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Here is a
chart on how to grade you dogs food by the
ingredients. Start with a grade of 100 |
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Primary Credit: |
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1. |
For every
listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points
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2. |
For every
non-specific animal source ("meat" or
"poultry", meat, meal or fat) reference,
subtract 10 points |
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3. |
If the food
contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract
10 points |
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4. |
For every
grain "mill run" or non-specific grain
source, subtract 5 points
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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 |
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6. |
If the protein
sources are not meat meal and there are less
than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients,
subtract 3 points |
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7. |
If it contains
any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points |
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8. |
If it contains
ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract
3points |
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9. |
If corn is
listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2
more points |
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10. |
If the food
contains any animal fat other than fish oil,
subtract 2 points |
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11. |
If lamb is the
only animal protein source (unless your dog
is allergic to other protein sources),
subtract 2 points |
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12. |
If it contains
soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
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13. |
If it contains
wheat (unless you know that your dog is not
allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points |
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14. |
If it contains
beef (unless you know that your dog is not
allergic to beef), subtract 1 point |
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15. |
If it contains
salt, subtract 1 point |
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Extra
Credit: |
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1. |
If any of the
meat sources are organic, add 5 points |
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2. |
If the food
is endorsed by any major breed group or
nutritionist, add 5 points |
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3. |
If the food
is baked not extruded, add 5 points |
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4. |
If the food
contains probiotics, add 3 points |
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5. |
If the food
contains fruit, add 3 points |
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6 |
If the food
contains vegetables (NOT corn or other
grains), add 3 points |
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7. |
If the animal
sources are hormone-free and
antibiotic-free, add 2 points |
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8. |
If the food
contains barley, add 2 points |
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9. |
If the food
contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds),
add 2 points |
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10. |
If the food
contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point |
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11. |
If the food
contains sunflower oil, add 1 point |
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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 "?" as 2 different
sources), add 1 point |
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13. |
If it
contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1
point |
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14. |
If the
vegetables have been tested for pesticides
and are pesticide-free, add 1 point |
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Score |
94-100+ =
A
86-93 =
B
78-85 =
C
70-77 =
D
69 and below =
F
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Here are some
popular foods that have already been scored.
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Authority
Harvest Baked |
Score |
116 A+
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Bil-Jac
Select |
Score |
68 F |
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Canidae |
Score |
112 A+
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Chicken Soup
Senior |
Score |
115 A+
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Diamond
Maintenance |
Score |
64 F |
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Diamond Lamb
Meal & Rice |
Score |
92 B |
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Diamond Large
Breed 60+ Formula |
Score |
99 A |
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Dick Van
Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium |
Score |
122 A+ |
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Dick Van
Patten's Duck and Potato |
Score |
106 A+ |
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Foundations |
Score |
106 A+ |
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Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid
Gold |
Score |
93 B
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Iams Lamb
Meal & Rice Formula Premium |
Score |
73 D |
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Innova Dog |
Score |
114 A+
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Innova Evo
|
Score |
114 A+ |
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Kirkland
Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables
|
Score |
110 A+ |
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Nutrisource
Lamb and Rice |
Score |
87 B |
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Nutro Natural
Choice Large Breed Puppy |
Score |
87 B
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Pet Gold
Adult with Lamb & Rice |
Score |
23 F
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ProPlan
Natural Turkey & Barley |
Score |
103 A+
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Purina
Beneful |
Score |
17 F |
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Purina Dog
|
Score |
62 F
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Purina
Come-n-Get It |
Score |
16 F |
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Royal Canin
Bulldog |
Score |
100 A+ |
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Royal Canin
Natural Blend Adult |
Score |
106 A+ |
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Sensible
Choice Chicken and Rice |
Score |
97 A |
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Science Diet
Advanced Protein Senior 7+
|
Score |
63 F |
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Science Diet
for Large Breed Puppies |
Score |
69 F
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Wellness
Super5 Mix Chicken |
Score |
110 A+ |
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Wolfking
Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold
|
Score |
97 A |