The Dog Food Rating System

The following is a dry dog food rating system that has been circulating around the internet for quite some time. It was created as a way to help pet owners find a quality food. This is not concrete but is to be used as a guide

This dog food rating system is based on you adding or subtracting a certain amount of points from 100 according to the the dog food's label and the guidelines below.

You can use the handy calculator on the right to keep track of your calculations. I have also provided checkboxes next to each step so you can keep track as you progress down the rules


You Will Start With A Grade Of 100, So Type The Number 100 Into The Calculator Now:


1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points


2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry" 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", "brewers rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain), subtract 5 points


6) If the protein sources are not named meat or meat meals (ie: chicken, turkey, etc) and there are fewer 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 pet 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 pet is not allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points


14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your pet is not allergic to beef), subtract 1 point


15) If it contains salt, 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 "turkey", etc 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


Score:

94-100+ = A


86-93 = B


78-85 = C


70-77 = D


<70 = F


Some foods that have all ready been rated:


A's Score
A+ Chicken Soup for the pet lovers soul 113
A+ Eagle Pack Holistic chicken 114
A+ Eagle Pack Holistic LG and Giant Breed Adlt 113
A+ Eagle Pack Natural 104
A+ Timberwolf Organics Lamb and Venison 136
A+ Solid Gold Bison 123
A+ Solid Gold Wolf King 109
A+ Solid Gold Hund N flocken 105
A+ Solid Gold Mmillennia 111
A+ Innova 117
A+ Natural Balance Ultra 117
A+ Natural Balance Duck and Potato 114
A+ Canidae 119
A+ Foundations Chicken and Vegetable 109
A+ Flint River Ranch Fish and Chips 109
A+ Wysong Synorgon 110
A+ Flint River Ranch Lamb, Millet and Rice 117
A+ Back to Basics 107

B's
B Eukanuba Natural Lamb and Rice 87

C's
C Nutro Lamb and Rice 85

D's
D Iams Lamb and Rice 74

F's
F Pedigree Adult Complete 14
F Ol'Roy 9
F Science Diet Chicken Adult Maintainance 45
F Purina Beniful original 23
All Purina and Pro Plan foods rate as a F
F Pro Plan Giant Breed Adult 41
F Pro Plan Performance 53
F Pro Plan Chicken and Rice
F Purina Dog chow
F Purina Large Breed 40
F Diamond Lamb and Rice 61
F Diamond Performance (formerly professional)
F Diamond Large Breed 5