Looking at the ingredients of your dog's food, find the ingredient listed on the table below.
Starting with 100 points, add or subract the points given fro each ingredient and total the points.
Print this sheet to total your points for each item. The grade scale is listed at the end of the table.
| INGREDIENT | Points (Add or Subtract) |
New Score |
For every listing of "By-Product" |
-10 |
|
For every Non-Specific Animal Source ("Meat" or "Poultry", Meat, Meal or Fat) reference |
-10 |
|
For every Grain "Mill Run" or Non-Specific Grain Source |
- 5 |
|
Same Grain ingredient used 2 or more times in the first 5 ingredients.
(example: ground brown rice, brewer's rice, and rice flour are all the same grain) |
- 5 |
|
Corn listed in the top 5 ingredients |
-2 |
|
Protein Sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients |
- 3 |
|
If Lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources) |
- 2 |
|
Food is baked not extruded, points |
+ 5 |
|
Food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist |
+ 5 |
|
Animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free |
+ 2 |
|
Vegetables have been tested for pesticides and ARE pesticide-free |
+ 1 |
|
Any of the meat sources are organic |
+ 5 |
|
For every different specific animal protein source, other than the 1st one. (example: Count "chicken" & "chicken meal" as only 1 protein source, BUT count "chicken" & "fish" as 2 different sources) |
+ 1 |
|
| IF THE FOOD CONTAINS: | ||
BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin |
- 10 |
|
Any Artificial Colorants |
- 3 |
|
Ground Corn or Whole Grain Corn |
- 3 |
|
Any Animal Fat (other than Fish Oil) |
- 2 |
|
Soy or Soybeans |
- 2 |
|
Salt |
- 1 |
|
Wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to wheat) |
- 2 |
|
Beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to beef) |
- 1 |
|
Fruit |
+ 3 |
|
Barley |
+ 2 |
|
Probiotics |
+ 3 |
|
Vegetables (NOT Corn or Other Grains) |
+ 3 |
|
Flax Seed Oil (not just the seeds) |
+ 2 |
|
Oats or Oatmeal |
+ 1 |
|
Sunflower Oil |
+ 1 |
|
Glucosamine & Chondroitin |
+ 1 |
|
TOTAL POINTS HERE |
||
Grade Scale
100+ = A+ 94-100 = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C 70-77 = D 69-below = F