KIBBLE GRADING SYSTEM:: requests & questions

[LunasMum (Traci)]

The grading system I use (and the one posted on this forum) is for Kibble only. Not sure if there is a grading system for wet/canned food.

I just look at the ingredients and make sure theres no no-no's, Here's a list of what things makes me put it back on the shelf: corn, wheat, by product, poulrty fat, artificial colors or flavors, BHA or BHT, or if the rice/barley/oats is put in the first 5 ingredients more than once. I.e. rice, rice meal, brown rice, that says your fluff is eating mostly rice.

I only use a tablespoon of wet with Luna's dry kibble. It helps the Angel eyes stick and the vet said if she had been a stray for long before we got her, she might be use to more... um.. fragrant food then I was using. (She didn't eat well at first).
I wouldn't use only wet food because I believe they need hard kibble/bone/something in order to keep their teeth healthy. That's IMO, so take it as such.

[EDDEL]

Del, I actually asked my vet about this at the weekend and as I give Mitsy a steak or salmon twice a week he thought it was a good thing and balances out well.

That's wonderful , Lainey.  A balanced nutritious diet is what's most important .  As Bianca would say (about Mitsy's consumption of steak & salmon), variety is the spice of life!

I think where I missed points is that on your list the probiotic ingredients are indicated, and on the bag there is no indication. (and I don't know what is probiotic and what isn't  )

Carol, the name I recognize for sure is "Lactobacillus Acidophilus" because that's what I look for (specifically live cultures) when I buy yogurt for Bianca.  It's wonderful that Ozzie is thriving on this quality kibble .

I checked and it graded 105 which is good an A. Their web site says no artificial colors or flavors. It doesn't mention it being organic, or baked or having probiotics and it still rated well.

Traci.  Would you be so kind as to post the 'results' on the Kibble Grading System scores thread.  Just follow the format I have in that thread.... anyone can post 'scores' in there too.  We'll keep discussion posts here in this thread, so that thread will only have scores, and can be perused easily.

[LunasMum (Traci)]

Traci.  Would you be so kind  as to post the 'results' on the Kibble Grading System scores thread.

I did that and realized I missed the "Lactobacillus Acidophilus" which would give Merrick Cowboy Cookout an extra 3 points for a score of 108.

[mdias]

Can someone help me grade this food?
http://www.healthypetnet.com/HealthyPetNet/Products/LifesAbundance/LifesAbundanceDogIngredients.aspx?realname=40005278&Ath=False&hdr=&cat=0

[LunasMum (Traci)]

Ok here goes..

Life’s Abundance Premium Health Food for Dogs

INGREDIENTS:
Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Oat Groats, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a natural source of Vitamin E), Dried Beet Pulp, Brewers Dried Yeast, Flaxseed Meal, Natural Flavors, Dried Egg Product, Catfish Meal, Potassium Chloride, Salt, L-Lysine, Canola Oil, DL-Methionine, Calcium Carbonate, Monosodium Phosphate, Dried Carrots, Dried Celery, Dried Beets, Dried Parsley, Dried Lettuce, Dried Watercress, Dried Blueberries, Dried Broccoli, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium thermophilum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Pomegranate Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Inositol, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Citric Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide.

Contains a source of live (viable), naturally-occurring microorganisms.


-2    If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points
-1    If it contains salt, subtract 1 point
+3   If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
+3   If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
+3   If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points
+1   If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
+1   For every different specific animal protein source (other than the 1st one; count "chicken"  and "chicken meal" as only one protein source), add 1 point

It doesn't say anything on the site about organic, or being pesticide free. I tink it might be baked which would add another 5 points but the wording doesn't come right out and say so, so it might not be.

Total 108

[mdias]

 
So it looks to be a pretty good food then!

[Lucys Mom]

Could someone please rate Royal Canin puppy kibble, also Medi-Cal, which we can only buy from the vets office. 
Margaret.

[LunasMum (Traci)]

Could someone please rate Royal Canin puppy kibble, also Medi-Cal, which we can only buy from the vets office. 
Margaret.

Medi Cal Dry - Development Formula (Puppy formula)
Score of 85

Royal Canin Digest & Skin Puppy (it's the only puppy formula I could find on their site)
Score 88

see breakdown in this topic

[LunasMum (Traci)]

Luna has been eating Nutro Ultra Small Breed formula score 92.

Petsmart just started carring a new brand that I'm going to switch to called by Nature.

The puppy food (for Pippin) scores 108 and the Salmon, Oceanfish and Yogurt flavor scores 111.

They also have wet food (which I mix a bit in with their kibble) that is 95% meat (chicken, turkey, beef, which ever one you are buying not nonspecific meat source)

[Lucys Mom]

Thank you for the rating on Royal Canin and Medi Cal, not happy that I have fed them both to my little Lucy,   going to read all the threads for a better choice in food for her.
Margaret.

[chui888]

Since Mochi needs to change the kibble from puppy to adult, we are thinking about the Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dog Food, can someone help to grade it -

INGREDIENT LISTING
Chicken, Brown Rice, Lamb Meal, Oatmeal, Barley, Duck Meal, Potatoes, Carrots, Chicken Fat (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Canola Oil, Brewers Yeast, Salmon Meal, Salmon Oil, Whole Ground Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Spinach, Parsley Flakes, Cranberries, L-Lysine, L-Carnitine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Kelp, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Folic Acid.

THANKS..... the first 5 ingredient seems good .. but well I hope i can get more help for grading... 

[samba]

Mojo still gets his Solid Gold Hunden Flocken mixed with Solid Gold wet food.  I use one can a week for mixing.  That ay I can vary the tastes.  Anyway he scarfs it down as long as I don't try to load or unload the dishwasher, that is.   

I am glad that there is so much interest in good diets on this site.  I have learned so much, thanks to you all  .  Samba

[dfine1966]

Need help rating a couple of brands I couldn't find.

Blue Buffalo Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice

Here is the link to recipe:  http://www.bluebuff.com/products/dogs/lp-puppy-chick.shtml

Only saw review on for BB Chicken & Brown Rice, no Puppy formula


Here is a new brand that the people at All Pets Club were recommending.  Never had heard of it. 

Dogswell Vitality Chicken & Oats (not sure if this is for puppy or adult dog, but person recommended for puppy)

Here is the link:  http://www.dogswell.com/?title=126

Also Dogswell Happy Hips Chicken & Oats (not sure if for puppy or adult dog either)

Here is the link:  http://www.dogswell.com/?title=125

[Annie36]

I feed Jake Nutro Ultro Holistic diet adult.......It isa an A food but I want him on something that is holistic as well as good for him....any ideas????

[stikkio]

Hi im using this at the minute but she doesnt seem to like it:    Pedigree Puppy Complete
Quality Ingredients:, Cereals (min. 14% Rice, min. 4% Maize), Meat and Animal Derivatives (min. 4% Chicken in the Brown Kibble), Oils and Fats (min. 0.6% Fish Oil), Vegetable Protein Extracts, Derivatives of Vegetable Origin (min. 4% Dried Beet Pulp), Minerals