Pet Health | How to Grade Your Dog's Food

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", "brewers 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 3points
  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 is not allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points
  14. If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog 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 "beef meal" 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
69 and below = F

Here are some foods that have already been scored.

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