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Dog Food Rating Scale
This is an example of a well thought through dog food rating scale. As with any "scale," the attributes are assembled by someone who has an opinion on what is good and bad, but we feel that this one makes a great deal of good sense. This scale also rates some of the more common foods using the criteria provided as an example. We feel that this scale is intelligently thought out, and the rating criteria used match up very closely with much of what the literature on premium canine nutrition has to say on the topic. You can use this scale as a general "evaluation" tool when deciding what type of food to provide for your Cane Corso, Rottweiler, or other Working Breed. This is not our own scale, it is reprinted from a posting we once saw on a bulletin board.
Canine Food Rating Scale and Criteria
Start with a grade of 100:
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For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points
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For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat meal or fat) reference,
subtract 10 points
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If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points
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For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source, subtract 5 points
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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
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If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than two meats in the top
three ingredients, subtract 3 points
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If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
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If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points
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If corn is listed in the top five ingredients, subtract 2 more points
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If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points
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If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein
sources), subtract 2 points
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If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
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If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points
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If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to beef), subtract 1 point
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If it contains salt, subtract 1 point
Extra Credit: -
If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
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If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points
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If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
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If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
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If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
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If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points
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If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points
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If the food contains barley, add 2 points
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If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points
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If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
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If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
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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
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If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
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If the vegetables 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 May need to change or add additives.
70-77 = D Need to think about changing.
69 = F AWFUL! CHANGE!
Here are some foods that have already been scored using this scale as an example:
Scored Dog Foods:
Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
Canidae / Score 112 A+
Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+
Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+
Foundations / Score 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 73 D
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Innova Dog / Score 114 A+
Innova Evo / Score114 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+
Purina Beneful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Wellness Super 5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A
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