Dog Food Grading Scale

[Tazwell]

In my training classes, I do a discussion on Nutrition. I've always used this generic dog food grading scale, and a list of pre-graded dog foods. I've recently gone into updating the list (since it is years old), and decided that the grading process could be much easier, and more accurate.

It's basically a way to determine which foods are better, and are considered better quality, among other things. The food starts out with 100 points, and you take away or add points depending on what the question is... For example, take away 3 points if corn is in the top 3 ingredients. Or, add 2 points if there is more than one Meat as a protein sources. It's designed to be an easy way for non nutrition savvy owners to pick better foods.

Could anyone help me design one? Or anyone have one that they use that's available for reproduction? I'll post my ideas later when I get to a computer vs. My phone

 

[lizzybeth727]

Could anyone help me design one?

I think that's a great idea! Do you think you could post the test you are using now and we could just tweak it?

 

[Tazwell]

Lizzy, it's been floating around between Petsmart Trainers forever-- I'm surprised you never saw it LOL! I'll post it when I get home, that would be easier.

 

[lizzybeth727]

Lizzy, it's been floating around between Petsmart Trainers forever-- I'm surprised you never saw it LOL! I'll post it when I get home, that would be easier.

Sure I've seen it.... I just don't have it memorized, LOL.

 

[ihartgonzo]

First off, I would say -10 if corn is in the top 3 ingredients! No... -50!

Are both of you Petsmart trainers? Wow. I wish ours had a trainer like you. Does that mean you only recommend Petsmart foods? The only food I can recommend to people is Blue Wilderness, really.

 

[Tazwell]

Gonzo, I do recommend foods outside of Petsmart, and also list them in my dog food list! I always have to put more emphasis on the PetSmart foods, though

I know it's been a while, guys...

But I came up with a new scale, I got tired of the old one! I just have to come up with a points system for it (I'm thinking of either starting with 10, or 100). I want to know any suggestions you can think of, as far as what to add and subtract from this list Thanks for the input!

1. Subtract - points if the first ingredient is not a meat.

2. Subtract - points if there are any preservatives in the form of Sodium Metabisulphite, BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin, TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone). Mixed Tocopherols are accepted.

3. Subtract - points for ever listing of a corn, wheat, or soy product.

4. Subtract - points for every by-product.

5. Subtract - points for every listing ending in "Middlings", "hulls", or "Mill run".

6. Subtract - points for every "Numbered" dye listed (Yellow 5, Red 40, etc.).

7. Subtract - points for ever non-specific source of meat, grain, or fat (Meat and bone meal, poultry fat, animal digest, etc.)

8. Subtract - points for additive of salt (May be listed as "Salt", "Sea salt", "iodized salt", "Sodium Chloride")



9. Add - points if the food is regulated by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

10. Add - points for every listing of an organic ingredient.

11. Add - points if the food is manufactured in the United States.

12. Add - points if the food is baked, not extruded.

13. Add - points if there are multiple meats, not including listings of the same animal.

14. Add - points if the food contains brown or white rice, and does not contain Brewer's rice.

 

[Renee750il]

These two articles should give you a great basis for redesigning your grading scale

The Dog Food Project - Ingredients to avoid

The Dog Food Project - Identifying better products

This is a good overview: The Dog Food Project - Dog Food Label Information 101

 

[Tazwell]

I was using tht website as a guide when I came up with that

I already thought of two things to add--

Add - points if the food is "grain free"

Add - points if the food contains probiotics

 

[MandyPug]

Also make it not just manufactured in the USA, Canadian manufactured foods are excellent as well.

 

[Maura]

I just tell people that the first ingredient should be a whole meat or fish. This rules out the grocery store brands and vet office brands. If they are really interested I tell them to go to Whole Dog Journal.

 

[Upendi&Mina]

Maura, FWIW I actually prefer to see meat meals (from named sources of course). The whole thing with whole meats is that it's the first ingredient sure because it weighs the most of the ingredients, however I believe 70% of it's weight is water so in all reality when the water is removed it would be much, much, much further down the list.

That's my understand anyways.

 

[Renee750il]

I just tell people that the first ingredient should be a whole meat or fish. This rules out the grocery store brands and vet office brands. If they are really interested I tell them to go to Whole Dog Journal.

I've lost a great deal of faith in WDJ over the past few years.

Don't know if you've read this article before or not, Taz The Dog Food Project - Grading kibble - easily?

 

[Maura]

I've found that if you give people more than one or two items to learn their eyes glaze over. If they will break down and get a food that is not corn based they will see an improvement in their dog and hopefully go from there. As for whole meat or meat or meat meal, I realize there is controversy. Either way, the food is going to be way better than what Joe Public is feeding because it's advertised on TV. I've gone so far as to buy a bag of better food myself and give it to the owner. I would never give Taste of the Wild because it is so expensive, but you can get kibble in the dollar range of Iams that is much better than Iams and can get the owner to at least buy from a pet supply store rather than the grocery store.

The fact that you are concerned over the first ingredient being whole meat or meat meal tells me that I would never have to have a conversation with you about why your dog farts so much or doesn't jump around like he used to anymore because he is in pain.

I feed raw, so my concerns are different, like where can I get tripe?

 

[Upendi&Mina]

It's okay Maura, that's just my preference in kibble. I'm actually moving closer to switching to raw, I found a supplier who is reliable. However, I'm just not ready to make the jump yet, because I'm not confident in my ability to make it balanced yet and I don't see the point in feeding raw if you're just going to add supplements to balance it. But I've been reading, reading, reading. We'll get there eventually.

For now my girls and I love TOTW.

 

[Chewbecca]

I was using tht website as a guide when I came up with that

I already thought of two things to add--

Add - points if the food is "grain free"

Add - points if the food contains probiotics

Grains aren't always The Devil.

Dog foods HAVE TO provide a source of carbohydrate, it's just some dogs are allergic to the more common grains than they are potatoes. AND it depends on the grain source, too, AND the type of grain.

Right now I feed Fromm's to my puppies. But it has grain. But it has high quality grain and no wheat or corn.

 

[Tazwell]

I don't think that at all, the "add points if" are extra credit. I would have written "subtract points if not grain free" if that's how I felt.

Do you think the grain free question is pointless then? Should I take it off?

 

[Renee750il]

My feeling on grain free is that if the grains are from a quality source, and are a minimal part of the food, fine.

The primary deciding factor, for me, to go grain-free was the possibility that grain-free feeding might diminish the chances of bloat.

 

[Dekka]

I like the grain free bonus points. But why if made in US? Orijen is one my fave foods ever (love the company, the ingredients, and how my dogs do on the food) as well as Acana... Go dog is a VERY decent food that is also not made in the US...

All the above are made in Canada....

(here much of the nasty foods come from the US, but I wouldn't say they would lose/gain points due to where they come from as things like EVO were a very good food)

 

[Renee750il]

I think, Dekka, that the point of that is to eliminate the stuff that comes from China, etc. Unfortunately, people don't often think of Canada as producing anything Shame, because you have some good products made there.

 

[Dekka]

the issue is often ingreds that come from china... not that the foods are made there.