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RATE YOUR DOG’S FOOD: PREMIUM DOG FOOD RATINGS SCALE


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ORGANIC DOG FOOD RATING SCALE VS. COMMERCIAL DOG FOOD

This is a rating scale to determine if your dog food is excellent, good, acceptable, not acceptable or hazardous for your pet.

Although it is a general “scale” based on someone’s opinion, it does make a great deal of sense. At the end of the rating scale there are some good examples of what commercial dog foods you should never ever give your pet.

This scale does seem to match what I have been saying about giving your dog the premium organic dog foods. Use the scale as a general evaluation of your dog’s food and see where it falls.

This is not my own scale, and unfortunately I don’t have the address available where I found it on the internet. I had saved it to my computer for my own interest quite a while ago.

Give it a try – it is fun and enlightening.

CANINE FOOD RATING SCALE AND CRITERIA

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. (these are known cancer causing agents.)
  • - For every grain “mill run” or non-specific grain source subtract 5 points.
  • - 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.
  • - If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than two meats in the top three ingredients, subtract 3 points.
  • - If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points.
  • - If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points.
  • - If corn is listed in the top five 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 isn’t allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points.
  • - If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergice to beef), 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 point.
  • - 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 one protein source, but “chicken” and “venison” as 2 different sources) add 1 point.
  • - If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point.
  • - If the vegetable 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 Many need to change or add additives
  • 70 – 77 = D Need to think about changing.
  • 69 = F AWFUL! CHANGE IMMEDIATELY.
  • Here are some examples of foods rated on this scale: The good, the bad and the ugly.

  • Karma Organic Dog Food – Score 120 = A+
  • Newman’s Own Organics – Score 122 = A+
  • Wellness Super5Mix Dry Dog Food Chicken 30 lb. Bag – Score 110 = A+
  • Canidae All Life Stages Dry Dog Food – Score 112 = A+
  • Solid Gold WolfKing Bison Dry Dog Food – Score 109 = A+
  • Natural Balance Potato & Duck Dog Food Allergy Formula – Score 106 = A+
  • Innova Dry Dog Food – Score 114 = A+
  • Nutro Natual Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
  • Iams ProActive Health Mini Chunks/ 69 F
  • Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies/ Score 69 F
  • Kibbles N Bits/ 50 F
  • Pedigree Lamb and Rice / 50F
  • Purina Beneful/ Score 17 F
  • Purina come-n-Get It/ Score 16 F
  • Why are they still manufacturing these low quality, unhealthy and dangerous foods, and able to promote them with glossy, entertaining and untrue claims of  a complete and balanced diet.  If they advertise 100% nutrtionally complete, it only needs to meet minimal standards of nutrtion, not optimum.

    WHICH DOG FOOD WOULD YOUR RATHER FEED YOUR PET?

    PEDIGREE WITH LAMB AND RICE

    Ground Whole Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Wheat, Meat And Bone Meal, Animal Fat (Preserved With Bha/Bht), Wheat Flour, Lamb, Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Natural Flavor, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Dicalcium Phosphate, Vegetable Oil (Source Of Linoleic Acid), Caramel Color, Dried Beet Pulp, Titanium Dioxide, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate [Source Of Vitamin E], L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate [Source Of Vitamin C*], Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Biotin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement [Vitamin B2], Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement), Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Potassium Iodide), Added FD&C And Lake Colors (Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 2, Red 40)

    Check out the first 5 ingredients – no meat. – just by products and mystery meat meal and bone meal.  These are not listed because it is usually inedible food, rotten meat, road kill, euthanized animals and body parts and bones left over that are  usually considered garbage.  They just throw it all in like a smorgasboard of junk – Yuckkkkk!

    Or

    WELLNESS (Core Grain – Free)

    Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Dried Ground Potato, Tomato Pomace, Natural Chicken Flavor, Canola Oil, Chicken Liver, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Kale, Broccoli, Spinach, Parsley, Apples, Blueberries, Vitamins & Minerals, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Products, Rosemary Extract.
     
    Comprehensive “NO” List

    No Meat By-products, No Wheat or Wheat Gluten, No Soy, No Dairy, No Corn, No Artificial Colors, Flavors or Preservatives

    Grain-Free and Lower Carbohydrates

  • 100% Grain Free
  • Contains 35% less carbs than traditional diets
  • Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes provide energy giving carbs and help keep the kibble firm
  • Preventative Health Benefits

    • Fish & Flax Omega Blend provide a rich supply of Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids from salmon oil, flax and canola oil. This blend nutritionally supports healthy skin to produce a glossy coat at guaranteed levels on every bag.
    • Herbs, Botanicals, Fruits & Greens provide Phyto-Chemicals, Micro-Nutrients and Antioxidants
    • Living Food – Our ActiCoat System applies living, heat-sensitive Probiotic micro-organisms after cooking to support digestive health at a guaranteed levels on every bag
    • Hip & Joint Health – Glucosamine and Chondroitin to help support long term bone and joint health at guaranteed levels on every bag

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