Love your dogs? Check this out (long but informative) - GoFuckYourself.com

iMind · 03-24-2008, 07:46 PM

My mom just sent me this and I thought I'd share it, cause I found out purina is pretty crappy stuff so I've switched my pooch to a new better brand , which happened to be less expensive too so it was win win!

Grading Dog Food

This method of grading dog food was developed by Sarah Irick. It is
not to be considered exact science but a starting point for people who
need help with how to read labels and choose a good food. You can read
about Sarah here. She has provided, with permission to Naper Doodles
to include on our website, the Grading Scheme, foods that have already
been graded in Alphabetical Order, and dog foods that have been graded
In Order of Score.

How to grade your dog's food

Start with a grade of 100 points
1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points
2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "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
5) 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), subtract 5 points
6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2
meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points
9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract
2 points
11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is
allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points
12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic
to wheat), subtract 2 points
14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic
to beef), subtract 1 point
15) 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 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 hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2
points
8) If the food contains barley, add 2 points
9) If the food contains flax seed 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 different specific animal protein source (other than the
first one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein
source, but "chicken" and "fish" as 2 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
pesticide-free, add 1 point

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

Following are some foods that have already been scored (alphabetical
order then ordered by score):

ALPHABETICAL ORDER:
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+
Eagle Pack Holistic / Score 119 A+
Eagle Pack Holistic Chicken / Score 114 A+
Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy / Score 94 A
Eagle Pack Natural / Score 94 A
Eukanuba Large Breed Adult / Score 83 C
Eukanuba Natural Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Flint River Ranch / Score 92 B (non-specific fat source)
Foundations / Score 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 A
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Iams Large Breed / Score 83 C
Innova Dog / Score 114 A+
Innova Evo / Score 114 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Kirkland Signature Puppy Chicken, Rice and Vegetable / Score 108 A+
Natural Balance Duck and Potato / Score 114 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Chicken, Rice, & Oatmeal / Score 85 C (non-specific fat source)
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural choice Lamb and Rice / Score 85 C
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
Pro Plan All Breed / Score 68 F
Pro Plan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+
Purina Benful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Dachshund 28 Formula / Score 97 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 chicken adult maintenance / Score 45 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Solid Gold Bison / Score 123 A+
Timberwolf Organics Lamb and Venison / Score 136 A+
Wellness Just for Puppy / Score 117 A+
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A

NUMERICAL ORDER (BY SCORE):

Grade A
Timberwolf Organics Lamb and Venison / Score 136 A+
Solid Gold Bison / Score 123 A+
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
Eagle Pack Holistic / Score 119 A+
Wellness Just for Puppy / Score 117 A+
Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+
Eagle Pack Holistic Chicken / Score 114 A+
Innova Dog / Score 114 A+
Innova Evo / Score 114 A+
Natural Balance Duck and Potato / Score 114 A+
Canidae / Score 112 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Kirkland Signature Puppy Chicken, Rice and Vegetable / Score 108 A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+
Foundations / Score 106 A+
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A
Royal Canin Dachshund 28 Formula / Score 97 A
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A
Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy / Score 94 A
Eagle Pack Natural / Score 94 A
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 A
Grade B
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B
Flint River Ranch / Score 92 B (non-specific fat source)
Eukanuba Natural Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Grades C and D
Nutro Chicken, Rice, & Oatmeal / Score 85 C (non-specific fat source)
Nutro Natural choice Lamb and Rice / Score 85 C
Eukanuba Large Breed Adult / Score 83 C
Iams Large Breed / Score 83 C
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Grade F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
Pro Plan All Breed / Score 68 F
Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Science Diet chicken adult maintenance / Score 45 F
Pedigree Complete Nutrition / Score 42 F
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
Purina Benful / Score 17 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Pedigree Adult Complete / Score 14 F
Ol Roy / Score 9 F

About the Author of this Food Grading Method:

My name is Sarah Irick and I am a Great Dane owner and rescue
volunteer. I am a Civil/Industrial Engineer, not a veterinarian or
animal nutritionist by education or employment. I do not work for a
pet food manufacturer nor am I affiliated with one. I am just an
individual who is concerned about what I feed my dogs and wants to
help others decide what to feed their own. I cannot remember the exact
date I designed this system, though I know it's been more than a year
(probably 2-3 years ago). I was concerned with the way people
sometimes throw out names of "good" dog foods that maybe aren't so
good, and others take their words for it. Foods that maybe used to be
good before their ingredients were changed for the worse or before
better options became available are still being touted by some as
being super-premium and I disagree. Since many pet owners do not have
the time or inclination to do as many hours of research into pet
(specifically dog) nutrition as I and many of you have, I wanted an
*easier* way for them to compare labels. Unfortunately it is still a
bit cumbersome (sometimes 2 people calculate the same food and get
different scores even) but it's better than nothing in my opinion.

Is it exact science? No. I don't claim for it to be. In fact I've had
to make a couple of changes over time (which the above don't reflect)
for new circumstances I've run across, such as the food that contained
NO MEAT (not a special diet just one that was so cheap it didn't
contain any meat at all) and needs a steep penalty IMO but still
scored a decent grade on the original or the newer kibbles that
contain no grain and IMO if it still has sufficient fiber and carbs
then it deserves extra credit that wasn't previously reflected.

baddog · 03-24-2008, 07:49 PM

Anyone that thought Purina was good should probably be sent stuff like that.

iMind · 03-24-2008, 07:55 PM

Well I knew it wasn't the greatest, but I didn't think it was that bad either and it's the easier stuff to get around here as there's not many pet stores around this area.

I found Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
At costco which is like 5 minutes from here and it's $20 for a huge bag so he'll be munching on that from now on :D

C_U_Next_Tuesday · 03-24-2008, 08:00 PM

The best food for your dog is raw meat..

minddust · 03-24-2008, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iMind

Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Iams Large Breed / Score 83 C
Iams Large Breed / Score 83 C
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Grade F

http://www.iamscruelty.com/

Love you dogs? Show him by not only feeding him with good food, but walking/running with him at least half an hour a day.

baddog · 03-24-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minddust

http://www.iamscruelty.com/

Love you dogs? Show him by not only feeding him with good food, but walking/running with him at least half an hour a day.

Congrats.

Tempest · 03-24-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

Anyone that thought Purina was good should probably be sent stuff like that.

I typically buy Innova but I ran out recently, it's a long drive to get more and my dog was "bored" with it.. So I bought a small bag of the Purina Beniful... He loved that shit.. So I bought more and he wasn't as enthused the second time around.. So it's back to Innova for the most part although I found a local place that has some of the Wellness, Solid Gold and maybe Timberwolf brands.. I tried a bag of Wellness and he seemed to like that so I figure I'll mix it up a bit for him now.

Peaches · 03-24-2008, 08:29 PM

I feed my dogs NutroMax which isn't even on that list

And I'm too lazy to read all the ingredients and "grade it". It's worked great for 11 years and that's all I need.

Except for the 2 spots on my 12 year old's neck and spine that are causing him paralysis (and causing me to do a lot of cleaning up) none of my dogs have ever had any health issues. My oldest is 15 now and even though she's stone deaf and mostly blind, she's healthy as can be.

Use what works

03-24-2008, 07:46 PM	#1
iMind Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 937	Love your dogs? Check this out (long but informative) My mom just sent me this and I thought I'd share it, cause I found out purina is pretty crappy stuff so I've switched my pooch to a new better brand , which happened to be less expensive too so it was win win! Grading Dog Food This method of grading dog food was developed by Sarah Irick. It is not to be considered exact science but a starting point for people who need help with how to read labels and choose a good food. You can read about Sarah here. She has provided, with permission to Naper Doodles to include on our website, the Grading Scheme, foods that have already been graded in Alphabetical Order, and dog foods that have been graded In Order of Score. How to grade your dog's food Start with a grade of 100 points 1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points 2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "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 5) 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), subtract 5 points 6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points 7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points 8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points 9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points 10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points 11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to other protein sources), subtract 2 points 12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points 13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points 14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to beef), subtract 1 point 15) 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 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 hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points 8) If the food contains barley, add 2 points 9) If the food contains flax seed 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 different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source, but "chicken" and "fish" as 2 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 pesticide-free, add 1 point 94-100+ = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C 70-77 = D 69 = F Following are some foods that have already been scored (alphabetical order then ordered by score): ALPHABETICAL ORDER: 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+ Eagle Pack Holistic / Score 119 A+ Eagle Pack Holistic Chicken / Score 114 A+ Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy / Score 94 A Eagle Pack Natural / Score 94 A Eukanuba Large Breed Adult / Score 83 C Eukanuba Natural Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B Flint River Ranch / Score 92 B (non-specific fat source) Foundations / Score 106 A+ Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 A Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D Iams Large Breed / Score 83 C Innova Dog / Score 114 A+ Innova Evo / Score 114 A+ Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+ Kirkland Signature Puppy Chicken, Rice and Vegetable / Score 108 A+ Natural Balance Duck and Potato / Score 114 A+ Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B Nutro Chicken, Rice, & Oatmeal / Score 85 C (non-specific fat source) Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B Nutro Natural choice Lamb and Rice / Score 85 C 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 Pro Plan All Breed / Score 68 F Pro Plan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+ Purina Benful / Score 17 F Purina Dog / Score 62 F Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+ Royal Canin Dachshund 28 Formula / Score 97 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 chicken adult maintenance / Score 45 F Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F Solid Gold Bison / Score 123 A+ Timberwolf Organics Lamb and Venison / Score 136 A+ Wellness Just for Puppy / Score 117 A+ Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+ Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A NUMERICAL ORDER (BY SCORE): Grade A Timberwolf Organics Lamb and Venison / Score 136 A+ Solid Gold Bison / Score 123 A+ Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+ Eagle Pack Holistic / Score 119 A+ Wellness Just for Puppy / Score 117 A+ Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+ Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+ Eagle Pack Holistic Chicken / Score 114 A+ Innova Dog / Score 114 A+ Innova Evo / Score 114 A+ Natural Balance Duck and Potato / Score 114 A+ Canidae / Score 112 A+ Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+ Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+ Kirkland Signature Puppy Chicken, Rice and Vegetable / Score 108 A+ Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+ Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+ Foundations / Score 106 A+ ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+ Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+ Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A Royal Canin Dachshund 28 Formula / Score 97 A Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy / Score 94 A Eagle Pack Natural / Score 94 A Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 A Grade B Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B Flint River Ranch / Score 92 B (non-specific fat source) Eukanuba Natural Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B Grades C and D Nutro Chicken, Rice, & Oatmeal / Score 85 C (non-specific fat source) Nutro Natural choice Lamb and Rice / Score 85 C Eukanuba Large Breed Adult / Score 83 C Iams Large Breed / Score 83 C Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D Grade F Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F Pro Plan All Breed / Score 68 F Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F Purina Dog / Score 62 F Science Diet chicken adult maintenance / Score 45 F Pedigree Complete Nutrition / Score 42 F Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F Purina Benful / Score 17 F Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F Pedigree Adult Complete / Score 14 F Ol Roy / Score 9 F About the Author of this Food Grading Method: My name is Sarah Irick and I am a Great Dane owner and rescue volunteer. I am a Civil/Industrial Engineer, not a veterinarian or animal nutritionist by education or employment. I do not work for a pet food manufacturer nor am I affiliated with one. I am just an individual who is concerned about what I feed my dogs and wants to help others decide what to feed their own. I cannot remember the exact date I designed this system, though I know it's been more than a year (probably 2-3 years ago). I was concerned with the way people sometimes throw out names of "good" dog foods that maybe aren't so good, and others take their words for it. Foods that maybe used to be good before their ingredients were changed for the worse or before better options became available are still being touted by some as being super-premium and I disagree. Since many pet owners do not have the time or inclination to do as many hours of research into pet (specifically dog) nutrition as I and many of you have, I wanted an easier way for them to compare labels. Unfortunately it is still a bit cumbersome (sometimes 2 people calculate the same food and get different scores even) but it's better than nothing in my opinion. Is it exact science? No. I don't claim for it to be. In fact I've had to make a couple of changes over time (which the above don't reflect) for new circumstances I've run across, such as the food that contained NO MEAT (not a special diet just one that was so cheap it didn't contain any meat at all) and needs a steep penalty IMO but still scored a decent grade on the original or the newer kibbles that contain no grain and IMO if it still has sufficient fiber and carbs then it deserves extra credit that wasn't previously reflected.

03-24-2008, 07:49 PM	#2
baddog So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: the beach, SoCal Posts: 107,089	Anyone that thought Purina was good should probably be sent stuff like that.

03-24-2008, 07:55 PM	#3
iMind Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 937	Well I knew it wasn't the greatest, but I didn't think it was that bad either and it's the easier stuff to get around here as there's not many pet stores around this area. I found Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+ At costco which is like 5 minutes from here and it's $20 for a huge bag so he'll be munching on that from now on :D

03-24-2008, 08:00 PM	#4
C_U_Next_Tuesday WW4L Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: over the river and through the woods Posts: 10,581	The best food for your dog is raw meat..

03-24-2008, 08:29 PM	#8
Peaches Old broad Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Away Posts: 13,933	I feed my dogs NutroMax which isn't even on that list And I'm too lazy to read all the ingredients and "grade it". It's worked great for 11 years and that's all I need. Except for the 2 spots on my 12 year old's neck and spine that are causing him paralysis (and causing me to do a lot of cleaning up) none of my dogs have ever had any health issues. My oldest is 15 now and even though she's stone deaf and mostly blind, she's healthy as can be. Use what works