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How to grade your dog's food: Start with a grade of 100. For each ingredient(s) below, add or subtract the points indicated The higher the score, the better. For each by - product listed - 10 For each nonspecific animal source("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal or fat) - - 10 Contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin - 10 "mill run" or non - specific grain source - 5 Same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients - 5 (i.e. "ground brown rice", "brewers rice", "rice flour" are all the same grain), Protein sources are not meat meal and less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients, - 3 Any artificial colorants - 3 Contains ground corn or whole grain corn, - 3 Also if corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, - 2 Any animal fat other than fish oils - 2 If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless hypoallergenic) - 2 If it contains soy or soybeans - 2 If it contains wheat - 2 If it contains beef - 1 If it contains salt (NaCl) - 1 If any of the meat sources are organic +5 Endorsed by a nutritionist +5 If the food is baked not extruded +5 If the food contains probiotics, +3 If the food contains fruit +3 If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains) +3 If the animal sources are hormone - free and antibiotic - free +2 If the food contains barley +2 Flax seed oil (not the seeds) +2 If the food contains oats or oatmeal +1 If the food contains sunflower oil +1 For every different specific animal protein source +1 If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin +1 If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide - free +1 Common Foods Ingredient Points Authority Harvest Baked Bil - Jac Select Canidae Chicken Soup Senior Diamond Maintenance Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Dick Van Patten Duck and Potato Foundations Hund - n - Flocken Lamb by Solid Gold Iams Lamb and Rice Innova Dog Innova Evo Merrick Senior Medley Nutrisource Lamb and Rice Nutro Natural Choice Purina One Chicken Purina Beneful Purina Come - and - get - it Sensible Choice Chicken Science Diet Advance Protein Senior Science Diet Large Breed Puppy Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken Orijen 6 Fish Natures Variety Salmon Brown rice 116 68 112 115 64 112 106 106 93 73 114 114 120 87 87 42 17 16 97 63 69 110 115 116 Common Food Questions Q: What do you recommend for overweight dogs? A: lower nutritional values leading to other health problems. Start feeding in two meals each day, at the end of each feeding your dog should still be slightly hungry.

Exercise helps but if you are feeding too many calories you will not succeed in helping your dog lose weight. Canned pumpkin can help make them feel more satisfied. Q: What do you recommend for overweight cats? A: for all cats with canned food preferred over dry. Exercising your indoor cat with toys daily may help; nothing is more successful than a grain - your obese feline to lose weight too quickly as this can cause liver problems. Q: What brand of dog food do you recommend? A: - Instinct line, Innova Evo (grain - free), Before Grain - salmon, Merrick trout, Taste of the Wild - salmon, Q: What brand of cat food do you recommend? A: Strongly recommend a grain - Q: A: I recommend mixing the new food into the old food for 4 to 5 days gradually.

You should change your pet’s food several times a year. This will help to insure your pet does not become deficient in any nutrients or develop an allergy to a particular ingredient. Some animals do have a more sensitive stom- ach and cannot handle frequent or quick changes. Q: A: Many things in moderation are safe.