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", "brewerâs 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 isnât allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points
14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isnât 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 <70 = F
Dog Food scores:
Alpo Prime Cuts / Score 81 C
Artemis Large/Medium Breed Puppy / Score 114 A+
Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Authority Harvest Baked Less Active / Score 93 B
Beowulf Back to Basics / Score 101 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
Blackwood 3000 Lamb and Rice / Score 83 C
Blue Buffalo Chicken and Rice / Score 106 A+
Burns Chicken and Brown Rice / Score 107 A+
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
Diamond Performance / Score 85 C
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
Dick Van Patten?s Natural Balance Venison and Brown Rice / Score 106 A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+
EaglePack Holistic / Score 102 A+
Eukanuba Adult / Score 81 C
Eukanuba Puppy / Score 79 C
Flint River Senior / Score 101 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+
Innova Large Breed Puppy / Score 122 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Member?s Mark Chicken and Rice / Score 84 C
Merrick Wilderness Blend / Score 127 A+
Merrick HomeStyle Blends / Average Score 125 A+
Merrick Beef N More / Score 125 A+
Nature?s Recipe / Score 100 A
Nature?s Recipe Healthy Skin Venison and Rice / Score 116 A+
Nature?s Variety Raw Instinct / Score 122 A+
Nutra Nuggets Super Premium Lamb Meal and Rice / Score 81 C
Nutrience Junior Medium Breed Puppy / Score 101 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Max Adult / Score 93 B
Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice / Score 98 A
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Wheat Free / Score 86 B
Nutro Natural Choice Senior / Score 95 A
Nutro Ultra Adult / Score 104 A+
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
Premium Edge Chicken, Rice and Vegetables Adult Dry / Score 109 A+
Pro Nature Puppy / Score 80 C
Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach / Score 94 A
Purina Benful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Purina One Large Breed Puppy / Score 62 F
Royal Canin Boxer / Score 103 A+
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Solid Gold / Score 99 A
Summit / Score 99 A
Timberwolf Organics Wild & Natural Dry / Score 120 A+
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A
__________________

I just received this info from my breeder friend, thought you should all be aware.......
The release list the states affected.


FDA http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01854.html Requests

Seizure of Animal Food Products at PETCO Distribution Center Thu, 19 Jun 2008

At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Marshals
seized various animal food products stored under unsanitary conditions at
the PETCO Animal Supplies Distribution Center located in Joliet, Ill.,
pursuant to a warrant issued by the United States District Court in Chicago.

The WDJ (Whole Dog Journal) 2006 listing of Good Quality Dog Foods.

Artemis: artemispetfood.com
Azmira: azmira.com
Back to Basics: beowulfs.com
Bench & Field Holistic Natural Canine: benchandfield.com
Blue Buffalo: bluebuff.com
Burns: bpn4u.com
by Nature BrightLife: bynaturepetfoods.com
California Natural: naturapet.com:
Canidae: canidae.com
Canine Caviar: caninecaviar.com
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul: chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com
Cloud Star Kibble: cloudstar.com
Drs. Foster & Smith: drsfostersmith.com
Eagle Pack Holistic Select: eaglepack.com
Evolve: evolvepet.com
Firstmate Dog Food: firstmate.com A NEW ONE!
Flint River: no web
Foundations: petcurean.com
Fromm Four Star Nutritionals: frommfamilyfoods.com
Go! Natural: petcurean.com
Hund-N-Flocken: solidgoldhealth.com
Innova: naturapet.com
Innova Evo: naturapet.com A NEW ONE!
Karma Organic: karmaorganic.com
Lick Your Chops: healthypetfoodsinc.com
Lifespan: petguard.com
Limited Diets: royalcanin.us
Merrick Pet Foods: merrickpetcare.com
Mmillennia: solidgoldhealth.com
Natural Balance Ultra Premium: naturalbalanceinc.com
Natural Choice Ultra: nutroproducts.com
Newman's Own Organics: newmansownorganics.com
NutriSource: nutrisourcedogfood.com A NEW ONE!
Organix: castorpolluxpet.com
Performatrin Ultra: performatrinultra.com A NEW ONE!
PHD Viand: phdproducts.com
Pinnacle: breeders-choice.com
Prairie: naturesvariety.com
Premium Edge: premiumedgepetfood.com
Prime Life: ompetproducts.com
Royal Canin Natural Blend: royalcanin.us
Timberwolf Organics: timberwolforganics.com
VeRUS: veruspetfoods.com
Wellness: oldmotherhubbard.com
Wellness Simple Food Solutions: oldmotherhubbard.com
Wenawe: wenawe.com.uy A NEW ONE!
Wysong: wysong.net
Zinpro: lincolnbiotech.com A NEW ONE!

Their selection is based on the following criteria:

1.) We look for foods that contain a lot of high-quality animal proteins
2.) We reject any food containing meat by-products or poultry by-products
3.) We reject foods containing fat or protein not identified by species
4.) We look for the use of whole grains & vegetables
5.) We eliminate all foods with artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
6.) We eliminate all foods with added sweeteners

Further Attributes:

1.) A date-code or production code is easy to find, read, and interpret
2.) More than just the required nutrients (fat, protein, fiber, moisture) listed on a product label's "guaranteed analysis" (GA)
3.) The caloric content of the food listed on the label
4.) All of the food maker's contact information listed on its product labels (and their product literature & Web sites)
5.) A statement that a food (or one of its close "family members") has passed an AAFCO feeding trial
6.) Certified Organic Ingredients
7.) Admire those manufacturers that have pursued and obtained noncompulsory manufacturing certifications.

I saw this on another board and thought, "how very true it is".

The last one is the hardest to do but one of the most important in my thinking. Don't desert them in their last moments. Tell them how much you love them as they slip away and go to the bridge.

Ten Commandments for a Responsible Dog Owner

My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be very painful.

Give me time to understand what you want of me.

Place your trust in me - it is crucial for my well-being.

Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. I HAVE ONLY YOU.

Talk to me, Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it's speaking to me.

Be aware that however you treat me, I'll NEVER forget it.

Before you hit me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.

Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart may be getting old and weak.

Take care of me when I get old. You, too, will grow old.

Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say, "I can't bear to watch it" or, "Let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember, I love you.
Author Unknown

i was watching some segment of the today show online the other day and a pet nutritionist was talking about great dog foods. and i noticed on the table display there was a can of wellness core. since i'd never seen the canned version before i checked out their site and low and behold it's something new wellness is doing. http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/dog_wellnes...can_turkey.html

oz won't be able to do the one with whitefish but the turkey/chicken version looks pretty good.

I picked him up last night and he screamed in pain so I put in down and started feeling around and found his abs were rock hard so I left him alone and watched him, I put him to bed in my room on the floor and he through up all night long and I finally got to sleep at 4 this morning after he through up for the last time. (my kids were really upset that he was hurting) I called my vet this morning and he told me to take food and water away for 24 hours and Poe is looking at me like I'm a bad mommy and I feel so bad but I know it is best for him.


He seems to be feeling better this morning but still seems a little gassy but no food and water still till tomorrow.

Will keep you all updated.

So, this morning when I took Nellie out for her morning walk... I noticed something in her stool and then when I got a closer look, it was squirming around. I am waiting to call the vet when the open at 8am. I kept the stool as a sample, but now I am concerned about my baby girl. Does anyone know what happens next?

Can anyone refer or direct me to someone or a breeder who has puppies in MD/DE/VA area?!


THANKS!!