What do you feed your dogs??

Oh, and here's to grade your pet's food


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

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 "" 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

Here are some foods that have already been scored. Dog Food scores:

> 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

> **** Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+

> **** Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+

> Foundations / Score 106 A+

> Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 B

> Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D

> Innova Dog / Score 114 A+

> Innova Evo / Score 114 A+

> Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+

> Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B

> Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B

> Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F

> ProPlan 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 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 for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F

> Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+

> Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A

My little devils have decided to become finicky eaters, so I want to try other brands, but not sure which to try...they don't like Canidae, Science Diet or Iams and we just bought Diamonds natural and aren't having much luck with that either......any input would be great!

We just started Nixon on a raw diet yesterday. We're really optimistic about it, so I'll keep you guys posted if it works out for us (he has horrific allergies and we're hoping this is going to help...plus it's organic so apparently it's much better for dogs all around).

Fingers crossed!

The raw food - Beef has totally improved his allergies! We tried chicken a couple of weeks ago and had to return it because his itches went craaazy again. But I think the Beef one is working out really well. Plus his coat is WAY shinier. I totally recommend it!