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Manufactured Pet Food Rating Scores

This excellent way of rating dog foods for their healthfulness and nutritional value was developed by veterinarian Stephen Molle, DVM, a rural Michigan companion animal house-call specialist.

Scoring System for Nutritional Value and Overall Quality of Various Dog Foods

Grading Scale
94  -   100   +   =   A
     86   -   93     =   B
     78   -   85     =   C
     70   -   77     =   D
                     <77 = F

 

Dr Fox approved pet products

 

If you don't want to take the survey now, here's how to score the quality of Dog Food
(can also be used for cat food)

Start Each Dog Food With A Grade of 100.
 
Subtract points for each true statement:
- 10 pts. 1. Subtact 10 for every listing of "by product".
- 10 pts. 2. Subtact 10 for every non-specific animal source reference (meat, poultry, meal, or fat; as opposed to beef, lamb, chicken, etc.
- 10 pts. 3. It contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin (often found in Science Diets dry and web dog and cat foods).
- 5 pts. 4. Every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source (specific ex. would be wheat, barley, oats, etc.).
- 5 pts. 5. The same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice", "brewerÕs rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain).
- 3 pts. 6. The protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients.
- 3 pts. 7. It contains any artificial colorants.
- 3 pts. 8. It contains ground corn or whole grain corn.
- 2 pts. 9. Corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients.
- 2 pts. 10. It contains any animal fat other than fish oil.
- 2 pts. 11. Lamb is the only animal protein source (Do not subtract if your dog is allergic to other protein sources).
- 2 pts. 12. It contains soy or soybeans.
- 2 pts. 13. It contains wheat (Do not subtract if you know your dog isn't allergic to wheat).
- 1 pts. 14. It contains beef (Do not subtract if you know your dog isn't allergic to beef).
- 1 pts. 15. It contains salt.
 
Add points for each true statement:
+ 5 pts. 1. It contains organic meat sources.
+ 5 pts. 2. It is endorsed by a major breed group or nutritionist.
+ 5 pts. 3. It is baked not extruded.
+ 3 pts. 4. It contains propiotics.
+ 3 pts. 5. It contains fruit.
+ 3 pts. 6. It contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains).
+ 2 pts. 7. The animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free.
+ 2 pts. 8. It contains barley.
+ 2 pts. 9. It contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds).
+ 1 pts. 10. It contains oats or oatmeal.
+ 1 pts. 11. It contains sunflower oil.
+ 1 pts. 12. It contains glucosamine and chondroitin.
+ 1 pts. 13. The vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free.
+ 1 pts. 14. Add a point for each different specific animal protein source (i.e. "chicken" and "chicken meal" is one combined protein source; whereas "chicken and ..." would be two separate protein sources).

Scores for Various Dog Food Brands

  DOG FOOD BRAND: SCORE: GRADE:
1. Merrick Wilderness Blend 127 A+
2. Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium 127 A+
3. Innova Large Breed Puppy 127 A+
4. Nature's Variety Raw Instinct 122 A+
5. Timberwolf Organics Wild & Natural 120 A+
6. Life's Abundance 117 A+
7. Authority Harvest Baked Less Active 117 A+
8. Nature's Recipe Healthy Skin Venison & Rice 116 A+
9. Chicken Soup Senior 115 A+
10. Innova Dog 114 A+
11. Innova Evo 114 A+
12. Canidae 112 A+
13. Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice & Vegetables 112 A+
14. Wellness Super 5 Mix Chicken 110 A+
15. Premium Edge Chicken, Rice & Vegetables-Adult Dry 109 A+
16. Burns Chicken and Brown Rice 107 A+
17. Blue Buffalo Chicken and Rice 107 A+
18. Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice 107 A+
19. Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato 107 A+
20. Foundations 107 A+
21. Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult 106 A+
22. Nutro Ultra Adult 104 A+
23. Royal Canin Boxer 103 A+
24. EaglePack Holistic 102 A+
25. Flint River Senior 101 A+
26. Nature's Recipe, Royal Canin Bulldog 100 A
27. Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula, Solid Gold 99 A
28. Nutro Natural Choice, Lamb and Rice 98 A
29. Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice 97 A
30. Nutro Natural Choice Senior 95 A
31. Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach 94 A
32. Authority Harvest Baked Less Active 94 A
33. Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold 94 A
34. Nutro Max Adult 93 B
35. Diamond Lamb and Rice 92 B
36. Blue Diamond Large Breed Lamb and Rice    
37. Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy 87 B
38. Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Wheat Free 86 C
39. Diamond Performance 85 C
40. Member's Mark Chicken and Rice 84 C
41. Blackwood 3000 Lamb and Rice 83 C
42. Alpo Prime Cuts    
43. Eukanuba Adult    
44. Nutra Nuggets Super Premium Lamb Meal & Rice 81 C
45. Pro Nature Puppy 80 C
46. Eukanuba Puppy 79 C
47. Iams Lamb Meal and Rice Formula Premium 73 D
48. Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies 69 F
49. Bil-Jac Select 68 F
50. Diamond Maintenance 64 F
51. Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ 63 F
52. Purina One Large Breed Puppy 62 F
53. Kibbles and Bit 31 F
54. Pet Gold Adult with Lamb and Rice 23 F
55. Purina Beneful 17 F
56. Purina Come-n-Get It 16 F

 

CLICK ICON TO PURCHASE A BRAND RECOMMENDED BY DR.FOX!
Active Care by Breeder's Choice Pet Foods Annamaet Holistic Pet Foods AvoDerm by Breeder's Choice Pet Foods
Wysong Natural pet foods and supplements Pinnacle Holistic Pet Nutrition Canidae Natural Pet Food Solid Gold Health Products for Pets

 

 
 

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