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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", "brewer's 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 isn't allergic to wheat), subtract 2 points

14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't 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 "beef" [etc.]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

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

I did the Light version, as I can't find the ingredients for the oral care one online.

-5 "mill run" grain
-3 contains corn
-2 contains soybeans
-10 non specific animal source (digest)
-2 corn in top 5 ingredients
-1 contains salt
-3 for the ground peanut hulls. That's just a filler, no nutritional value at all, just like corn.

So...

Total score is 74, D.

Science Diet is reccomended by vets, but keep in mind that vets recieve about zero training on nutrition. Hill's makes a lot of prescription food, so naturally vets end up selling a lot of it, and thinking the normal foods are healthy.

Really, Science Diet is just an expensive, fancy version of Purina.

I have Hill's Science diet Puppy formula and I got 88(B) but maybe I didn't do it right.
-10 by-product
-3 ground whole grain corn
-2 soybeans
-1 salt
+2 hormone free antibotic free
+2 for diff animal protein source.
Edit: "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Science Diet puppy original Dog food provides complete and balanced nutrition for growing puppy's and gestating or lactating adult female dogs"

You're right, dogs can survive on low quality food. They do it all the time. However, the difference between living on low quality and high quality food is like the difference between someone who lives on fast food and someone who maintains a balanced diet. Dogs will simply not be as healthy as they can be when eating a low quality diet. Also, some low quality foods contain BHA or BHT (preservatives) which are known for causing cancer. Oddly enough, BHA is also commonly found in chewing gum.

And, please tell me you were not feeding your dog cooked bones. Cooked bones, no matter what kind, can splinter and puncture the esophagus or intestines. They are not safe.

Edit: Sola, I think switching foods wouldn't be too hard for you. Iams is very expensive compared to most commercial foods- Around my area, at least, a bag of Innova is only a dollar or two more than a bag of Iams.