Dog Food Rating

This was posted by a veterinarian (name unknown). She states that she hasn't analyzed it to determine how valid it is, but thinks it's a good tool for evaluating foods you might be considering feeding.

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 "" 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 = F

Here are some foods that have already been scored.
Dog Food scores:

Brand

Score

Grade

Authority Harvest Baked

116

A+

Bil-Jac Select

68

F

Canidae

112

A+

Chicken Soup Senior

115

A+

Diamond Maintenance

64

F

Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice

92

B

Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula

99

A

Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium

122

A+

Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato

106

A+

Foundations

106

A+

Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold

93

B

Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium

73

D

Innova Dog

114

A+

Innova Evo

114

A+

Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables

110

A+

Nutrisource Lamb and Rice

87

B

Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy

87

B

Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice

23

F

ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley

103

A+

Purina Beneful

17

F

Purina Dog

62

F

Purina Come-n-Get It

16

F

Royal Canin Bulldog

100

A+

Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult

106

A+

Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice

97

A

Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+

63

F

Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies

69

F

Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken

110

A+

Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold

97

A