Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables

[Karie]

I was wondering if this dog food, is a good food. I just found out, that a Costco store was built close to us. Thinking of giving it a try, but want to her opinions first.

Thanks,
Karie

[April Cliber]

Canidae has had no recalls. They did change their recipe, which upset many of us. They also manufacture in a different plant now. They have had issues lately, but recalls are not one of them.... American Nutrition (Menu foods) Manufactures Kirkland as well as Blue Buffalo, All Diamond foods, Iams, Eukanuba, Nutro and many more. Just this summer they also started manufacturing Canidae, but that was after last years recalls.

[April Cliber]

Ann, the only recall Kirkland had was last year and it was only on caned food, no worries. :o) I also posted below....

[Karie]

I found this chart and others about the food. It's rated A+ dog food!!! I have been feeding Canidae, but I am very worried about feeding that now. I have heard allot of people are having problems with it. Canidae and Kirkland are all under Diamond food now. I am aware of the recalls that Diamond had,in the past. There are also other dog foods out there, that also had recalls. I think, I am going to give it a try. I will keep a close eye on the poop. Otherwise, if they do fine on it, I will keep using it. The price is good and like I said, it's rated a A+ food. Here is the Grade Chart I found for dog food.

Score:
94-100+ = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C 70-77 = D 69 and below = F

Here are some foods that have already been scored.

Dog Food scores:
Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
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 / Sco re 99 A
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 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+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+
Purina Beneful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wo lfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A

[Kathy Brady]

Hi Karie,
Who scored the dog food, what was the criteria, and when was it published? I use Innova puppy canned food and Castor and Pollux's kibble per the advice of the breeder, Patty Barnes. Tully has gained 3 pounds in the 4 weeks we've had him, and (according to our vet) is in excellent health, although she'd like us to give him larger servings at meal times.
I'd be really interested to know the scoring system for the food.
Thanks for the info.
Kathy

[Karie]

Here is the entire sheet, I have on the dog food grading.

Here is a good guide for pet food. And there is always RAW. I feed raw for dinner and petsmarts baked authority for breakfast

Subject: Fw: How to Rate Your Dog Food

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", "brewers 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 3points
9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
10) If the food conta ins 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 is not allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points
14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog is not 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

Score:
94-100+ = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C 70-77 = D 69 and below = F

Here are some foods that have already been scored.

Dog Food scores:
Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
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 / Sco re 99 A
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 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+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+
Purina Beneful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wo lfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A

[April Cliber]

Hi Karie,
It was published this last year, I'll have to check by whom, This is how it was scored:

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", "brewers 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 3points 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 is not allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points 14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog is not 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 Score: 94-100+ = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C 70-77 = D 69 and below = F

[Karie]

Thanks April,

I have seen several lists and they all seem to be the same!! I feel comfortable, feeding my 2 doodles Kirkland now!! By the way, Every so often, I go on your website and look at your puppies. They are always so adorable!!

[April Cliber]

Whoops! That was directed at Kathy, she's the one who asked about how it was rated. I got your names mixed up. I'm glad you found the info helpful though. :o) I think your dogs are fine on Kirkland.

Thank you for the complement, we think their pretty stinkin adorable too. :o)

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

I would like to add some input regarding this scoring. I think the grading system definitely has its merits but I would only use the grading system and not the 'pregraded formulas'. There are several reasons for this. This grading system has been floating around for a long time, many things have changed since that time. Some products have been represented on recall lists since that time, and MANY companies have altered their formulas along with price increases in order overcome the rising prices involved with ingredients, production costs, etc...

We have many excellent tools available to us to use, but they are only that - tools. Having a hammer does not build a house. There is SO much information that is not readliy available about many of these products and as consumers are educated and demand more I think we will see some major changes. Another great tool is Whole Dog Journals annual list, BUT they also list foods I would not dream of using personally. Additionally this year they removed some of those previously listed because they would not disclose who manufactured their product. Other lists I have viewed were dated pre-07 recalls.

Use these tools, but know they are not the blueprint. On another note I would use caution in regards to veterinary recommendations for nutrition. Many have been wooed by a certain company since they were in school, and benefit financially from the sales and recommendations of the product. Nutrition is but a tiny sliver of their education and ultimately nobody knows your pet like you do. My own vet even recommends the 'H.S.D' product and we have developed an understanding that we will agree to disagree about some matters.

I have looked at foods in depth until my brains felt like oatmeal and I promise not to bore you with the details, but I will tell you it is not nearly as black and white as a evaluation or grading score. Trust your judgement.

[Dori]

We use the Costco food and have been very happy with it - and his poop is fine! Our Dog Kennel owner and staff where we take him also say it is high quality food and the best price out there. They even sell very expensive custom made dog food that shall remain nameless - they are a distributor for it. As obsessive as I am I was ready to pay the $40 per bag if it meant my Teddy would have better food. So I asked the Kennel owner/high end dog food rep if it was any better than Costco - and she looked at me intentlyfor about 10 seconds - and then said no. She could have had a sucker (I mean sale) so I appreciate her honesty. We are very happy with it - we alternate between the lamb and chicken flavors.

[Patty Barnes]

I thought Kirkland was one of the foods recalled last year.

[April Cliber]

Yes, the caned food was.