Learn · The skeptic’s library
How to read a dog food, honestly.
Most pet-food advice is marketing in disguise or confident opinion with no method. This is the other thing: how to evaluate a bag yourself, what the claims actually mean, and how PetScored scores. Start with the guide, keep the references handy.
Start here
How to choose a dog food
The whole method in eight steps - AAFCO statement first, read the back of the bag, do the calorie math, check the recall record, ignore the front. The single page to read if you read only one.
Read the guide ›References
Keep these open while you shop.
What marketing claims actually mean
Grain-free, human-grade, holistic, vet-recommended - our verdict on the words on the front of the bag: regulated, conditional, marketing, or contested.
Formats, by the evidence
Kibble, wet, fresh, freeze-dried, raw, air-dried - how much evidence stands behind each format's premium positioning, separate from how good any one bag is.
Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terms PetScored uses - AAFCO, dry-matter basis, kcal/kg, guaranteed analysis, evidence tiers, source confidence.
How we score
The deterministic rubric: five sub-scores, one composite, visible source confidence. Same inputs, same score, every time.
Recall index
Plain-English recall status by brand, matched against FDA enforcement records, with a free recall-alert email signup.
Tools
Do the math, then compare.
From the desk
Investigations and explainers.
- 01
June 9, 2026 · 6 min read
Do dental chews actually work? The VOHC list, explained.
Most treats that promise to clean teeth have nothing behind the promise. The one exception is the VOHC seal, and it reorders the entire dental aisle.
Read the article › - 02
June 9, 2026 · 6 min read
Does L-lysine work for cats? The controlled evidence says no.
L-lysine is sold everywhere for feline herpesvirus and cat colds. A peer-reviewed systematic review and the two largest randomized trials all point the same way: it does not help.
Read the article › - 03
June 9, 2026 · 6 min read
How to read a treat label.
A treat is a snack, not a meal, so the label rewards a different read than dog food. Five things decide whether a treat is honest, and four of them are easy to check in the aisle.
Read the article ›