is not a huge fan of chicken.

[Melinda]

cassiek, you should see the production with salmon here!!! she circles the bowl flicking her tongue over it...then shoves it back to me and leaves the room. I've tossed her hamburg balls, she catches it and spits it out, then sits and looks at me. I gave her a slice of roast beef before I got it ready for the oven, tossed it at her after making her sit, she closed her mouth before it got to her and slid her butt over to get away from it. But once it was cooked (roast) she begged and drooled for it. I tried raw chicken and she walked away from it.

[cassiek]

Melinda, that's too funny! Sorry I just have to giggle.

Mine can be picky, but usually will not refuse anything. Their favorites are def the more novel proteins i.e. bison, elk, duck, oh... and they go crazy for rabbit

Sounds like its quite the comedy show at your house when you try to feed raw... you should post it on youtube, LOL.

[Melinda]

as soon as I figure out how to get it off of the movie camera onto the computer I'll post the one of her with the salmon. It would be canabolistic to feed her rabbit *L* she was born and grew up with a huge grey rabbit as a surrogate mom. It was in the room with her , loose, since her birth and the pups would curl up with her when mom would leave the room, I think thats why Brina is so good with my orphaned/injured wildlife we rehab.

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by happycats

Kirkland scores an A+ ?!!

I've been exhausting myself about telling people how this food is not grocery quality ....

although I am surprise it rated so high , I always knew this was a good food.

[Dog Dancer]

I'll have to rate our new one tonight. I just put the girls on Orijen Regional Red and they seem to like it. Melinda, like Brina my two seem a little peeved about raw (can't teach an old dog new tricks??). Sometimes they'll take it if it's not too squishy, but if I offer Halo a shrimp she'll take it and then roll on it, but won't eat it. She does like raw hamburger and beef though. But definitely not liver!

[happycats]

Originally Posted by Frenchy

I've been exhausting myself about telling people how this food is not grocery quality ....

although I am surprise it rated so high , I always knew this was a good food.

I know it was a 3 or 4 out of 6, which is higher then any other supermarket brand (most of them only score a 1)

How much is a bag, and how big it the bag Frenchy? I may switch.

[Wolff-jigs]

I think Canine caviar chicken and pearl millet adult scored around 101 or so from trying the chart out as best I could.

Wonder what "Old Roy" would score