Grade Your Dog Food...

Ok this is helpful and an eye opener:

Nutrition and Dog Food

GRADE YOUR DOG 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 two or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice", "brewer's 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 two meats in the top three 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 five 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 2 points
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 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
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

Scores:
94 -100+ = A BEST!
86 -93 = B STILL GOOD.
78 -85 = C May need to change or add additives.
70 -77 = D Need to think about changing.
69 or < = F AWFUL! CHANGE! Here are some foods that have already been scored. Scored Dog Foods:

Arkat VF Large Breed Puppy 103 A+
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula 99 A
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice 97 A
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold 97 A
Authority Harvest Baked 116 A+
Canidae 112 A+
Chicken Soup Senior 115 A+
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium 122 A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato 106 A+
Foundations 106 A+
Innova Dog 114 A+
Innova Evo 114 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables 110 A+
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley 103 A+
Royal Canin Bulldog 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult 106 A+
Wellness Super 5 Mix Chicken 110 A+
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice 92 B
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy 87 B
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold 73 D
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium 73 D
Bil-Jac Select 68 F
Diamond Maintenance 64 F
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice 23 F
Purina Beneful 17 F
Purina Dog 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It 16 F
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies 69 F