To grade any dog food using Sarah’s dog food comparison technique, you need to start with the list of ingredients. It’s fairly easy to find an ingredient list for any particular food on the food bag. 

START:

Start with a grade of 100 points, then…

  1. For every listing of “by-product,” subtract 10 points.

  2. For every non-specific animal source (i.e. “meat,” “poultry,” “meat meal,” or “fat”) reference, subtract 10 points.

  3. If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points.

  4. 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,” “brewers’ rice,” and “rice flour” are all the same grain), subtract 5 points.

  5. If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than two meats in the top three ingredients, subtract 3 points.

  6. If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points.

  7. If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points.

  8. If corn is listed in the top five ingredients, subtract 2 points.

  9. If the food contains any animal fat, other than fish oil, subtract 2 points.

  10. If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points.

  11. If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points.

  12. If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points.

  13. If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn’t allergic to beef), subtract 1 point.

  14. If it contains salt, subtract 1 point.

EXTRA CREDIT:

  1. If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points.

  2. If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5 points.

  3. If the food is baked and not extruded, add 5 points.

  4. If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points.

  5. If the food contains fruit, add 3 points.

  6. If the food contains vegetables (not corn or other grains), add 3 points.

  7. If the animal sources are free of hormones and antibiotics, add 2 points.

  8. If the food contains barley, add 2 points.

  9. If the food contains flaxseed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points.

  10. If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point.

  11. If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point.

  12. For every specific animal protein source, other than the first one (count “chicken” and “chicken meal” as only one protein source, but “chicken” and “fish” as two different sources), add 1 point.

  13. If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point.

  14. If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are free of pesticides, add 1 point.

SCORING:

94 – 100 = A, 86 – 93 = B, 78 – 85 = C, 70 – 77 = D, < 69 = F

COMPARISONS:

The list below contains some well-known pet foods. They are listed in alphabetical order. A1 Pet Emporium foods are marked with an asterisk (*).

Please note that some of the pet foods listed may be expensive. However, you do not have to spend a fortune to get good food. We have foods for every budget. Come visit us, and we will show you several high-quality food options for you and your furry friend.

+ Grade A:

  • *ACANA Pacifica™ – Score = 134, A+
  • *Back to Basics™ – Score = 132, A+
  • Blue Buffalo™ Chicken & Brown Rice – Score = 106, A+
  • *CANIDAE Grain-Free Elements – Score = 126, A+
  • *CANIDAE All Life Stages – Score = 118, A+
  • *Chicken Soup for the Soul – Score = 115, A+
  • Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula – Score = 99, A
  • Dick Van Patten’s™ Natural Balance Ultra Premium – Score = 122, A+
  • Dick Van Patten’s Duck & Potato – Score = 106, A+
  • *EarthBorn Holistic Grain Free – Score = 125, A+
  • Foundation™ – Score = 106, A+
  • *Horizon Legacy™ Adult – Score = 121, A+
  • Hund-N-Flocken™ Adult Dog (Lamb) by Solid Gold™ – Score = 93, A
  • Innova™ Dog – Score = 114, A+
  • Innova EVO™ – Score = 114, A+
  • *Instinct by Nature’s Variety – Score = 133, A+
  • Kirkland Signature™ Puppy Chicken, Rice, & Vegetable – Score = 108, A+
  • *Natural Balance™ Duck & Potato – Score = 114, A+
  • *NutriSource Heartland Select – Score = 123, A+
  • *Orijen Regional Red – Score = 137, A+
  • *Prairie by Nature’s Variety – Score = 122, A+
  • *Premium Edge Adult Dog Lamb & Rice – Score = 117, A+
  • Pro Plan Natural Turkey & Barley – Score = 103, A+
  • Royal Canin™ Bulldog – Score = 100, A+
  • Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult – Score = 106, A+
  • Solid Gold™ Bison – Score = 123, A+
  • *Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain – Score = 123, A+
  • *Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream – Score = 123, A+
  • *Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream – Score = 123, A+
  • *Taste of the Wild Wetlands – Score = 123, A+
  • *Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream – Score = 123, A+
  • *Victor™ Grain-Free Joint Health – Score = 112, A+
  • Wellness Super5Mix™ Chicken – Score = 110, A+
  • Wolf King™ Adult Dog (Bison) by Solid Gold – Score = 97, A

+ Grade B:

  • Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice Formula – Score = 92, B
  • Eukanuba Natural Lamb & Rice – Score = 87, B
  • NUTRO Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy – Score = 87, B

+ Grade C:

  • Eukanuba™ Large Breed Adult – Score = 83, C
  • IAMS Large Breed – Score = 83, C
  • NUTRO™ Chicken, Rice, & Oatmeal – Score = 85, C (Non-Specific Fat Source)
  • NUTRO Natural Choice Lamb & Rice – Score = 85, C

+ Grade D:

  • IAMS™ Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium – Score = 73, D

+ Grade F:

  • Bil-Jac Select™ – Score = 68, F
  • Diamond™ Maintenance – Score = 64, F
  • Ol’ Roy™ – Score = 9, F
  • Pedigree™ Complete Nutrition – Score = 42, F
  • Pedigree Adult Complete – Score = 14, F
  • Pet Gold™ Adult with Lamb & Rice – Score = 23, F
  • Purina™ Beneful™ – Score = 17, F
  • Purina Dog – Score = 62, F
  • Purina Come & Get It – Score = 16, F
  • Pro Plan™ All Breed – Score = 68, F
  • Science Diet™ Advanced Protein Senior 7+ – Score = 63, F
  • Science Diet Chicken Adult Maintenance – Score = 45, F
  • Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies – Score = 69, F

Source: Fidosavvy

 
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