How Does Your Dog's Food Measure Up?

Take the Test to See if Your Dog's Food is Truly Healthy

It is often hard to know whether the dog food you are feeding is 'healthy' and of 'good quality.' There are many different opinions out there. At Flying Dog we believe the very best diet is one that you prepare yourself, be it raw or cooked. No matter how healthy a processed diet is, it is still processed and we all know eating fresh, whole foods is far better for you and your dog!

If you are unable to feed your dog a home made diet, the test below gives a very clear rating of the dog food you are feeding. It's not the be-all and end-all of food rating but it's a good tool to see how your dog food measures up in quality and how is does against other brands. For optimal health and vitality you should be feeding no less than an A-graded dog food. Doesn't your dog deserve the best? So grab your dog food bag and take the test (some popular brands have already been scored and are listed below).

How to grade your dog's food: Start with 100 points:

• For EVERY listing of "by-product" , subtract 10 points
• For EVERY non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal, fat or digest) reference, subtract 10 points.
• If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points.
• For EVERY fractionated grain (e.g. 'brewers rice,' 'rice flour,' or 'rice bran' instead of 'brown rice'), "mill run" or non-specific grain source, subtract 5 points.
• If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients (e.g. "ground brown rice", "brewers rice", and "rice flour" are all the same grain as are "ground whole wheat" and "wheat flour"), subtract 5 points for EACH multi-listed grain.
• If it contains corn (including corn gluten) subtract 10 points.
• If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points.
• If it contains wheat subtract 10 points.
• If the protein sources are not meals and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points.
• If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 5 points.
• If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2 points.
• If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 5 points.
• If it contains beet pulp, subtract 5 points.
• If it contains salt, subtract 1 point.

Extra Credit:

• If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points.
• If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points.
• If the food contains probiotics (Lactobacillus and/or Bifidobacterium,)add 3 points.
• If the food contains fruit, add 3 points.
• If the food contains vegetables (not including corn), add 3 points.
• If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points.
• If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points.
• If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point.
• 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 "--" as 2 ifferent sources), add 1 point.
• If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point.
• If the food does not contain any grains add 3 points.

Grading:

• 101+ = A+
• 90-100 = A
• 70-89 = B
• 61-70 = C
• 60 and below = D

Here are some foods that have already been scored:

The A+ Group

• Nature's Variety Instinct Turkey and Duck = 114
• Innova EVO = 113
• Innova Adult = 112
• Timberwolf Organics Dakoda Bison = 111
• Prairie Beef and Barley = 110
• Merrick Wilderness Blend = 108
• Solid Gold Wolf King = 104
• Wellness Chicken Super5Mix = 104
• Fromm 4 Star Chicken a La Veg = 105
• Natural Balance Duck and Potato = 103

The A Group

• Holistic Blend Lamb and Rice = 100
• Purina Pro Plan Selects Salmon and Brown Rice = 91

The B Group

• Science Diet Nature's Best = 83
• Nutrience Supreme Plus Medium Breed = 76

The C Group

• Royal Canin Maxi Adult 26 = 66
• Iams Adult Chunks = 65
• Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy = 62

The D Group

• Eukanuba Medium Breed Weight Control = 57
• Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Adult = 55
• Nutro Max Adult = 51
• Purina Pro Plan Selects Turkey and Barley = 50
• Science Diet Adult Original = 37
• Pruina Pro Plan Lamb and Rice = 28
• Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Adult = 24
• Purina Beneful Adult Chicken = 14
• Purina Dog Chow Adult = 13