MANUFACTURED PET FOODS 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 NUTRITONAL VALUE AND OVERALL QUALITY OF VARIOUS DOG FOODS  
(NOTE: You can score other brands of dog foods and even cat foods not listed here just by using these guidelines on ingredients.) 


Scoring System: Starts with a grade of 100.

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

Subtract points for:
Every listing of "by-product" (subtract 10 points) 


Every non-specific animal source reference (meat, poultry, meal, or fat; as opposed to beef/lamb/chicken/etc.  -10 pts.


If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin (often found in Science Diets dry and web dog and cat foods)  -10 pts.


Every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source (specific ex. would be wheat, barley, oats, etc.)  -5 pts.


If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (i.e. ground brown rice, brewer's rice, rice flour, are all the same grain)  -5 pts.


If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients  -3 pts.


If it contains any artificial colorants  -3 pts.


If It contains ground corn or whole grain corn  -3 pts.


If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients  -2 pts.


If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil  -2 pts.


If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources)  -2 pts


If it contains soy or soybeans  -2 pts.


If it contains wheat (unless you know your dog isn't allergic to wheat -2 pts.


If it contains beef (unless you know your dog isn't allergic to beef)  -1 pt.


If it contains salt  -1 pt.


Add Points:


If any of the meat sources are organic  (add 5 ponts)


If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist  +5 pts.


If the food is baked not extruded  +5 pts.


If the food contains probiotics  +3 pts.


If the food contains fruit  +3 pts.


If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains)  +3 pts.


If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free  +2 pts.


If the food contains barley  +2 pts.


If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds)  +2 pts.


If the food contains oats or oatmeal  +1 pt.


If the food contains sunflower oil  +1 pt.


If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin  +1 pt.


If vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free  +1 pt.


For each different specific animal protein source +1 pt. 
(I.e., other than "chicken" and "chicken meal" is one combined protein source. Whereas "chicken and ...." would be two separate protein sources.)


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