Last updated: August 16, 2026
Our free paw score calculator helps you evaluate the quality of your pet's food by assigning a score from 1 to 5 paws. This rating system considers protein content, ingredient quality, carbohydrate levels, and other nutritional factors to help you choose the best food for your pet. It's 100% free, with no sign-up required.
Looking for the rental "Paw Score" landlords use to screen tenants' pets (PetScreening / Fido Score)? Jump to Paw Score for renters & pet screening below.
Note: Our Paw Score evaluates pet food quality. If you're looking for rental pet screening (Paw Score for apartments, Fido Score), that's a different service—landlords use platforms like Petscreening.com. See our guide on Paw Score vs Fido Score for clarification.
A paw score is a quality rating system (1-5 paws) that evaluates pet food based on:
Excellent quality food with high protein from named sources, low carbohydrates, minimal fillers, and no artificial additives.
Very good quality food with good protein sources and nutrition, minor issues with fillers or additives.
Acceptable quality food that meets basic nutritional needs but may have some fillers or lower-quality ingredients.
Lower quality food with significant fillers, lower protein quality, or high carbohydrate content.
Poor quality food with major fillers, low-quality protein sources, and/or excessive artificial additives.
If you arrived here searching for a "paw score" or "paw score rent calculator" in the context of renting an apartment, that's a different kind of paw score from the pet-food rating above. In rental and property management, the Paw Score (and the older Fido Score) is a pet-screening rating produced by PetScreening.com, the service many landlords now require tenants to use.
A PetScreening Paw Score is a 1-to-5 paw rating of a tenant's pet, generated from a profile the pet owner completes. It weighs factors such as vaccination and veterinary records, the pet's age and weight, breed, behavioral history, and any prior incidents. Landlords and property managers use the score to assess the risk a pet may pose — a higher paw score signals a lower-risk, well-documented pet.
"Fido Score" is the name PetScreening previously used; it has largely been rebranded to "Paw Score," so the two terms refer to the same rental pet-screening rating. If a landlord asks for either, you complete one PetScreening profile. For a full breakdown of how these differ from our food-quality paw score, see our guide on Paw Score vs Fido Score.
Note: The Pet Calculator is not affiliated with PetScreening. To create or check a rental paw score, complete a profile directly at PetScreening.com. The calculator at the top of this page scores pet food quality, which is unrelated to tenant screening.
Our food-quality paw score is a weighted point system. Each factor you enter earns points, and the total is scaled to a 1-to-5 paw rating. The factors that matter most to a pet's health carry the most weight, so protein and ingredient quality move the score more than additives or the AAFCO statement. Here's how the points break down out of a possible 7.5:
The tool then rounds the scaled total to the nearest whole paw, so small differences in a single factor may not change the paw rating on their own. Think of the score as a quick comparison tool, not a lab analysis.
To get an accurate paw score, you need three numbers and two facts from the packaging. Most of them live on the guaranteed analysis panel and the ingredient list.
Comparing dry and wet food? Convert both to a dry matter basis first, or you'll unfairly penalize wet food, which is mostly water. Wet foods often look low in protein on the label simply because of their high moisture content.
These worked examples show how the same set of factors produces different paw scores. Numbers are illustrative to show the scoring pattern, not endorsements of specific products.
| Food profile | Protein / source | Carbs / fillers | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium grain-free dog food | 32% / named meat first | Low / no fillers, no additives | 5 paws |
| Mid-range dog kibble | 26% / named meal first | Moderate / some corn, no additives | 4 paws |
| Budget grocery brand | 21% / by-products | High / corn first, artificial colors | 2 paws |
| High-protein wet cat food | 40% dry matter / named meat | Very low / no fillers or additives | 5 paws |
| Dry cat food, plant-heavy | 30% / corn gluten meal | High carbs / soy present | 2 paws |
Notice how the wet cat food and the dry, plant-heavy cat food both show 30-40% protein on paper, yet score very differently. The paw score rewards the source of that protein and the carbohydrate load, not just the headline number.
If your current food scored 3 paws or lower, you don't necessarily need the most expensive bag on the shelf. Targeted changes usually raise the score the fastest:
Transition to any new food gradually over 7 to 10 days, mixing increasing amounts of the new food with the old, to avoid digestive upset. If your pet has a medical condition, discuss changes with your veterinarian first.
A paw score is a useful shortcut, but it isn't the whole story. Keep these caveats in mind when you interpret a rating:
Use the paw score to compare options quickly, then confirm your choice with how your pet actually does on the food and with your veterinarian's guidance.
A paw score is a rating system (1-5 paws) that evaluates pet food quality based on nutritional content, ingredient quality, and other factors. Higher scores indicate better quality food.
Paw score is calculated by evaluating multiple factors: protein content, ingredient quality (named meat sources), carbohydrate levels, absence of fillers, and nutritional completeness. Each factor contributes to the overall score.
A good paw score is 4-5 paws, indicating high-quality food with good protein sources, appropriate nutrition, and minimal fillers. Scores of 3 paws are acceptable, while 1-2 paws indicate lower quality food.
Factors include: protein percentage and source (named meats score higher), carbohydrate content (lower is better), presence of fillers (corn, wheat, soy reduce score), and overall nutritional balance.
No, paw score evaluates food quality beyond AAFCO minimums. A food can meet AAFCO standards but still score low if it has low-quality ingredients or excessive fillers.
No. Our Paw Score evaluates pet food quality (1-5 paws). For rental pet screening (Paw Score for apartments, Fido Score), landlords use services like Petscreening.com. See our Paw Score vs Fido Score guide for clarification.
Check the paw score whenever you switch foods or when your pet food brand changes its formula (check the packaging for "new formula" labels). It's also worth re-evaluating if your pet develops health issues like weight gain, skin problems, or digestive trouble—a lower-quality food may be contributing.
Yes. A 5-paw food is high quality overall, but individual pets may have allergies, sensitivities, or medical conditions (like kidney disease) that require specific formulations. Always work with your veterinarian when choosing food for pets with health conditions.
Paw score evaluates general food quality based on ingredients and nutrition. Your veterinarian considers your specific pet's health, age, weight, and medical history. Both are valuable — use paw score to compare foods, and your vet's guidance to choose the right one for your pet's individual needs.
FAQs
A paw score is a rating system (1-5 paws) that evaluates pet food quality based on nutritional content, ingredient quality, and other factors. Higher scores indicate better quality food.
Paw score is calculated by evaluating multiple factors: protein content, ingredient quality (named meat sources), carbohydrate levels, absence of fillers, and nutritional completeness. Each factor contributes to the overall score.
A good paw score is 4-5 paws, indicating high-quality food with good protein sources, appropriate nutrition, and minimal fillers. Scores of 3 paws are acceptable, while 1-2 paws indicate lower quality food.
Factors include: protein percentage and source (named meats score higher), carbohydrate content (lower is better), presence of fillers (corn, wheat, soy reduce score), and overall nutritional balance.
No, paw score evaluates food quality beyond AAFCO minimums. A food can meet AAFCO standards but still score low if it has low-quality ingredients or excessive fillers.
No. Our Paw Score evaluates pet food quality (1-5 paws). For rental pet screening (Paw Score for apartments, Fido Score), landlords use services like Petscreening.com. See our Paw Score vs Fido Score guide for clarification.
Check the paw score whenever you switch foods or when your pet food brand changes its formula (check the packaging for "new formula" labels). It's also worth re-evaluating if your pet develops health issues like weight gain, skin problems, or digestive trouble—a lower-quality food may be contributing.
Yes. A 5-paw food is high quality overall, but individual pets may have allergies, sensitivities, or medical conditions (like kidney disease) that require specific formulations. Always work with your veterinarian when choosing food for pets with health conditions.
Paw score evaluates general food quality based on ingredients and nutrition. Your veterinarian considers your specific pet's health, age, weight, and medical history. Both are valuable — use paw score to compare foods, and your vet's guidance to choose the right one for your pet's individual needs.
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