How to Grade a Dog's Food

In recent years, dog owners have become more aware of the importance of feeding their dogs a healthy diet. One way to do this is to take a careful look at the food you are feeding your dog. Grading a dog's food means determining how beneficial the food is to your dog's overall health. It means giving a grade to the quality of the ingredients in the food. The process takes some time, but it can tell you a lot about how healthy your dog's food is.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Calculator

1. Write down a score of 100 to start. You are going to subtract points for every nonnutritional item or filler you find in the listed ingredients on the dog food container label. Then, you will add points for any extra nutritional values found.

2. Subtract 10 points every time you see the words "by-product." In addition, subtract 10 points every time you read an ingredient from a nonspecific animal source, such as "meat" or "fat." Finally, subtract 10 points for each reference to BHT, BHA or ethoxyquin.

3. Subtract 5 points for each nonspecific grain item, such as "mill" grain rather than something like oats or barley. Subtract 5 more points if an ingredient is repeated in the first five ingredients. For example, if rice is listed more than once, even under a different name of rice, or if it's called "rice flour."

4. Subtract 3 points for each of the following: If there are not at least two meats in the top three ingredients, if there are any artificial colors used, and if the food contains whole or ground corn.

5. Subtract 2 points if corn is listed as one of the top five ingredients. Also, subtract 2 points if there is animal fat listed (not fish oil), if lamb is the only protein, and if the ingredients contain soybean or wheat (many dogs are allergic to wheat).

6. Subtract 1 point each for salt and beef, unless you are certain your dog does not have a beef allergy.

7. Add 5 points for each of the following: if the meat in the ingredients is organic, if the food is endorsed by dog nutritionists or major breed organizations, and if the food is baked.

8. Add 3 points if there are probiotics in the ingredients. Add another 3 points if there are any fruits listed, and 3 more points if there are vegetables listed.

9. Add two more points for each of the following: if the meat included is from hormone- and antibiotic-free animals, if there is barley listed and if there is flaxseed oil listed.

10. Give 1 point for each of the following items: oats; sunflower oil; specific animal proteins, such as chicken or fish; glucosamine; chondroitin; and if the vegetables were grown free of pesticides, if you know.

11. Add up the total points to grade your dog's food. The higher the score, the healthier your dog's food is.

Tips & Warnings

• The following dog foods were found to have very high grades: Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables; Timberwolf Organics Lamb and Venison; and Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium.
• The following dog foods were found to have very low grades: Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies, Purina Beneful and Pro Plan All Breed.

Resources

• Where to Buy Organic Dog Food (Including the Timberwolf Brand)