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 lised in the top 5 ingredients, subract 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 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 of 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 jut 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 chondriotin, add 1 point.
14. If the vegetables have been tested for pesticies and are pesticide-free, add 1 point.
Scores:
94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D
69 or less = F
Notes:
Almost all of the telepathic body scans I do of dogs show too much salt in the system. The reason I'm doing a body scan is because the dog is not well, and the cause is usually unknown.
Sky was recently exhibiting tremors in his front legs and head and salt came up as in issue in his body scan. When I checked the ingredients of the dog food we had switched to 5 months prior, Innova, I discovered salt was the 17'th ingredient. The closer to the top of the ingredients list salt is, the greater the chance of it causing a potential problem for some dogs, in the stomach, kidney, liver and pancreas. Sometimes the problems show up quickly, sometimes months later. Salt should be near the end of the ingredients list and sea salt is preferred over table salt. Innova is an "A" rated food, but it does have a high salt content. Sky started improving immediately when I changed his food and within 3 days the shaking was gone.
We immediately went back to feeding Timberwolf Bison as the dogs' base food, which is what we fed for years before switching to Innova (because of a huge cost increase in the Timberwolf), but there are many other good foods on the market for your dog.
Some of the worst rated dog foods at the moment are: Ol Roy (score 9), Pedigree Adult Complete (Score 14), Purina Beneful (Score 17) Science Diet Chicken Adult Maintenance (Score 45).
Don't forget to check the ingredients of your dog's treats also for excess salt and potentially harmful ingredients.
Spending money now on high quality food will save you money later at the vets, and help your dog live a longer and healthier life!
(Danjim is pictured at top, Wilbur below)
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