DOG FOOD SCORING SYSTEM
Start with a score 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 animal)
reference subtract 10 points.
3 - If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points.
4 - For every non-specific grain source (mill run, whole grains) subtract 5 points.
5 - If the same grain is listed 2 or more times in the first 5 ingredients (rice, rice flour,
brewers rice all being "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 dyes or 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 1
point.
14 - If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to beef) subtract 1
point.
15 - If it contains salt subtract 1 point.
Extra Credits:
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 (not television
personalities) add 5 points.
3 - If the food is baked, not extruded, add 5 points.
4 - If the food contains probiotics add 5 points.
5 - If the food contains fruit add 3 points.
6 - If the food contains vegetables (not corn or grains) add 3 points.
7 - If the meat sources are hormone 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 flax seed) 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 meat protein source (chicken, fish, turkey, lamb et al) add 1
point.
13 - If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin add 1 point.
14 - If the vegetables have tested pesticide free add 1 point.
Grading:
A = 94 - 100
B = 86 - 93
C = 78 - 85
D = 70 - 77
F = 69 or less
some products already scored:
Alpo Prime Cuts - C / 81
Artemis Large/Medium Breed Puppy - A/114
Authority Harvest Baked - A / 116
Authority Harvest Baked Less Active - B/93
Beowulf Back to Basics - A / 101
Bil-Jac Select - F - 68
Blackwood 3000 Lamb and Rice - C/83
Blue Buffalo Chicken and Rice - A/106
Breeders Choice Chicken & Rice - A/101
Burns Chicken and Brown Rice - A/107
Canidae - A/115
Chicken Soup Senior - A/115
Diamond Maintenance - F/64
Diamond Lamb Meal and Rice B/92
Diamond Large Breed 60 plus - A/99
Diamond Performance - C/85
Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance Ultra Premium - A/122
Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance Venison and Brown Rice - A/106
Dick Van Pattens Duck and Potato - A/106
Eagle Pack Holistic - A/102
Eukanuba Adult - C/81
Eukanuba Puppy - C/79
Flint River Senior - A/101
Foundations - A/106
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium D/73
Innova Dog - A/114
Innova Evo - A/114
Innova Large Breed Puppy - A/122
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice & Vegetables - A/110
Members Mark Chicken & Rice - C/84
Merrick Wilderness Blend A/127
Natures Recipe - A/100
Natures Recipe Healthy Skin Venison & Rice A/116
Natures Variety Raw Instinct - A/122
Nutra Nuggets Super Premium Lamb Meal & Rice C/81
Nutrience Junior Medium Breed Puppy - A/101
Nurtrisource Lamb & Rice - B/87
Nutro Max Adult - B/93
Nutro Natural Choice Lamb & Rice A/98
Nurtro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy - B/87
Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Wheat Free - B/86
Nutro Ultra Adult - A/104
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice - F/23
Premium Edge Chicken, Rice & Vegetables Adult - A/109
Pro Nature Puppy - C/80
Pro Plan Natural Turkey and Barley A/103
Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach - A/94
Purina Beneful - F/17
Purina Dog - F/72
Purina Come & Get it - F/16
Purina One Large Breed Puppy - F/62
Royal Canin Mini Adult 27 - A/101
Royal Canin Boxer - A/103
Royal Canin Bulldog A/100
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult - A/106
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7 plus - F/63
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies - F/69
Sensible Choice Chicken & Rice - A/97
Solid Gold - A/99
Solid Gold Hund-n-Flocke Adult (lamb) B/93
Solid Gold Wolfking Adult Dog Bison - A/97
Summit - A/99
Timberwolf Organics Wild & Natural - A/120
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken - A/110
Wellness Core (grain free) - A/121