Dog Food Rating System

Dog Food Rating System

Below is a rating system for pet foods that may be helpful in showing you where your current brand lies and what are considered quality ingredients.  You’ll be surprised to see that some brands that are carried by super markets and sold over the counter rate high on this grading system.  Also not so surprising to see some highly advertised Dog Foods rate at the bottom, with an F (Failed) rating. Don’t be fooled by advertising that you see on T.V. Quality food companies put their money into quality ingredients for your pet, not in mass advertising.

How to grade your pet’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 -not actual protein source stated such as chicken, lamb, turkey etc) reference, subtract 10 points
3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points for each
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 meat protein sources are not in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
7) If it contains any artificial colorants or preservatives, subtract 3 points for each
8 ) If it contains corn (ground corn, corn gluten, whole grain corn etc) subtract 3points
9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
10) If the food contains any added animal fat other than fish or flaxseed oil, subtract 2 points
11) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
13) If it contains wheat or a component of wheat such as gluten, subtract 3 points
14) If it contains “digest” subtract 5 points
15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point

Extra Credits:

Bonus credit-If the food contains NO grains, add 10 points
1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
2) If the protein source is meal vs meat, add 5 points
3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
4) If the food contains probiotics or prebiotics, 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 (these may be hard to determine as many manufacturers of natural holistic food use these products without actually printing the information on the bag)
8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points
9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2points
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 are pesticide-free, add 1 point

Score:

Just add and subtract all your points and check it against the rating line below.

100+ = A+,   94-100=A,   86-93 = B,    76-85 = C,    75 or lower= Failed

We have used this system here at the kennels and have found that it works.  So please use this system to rate the dog food you are presently using.

To see reviews of the Holistic Dog Foods along with over the counter foods tested here at the kennels:

For Life’s Abundances review.  Click Here

For Flint River Ranch review.  Chick Here

George Baker did not receive a promotional copy (and/or other material compensation), in order to facilitate his honest opinion for this endorsement and is not a marketing affiliate for dog food rating system