Dog Food Chart and Ratings |
How to grade your dog's kibble (dry food): (Keep in mind that the highest rated foods are for working/hunting dogs that are very active) Start with a grade of 100, then: 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", "brewers 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 more points 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 is not allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog is not allergic to beef), subtract 1 point If it contains salt (sodium chloride), 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 Scoring: 94-100+ = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C 70-77 = D 69 and below = F Here are some foods that have already been scored. Brand/Formula Score Grade Merrick Wilderness Blend 127 A+ Nature’s Variety Raw Instinct 122 A+ Innova Large Breed Puppy 122 A+ Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium 122 A+ Timberwolf Organics Wild & Natural Dry 120 A+ Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Venison and Rice 116 A+ Authority Harvest Baked 116 A+ Chicken Soup Senior 115 A+ Innova Evo 114 A+ Innova Dog 114 A+ Artemis Large/Medium Breed Puppy 114 A+ Canidae 112 A+ Wellness Super 5 Mix Chicken 110 A+ Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables 110 A+ Premium Edge Chicken, Rice and Vegetables Adult Dry 109 A+ Burns Chicken and Brown Rice 107 A+ Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult 106 A+ Foundations 106 A+ Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato 106 A+ Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Venison and Brown Rice 106 A+ Blue Buffalo Chicken and Rice 106 A+ Nutro Ultra Adult 104 A+ Royal Canin Boxer 103 A+ ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley 103 A+ EaglePack Holistic 102 A+ Nutro Natural Choice Oatmeal 101 A+ Nutrience Junior Medium Breed Puppy 101 A+ Flint River Senior 101 A+ Beowulf Back to Basics 101 A+ Royal Canin Bulldog 100 A+ Nature’s Recipe 100 A Summit 99 A Solid Gold 99 A Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula 99 A Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Lamb and Rice Puppy 98 A Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice 98 A Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold 97 A Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice 97 A Nutro Natural Choice Senior 95 A Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach 94 A Nutro Max Adult 93 B Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold 93 B Authority Harvest Baked Less Active 93 B Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice 92 B Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy 87 B Nutrisource Lamb and Rice 87 B Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Wheat Free 86 B Diamond Performance 85 C Member’Mark Chicken and Rice 84 C Blackwood 3000 Lamb and Rice 83 C Nutra Nuggets Super Premium Lamb Meal and Rice 81 C Eukanuba Adult 81 C Alpo Prime Cuts 81 C Pro Nature Puppy 80 C Eukanuba Puppy 79 C Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium 73 D Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies 69 F Bil-Jac Select 68 F Diamond Maintenance 64 F Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ 63 F Purina One Large Breed Puppy 62 F Purina Dog 62 F Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice 23 F Purina Beneful 17 F Purina Come-n-Get It 16 F |