The following items represent some of The Dog Food Advisor’s most frequently asked questions about how we rate the dog foods we review on our website.
What method do you use to analyze each dog food?
Although there are many ways to rate a dog food, we’ve settled on using the only information we feel we can reliably trust.
We read and interpret government-regulated and standardized pet food labels. Nothing more. And we do this in two simple steps.
1. We study the ingredients list
2. We estimate the meat content
How can you be sure a product label is accurate?
The United States Food and Drug Administration regulates all pet food labels. Taken directly from the FDA website…
“The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires that pet foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.”
Any manufacturer breaching this rule would be in direct violation of U.S. Federal Law.
Why are the protein and fat percentages in your reviews different from those on the product’s label?
Because all foods (even human food) contain various amounts of moisture, it would be unfair to compare the protein and fat figures of different products.
So, we use “dry matter basis” to report the nutrient content of every dog food we review. This method mathematically removes all the water from each product.
To learn more, be sure to read my article, “Dry Matter Basis… the Only Fair Way to Compare Dog Foods“.
How do you determine the star rating of a product?
We tend to dislike dog foods made with by-products of any kind, plant or animal. And we downgrade recipes that use controversial chemicals or plant-based protein boosters.
Yet because we respect a dog’s natural carnivorous bias, we shamelessly favor dog foods rich in meat.
What would a top-rated dog food look like?
In general, a five star dog food is one that is high in meat content and free of any by-products, suspicious chemicals or plant-based protein boosters.
Why don’t you consider the source of a food’s ingredients?
Like you, we truly wish there was a reliable way to know the source of each and every ingredient in a dog food.
But unfortunately, there isn’t.
Not only do most pet food companies conceal the origin of their ingredients, they also change the sources as well as the quality of those ingredients on a regular basis.
And they’re not required to advise consumers (or reviewers) when they do.
Why is the origin of each ingredient so difficult to pin down?
Many raw materials used to make dog foods are bought and sold in commercial-sized lots on the open market.
Bulk prices vary. And so does quality.
From day to day, it’s not unusual for an ingredient to come from a different farm, a different storage facility or a different state.
Even a different country.
Why don’t you test each food and study a manufacturer’s claims before you assign a star rating?
As much as we wish we could, conducting these time-consuming steps would be impractical and unrealistic for any organization of this size.
As reviewers, we don’t test dog food. We don’t taste it. And we rarely trust marketing hype, manufacturer’s claims or the fancy artwork on the package.
Nor should you.
Why don’t you consider the additional information found on product packaging and company websites?
Unfortunately, company information can be biased. And it’s almost always subject to change.
That’s why we’re reluctant to simply re-broadcast a manufacturer’s marketing message. We fear it could be misleading and provide a false sense of security to our readers.
Why don’t you consider a company’s recall history when you rate a product?
So far, I’ve never been able to find a single scientific study proving the predictive ability of any (human or pet) food recall to reliably forecast another. Most recall events appear to be completely random (and unpredictable).
Don’t you need to be a veterinarian to read a pet food label?
Absolutely not. That would be like saying only a licensed medical doctor is qualified to read the side panel on a box of corn flakes.
Although some believe that to judge a dog food label one must possess a long list of educational accomplishments and veterinary credentials after his name, nothing could be further from the truth.
Anyone with a little dedication, a realistic knowledge about product labeling and the willingness to do a reasonable amount of research can learn to read a pet food label.
How do you rate prescription dog foods?
Even though there are many dog foods designed and marketed for prescription use, it is our opinion they should not be exempt from public scrutiny.
However, please remember, we limit our judgment to the estimated meat content of the recipe as well as the apparent quality of its ingredients only. And nothing else.
Our ratings have nothing to do with the accuracy of claims made by any manufacturer as to a product’s ability to effectively treat or cure a specific health condition.
So, to find out whether any prescription dog food is appropriate for your particular pet, you must not use any review on this website as a substitute for sound professional advice provided by a qualified veterinarian.
Why does my dog do better (or worse) on a specific product than your star rating would suggest?
Since there’s no way for us (or anyone) to know how every dog will respond to a particular product, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will deliver specific results.
Each review is based upon government-regulated label information, ingredient quality and meat content only. And nothing else.
Where can I find information about what to expect from a specific dog food?
Our reviews have nothing to do with results. That’s why we created a 2-way blog… to allow readers to share their real life experiences and results with others.
So, for a better idea about what to expect with any dog food, be sure to read the “Comments” section at the end of each review.
I can’t find a review for a specific dog food on your website. But I am able to locate a review of the brand. Why?
In most cases, we rate dog foods by selecting a typical product to represent the full product line. We only rarely rate each individual product.
You can find a list of all the products included in a particular review near the beginning of each article.
Since so many readers are complaining about problems with a particular dog food, shouldn’t you change your rating?
Our reviews and ratings have nothing to do with results and are based solely upon the label.
To see why we intentionally ignore everything else, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews“.
Do you award a higher rating to dry, canned or raw dog foods?
All dog foods are judged against their peers. Dry to dry. Wet to wet. And raw to raw. When assigning star ratings, we never compare one type with another.
Is The Dog Food Advisor sponsored by a manufacturer?
We never accept money, gifts or free merchandise from any pet food manufacturer in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings. To learn more, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
