Review Summary

We give IAMS dog food a rating of 3.0 out of 5 stars.

Introduction

Iams is one of the best-known and oldest pet food companies in the world. The company was founded in 1946 by Paul Iams, an animal nutritionist who planned to bring quality dog food to animals who’d mostly been fed table scraps throughout their lifetimes. In comparison to other dry dog foods available at the time, Iams was considered a premium brand. The dedication to only using the best ingredients continued up until 1999 when the company was sold to Procter & Gamble and things began to change.

Now, Iams is made by the Mars company. While Mars distributes several of the giants in the pet food world, it doesn’t have the same history as Iams. Beyond being one of the first premium dog foods, Iams also has the distinction of being the first pet food company to make foods per an animal’s life stage.

Unfortunately, as time has continued and the expectations for dog food have increased, Iams has fallen behind. They are no longer considered one of the premium brands on the market. Instead, they are more of a budget-friendly option like so many others in Mars’ line. Let’s take a look at a few of their recipes and why we gave Iams dog food a 3 out of 5-star rating.

  • Related Read: Regular vs Premium Dog Food: What’s The Difference?

At a Glance: The Best Iams Dog Food Recipes:

Image Product Details

Iams Adult MiniChunks Small Kibble High Protein Dry Dog Food

Made with real farm-raised chicken

Premium-sourced protein

Promotes a healthy digestive system

Check Price

Iams Adult Large Breed Real Chicken High Protein Dry Dog Food

Formulated to provide bone and join support

Promotes healthy digestion and immune system

Tailored blend of fibers and prebiotics

Check Price

Iams ProActive Health Adult Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food

Dry dog food crafted

Protein sourced from chicken and egg

L-carnitine supports a healthy metabolism

Check Price

Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog Food

Includes omega 3 DHA

Premium-sourced protein

Features real farm-raised chicken

Check Price

Iams Healthy Aging Mature 7+ Real Chicken Dry Dog Food

Formulated with key nutrients

Includes a wholesome blend of prebiotics and fibers

Contains antioxidants

Check Price

Iams Dog Food Reviewed

Now that we’ve shown you the most popular Iams dog foods, let’s learn more about the brand and why we’ve graded it the way we have. This will help you decide whether you want to make this dog food brand part of your dog’s diet.

Who Makes Iams and Where Is it Produced?

As we’ve already mentioned, Mars is now the company that produces Iams dog food. While Mars has several production sites around the country and overseas, most of the Iams line is produced in Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio. The majority of their ingredients come from here in the US, but you should take note that a few of the vitamins and minerals added to their foods come from China and other countries.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dean loves Daisy (@deanlovesdaisy)

Which Type of Dog Is Iams Best Suited For?

Iams features 20+ dog foods in their current line. These foods come in different flavors and dietary recommendations. Being the pioneer in age-appropriate dog foods, Iams has continued with this mission and has foods broken down so pet owners can choose the one best suited for their dog’s current life stage.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dean loves Daisy (@deanlovesdaisy)

A post shared by Dean loves Daisy (@deanlovesdaisy)

View this post on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

It’s important to know that the Iams company has discontinued a fair amount of their pet foods over the years. Nearly all their pet snacks and most of the more expensive formulas that featured better-quality protein are no longer listed on their website.

Iams and Their Ingredients?

Over the years, and all the changes with Iams, it is clear that their foods have dropped in quality. Instead of using higher-quality proteins and grains in their formulas, they have decided to go with those that leave pet owners a bit skeptical. Instead of being considered a premium brand like it once was, Iams, as part of the Mars company, seems to be more concerned with being a budget-friendly food.

A Quick Look at Iams Dog Food

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amy Beattie (@wylie_bulldog_pup)

Pros

An amazing and long history

Affordable

Decent nutritional value for the price

Cons

Uses low-cost fillers

Recipes include lots of animal by-products

Most ingredients aren’t all-natural

Recall History

In the past 10 years, Iams has only had two recalls that we could find.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amy Beattie (@wylie_bulldog_pup)

A post shared by Amy Beattie (@wylie_bulldog_pup)

An amazing and long history

Affordable

Decent nutritional value for the price

  • An amazing and long history
  • Affordable
  • Decent nutritional value for the price

Uses low-cost fillers

Recipes include lots of animal by-products

Most ingredients aren’t all-natural

  • Uses low-cost fillers
  • Recipes include lots of animal by-products
  • Most ingredients aren’t all-natural

March 2013 – The possibility of mold growth caused the company to pull several of its products from the market.

August 2013 – Reports of potential salmonella contamination led to certain products being recalled.

Reviews of the 3 Best Iams Dog Food Recipes

While researching and reviewing Iams dog food, we checked out several of their available formulas. Here’s a look at 3 of our favorite Iams dog food recipes so you can take a better look.

March 2013 – The possibility of mold growth caused the company to pull several of its products from the market.

August 2013 – Reports of potential salmonella contamination led to certain products being recalled.

  • March 2013 – The possibility of mold growth caused the company to pull several of its products from the market.
  • August 2013 – Reports of potential salmonella contamination led to certain products being recalled.

On the bright side, however, this formula does include flaxseed and other ingredients that feature omega fatty acids. You’ll also find carrots and beetroots to help promote better digestion in your dog. The guaranteed analysis is Crude Protein 25%, Crude Fat 14%, Crude Fiber 4%, and Moisture 10%.

One of the biggest issues with Iams dog food is its ingredients. While this dog food features real chicken as its primary ingredient, the rest of the list isn’t overly impressive. While corn isn’t the worst grain you can give your dog, this food does contain quite a bit of it, artificial colors, and animal by-products.

Check Price on Chewy

Pros

Affordable

Features omega fatty acids

Real chicken is the primary ingredient

Cons

Features artificial colors

Contains lots of corn

2. Iams Adult Large Breed Real Chicken High Protein Dry Dog Food

The guaranteed analysis of this dog food is Crude Protein 22.5%, Crude Fat 12%, Crude Fiber 5%, and Moisture 10%.

Affordable

Features omega fatty acids

Real chicken is the primary ingredient

  • Affordable
  • Features omega fatty acids
  • Real chicken is the primary ingredient

Features artificial colors

Contains lots of corn

  • Features artificial colors
  • Contains lots of corn

 

Formulated for larger breeds of dogs, this is another food that features chicken as the primary source of protein. What you’ll find promising in this Iams food are the larger-sized pieces which are great for your bigger pals. These pieces are also sizable enough to help large breed dogs with the cleaning of their teeth. You’ll also be pleased to know this food has some healthy grains in it, but the downside is just how much is inside. Unfortunately, all these grains aren’t the best idea for large breed dogs that can easily put on a lot of weight so proceed with caution when making this part of your best friend’s diet.

Pros

Includes healthy grains

Chicken is the primary ingredient

Great for your dog’s teeth

Cons

Contains empty calories

Could cause weight gain

3. Iams ProActive Health Adult Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food

The guaranteed analysis of this dog food is Crude Protein 20%, Crude Fat 9%, Crude Fiber 5%, and Moisture 10%.

Includes healthy grains

Chicken is the primary ingredient

Great for your dog’s teeth

  • Includes healthy grains
  • Chicken is the primary ingredient
  • Great for your dog’s teeth

Contains empty calories

Could cause weight gain

  • Contains empty calories
  • Could cause weight gain

In this Iams dog food, you’ll find a few healthy ingredients like carrots and flaxseeds. You’ll also be pleased that it is low in calories and seems enjoyed by most dogs. Unfortunately, when it comes to proper weight control, the lower calories are all the benefits your dog will get. This food does have chicken as the primary ingredient but also has lots of grains inside that may cause weight gain if fed improperly.

Pros

Low in calories

Contains carrots and flaxseed

Cons

Some dogs may be allergic to chicken

What Other Users Are Saying

Let’s take a look at what other users are saying about Iams dog food so you can learn about their experiences.

Low in calories

Contains carrots and flaxseed

  • Low in calories
  • Contains carrots and flaxseed

Some dogs may be allergic to chicken

  • Some dogs may be allergic to chicken

Conclusion

Iams is a dog food that is rich in history and has been recommended by vets and pet owners for years. While a few of their ingredient choices may be slightly questionable, that doesn’t mean their food isn’t a quality option, especially for those on a budget. If you want to get your pet dog food that will fill their tummies, keep them healthy, and help you stay on budget, Iams may be the right choice.

See also:

  • Annamaet Dog Food Review
  • Cesar Dog Food Review
  • pawTree Dog Food Review
  • Loyall Life Dog Food Review

Featured Image Credit: