Nutrition Fit · 30%
AAFCO fit, feeding trial language, calories, and dry matter protein/fat ranges.
Dog food methodology
Dog food scores are rules, not vibes.
Dog food is the first live PetScored category because its labels, nutrition panels, recall records, and prices can be evaluated with a defensible deterministic rubric.
Brand Trust · 25%
WSAVA-style signals, recall mapping, manufacturer control, and transparency.
Ingredient Clarity · 15%
Named animal proteins, named fats, specific grains, and source traceability.
Sensitivity Risk · 15%
Population-level allergen exposure using published adverse-food-reaction literature.
Value · 15%
Cost per 1,000 kcal within category, capped by nutrition and brand trust.
Limits matter
What a dog food label can and cannot prove.
Ingredient lists are ordered by weight, but they do not disclose exact quantities or prove ingredient quality.
Wet and dry foods need dry matter conversion before nutrition panels compare fairly.
Brand Trust uses WSAVA-style inputs, but PetScored never claims that WSAVA approves or certifies brands.
Health-condition content must stay educational and should not replace veterinary guidance.
Affiliate links must be disclosed near recommendations and cannot influence scoring.
Anti-features
What this dog food rubric refuses to score.
Naturalness, biological appropriateness, glycemic load, and inflammation potential.
DCM risk, because current public evidence does not support a deterministic risk score.
Glyphosate, heavy metals, or contaminants without a defensible lab-testing program.
Source anchors