Goldendoodles Reading Grading Food
The Reading Corner
How to Grade Your Dog's Food
Start with a grade of 100
For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points
For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal or fat) reference, subtract 10 points
If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points
For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source,subtract 5 points
If the same grain ingredient is used 2 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
If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3points
If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 morepoints
If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil,subtract 2 points
If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points
If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points
If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to beef), subtract 1 point
If it contains salt, subtract 1 point
Extra Credit:
If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points
If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points
If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points
If the food contains barley, add 2 points
If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points
If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
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
If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free, add 1 point
Scores:
94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D
69 = E
>69 = F
Here are some foods that have already been scored:
Food Score Notes
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+
Eagle Pack Holistic 119 A+
Eagle Pack Holistic Chicken 114 A+
Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy 94 A
Eagle Pack Natural 94 A
Eukanuba Large Breed Adult 83 C
Eukanuba Natural Lamb and Rice 87 B
Flint River Ranch 92 B (non-specific fat source)
Foundations 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold 93 A
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium 73 D
Iams Large Breed 83 C
Innova Dog 114 A+
Innova Evo 114 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables 110 A+
Natural Balance Duck and Potato 114 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice 87 B
Nutro Chicken, Rice, & Oatmeal 85 C
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy 87 B
Nutro Natural choice Lamb and Rice 85 C
Ol Roy 9 F
Pedigree Complete Nutrition 42 F
Pedigree Adult Complete 14 F
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice 23 F
Pro Plan All Breed 68 F
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley 103 A+
Purina Benful 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 chicken adult maintainance 45 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies 69 F
Solid Gold Bison 123 A+
Timberwolf Organics Lamb and Venison 136 A+
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold 97 A
