Iams Dog Food: Review

Iams is a popular pet food brand, known for crafting high-quality animal protein-based diets. They are owned by Mars Inc, with the exception of the European branch which is owned by Spectrum Brands. 

The brand’s story started in 1946 when Paul Iams, a self-taught animal nutritionist from Ohio, wanted to find an innovative way to boost the health of dogs and cats. That’s when he started manufacturing high-protein, high-fat dog food, which led to developing the world’s first animal-based protein dry food for dogs. In fact, Iams 999 was the first dog food to use animal-based protein and it set a standard. 

After making good pet food for over 50 years, it’s safe to say they’ve established a respectable reputation. While some of their products include questionable ingredients like corn and grains, they have an impressive history of creating a lot of “firsts” in the pet food industry. 

Most of their food is manufactured in the US to provide complete and balanced nutrition with zero fillers. They offer a diverse range of products for dogs of all ages, sizes, breeds, and dogs with different health needs. 

Iams is one of those brands that is always looking for new ways to advance and upgrade their products. They might not be up there with the higher end boutique or premium pet food brands. But at the end of the day, they are a fantastic, affordable, and nutritious brand. It’s a good option for those who can’t afford expensive, grain-free dog food. Not to mention, it’s super easy to find and you’ll usually find it on the shelves at your supermarket. 

Now that you know more about Iams, it’s time to dive deeper into their products. To help you decide on whether their food will suit your fur friend, we’ve reviewed their highest-rated dry and wet dog food below. 

We love that this dry food has farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient. This specially formulated food for large breed dogs has adequate protein at 22.5%, and it also has a nice mix of fiber and prebiotics to support healthy digestion and immunity. Some bonus ingredients include beet pulp, which is a natural source of antioxidants.

Customer reviews:

“I’ve been feeding IAMS for the last 25 yrs. Never had a problem with it. Yes, I’ve tried other brands, but I ALWAYS come back to IAMS wether be for my dogs or cats. They get the best.”

“I have a Great Dane and a Victorian Bulldog, keeps their previous stinky farts under control and a lot less gassy.”

Guaranteed analysis:

• Protein (min): 22.5%
• Fat (min): 12.0%
• Fiber (max): 5.0%
• Moisture (max): 10.0%

Nutritional Info
Ingredients: Chicken, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Natural Flavor, Poultry Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Brewers Yeast, Dried Egg Product, Carrot, Flaxseed, Caramel Color, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Fructooligosaccharides, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide), Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Citric Acid, Rosemary Extract.

Caloric Content

3,529 kcal/kg, 351 kcal/cup

Iams best-wet dog food is a healthy mix of beef and rice, in a nice pate formula. It is made using natural ingredients that are slow-cooked in real broth (yum). It has 8% protein and 6% fat which is about average for wet dog foods. 

The recipe does include meat by-products, which leave something to be desired. As we prefer whole meats or meals as the main meat ingredients. Iams does offer whole chicken as the first ingredient in this recipe, so all is not lost! The main selling point for this product is its price point, this food will provide adequate nutrition, and not break the bank. 

Customer reviews:

“She eats it, so she must like it. Iams is a good name so I have switched both my cat and dog food over to Iams. I feel I can trust it to be healthy enough for them without breaking the bank.”

“My dogs love your products and it is so nice to have delivered to the doorway. A bit heavy though and need to open the box outside on the porch! Keep up the great work!”

Guaranteed analysis: 

• Protein (min): 8.0%
• Fat (min): 6.0%
• Fiber (max): 1.0%
• Moisture (max): 78.0%

Nutritional Info
Ingredients: Water, Chicken, Meat By-Products, Chicken By-Products, Beef, Ground Rice, Dried Egg Product, Carrageenan, Flaxseed Meal, Cassia Gum, Potassium Chloride, Added Color, Calcium Sulfate, Sodium Tripolphosphate, Brewers Dried Yeast, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate (Source of Vitamin B1), D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (Source of Vitamin B2), Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Salt, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), Fructooligosaccharides.

Caloric Content

1,130 kcal/kg, 423.61 kcal/cup

Since their founding years, Iams has been recalled several times. Here’s a brief overview of their recall history: 

2013

There were two recalls this year; the first involved dog treats that had potential mold growth. Then several varieties of dog food were recalled because of suspected salmonella contamination. 

2011 

A small batch of Iams dry dog food was recalled due to aflatoxin mold contamination. 

2010 

There were a few recalls of cat food this year due to low levels of thiamine and potential salmonella contamination. 

2007 

The recall this year was a part of the larger Menu Foods/melamine recall that affected many other brands that sourced ingredients from China that year. Iams had to recall several sizes and varieties of dog and cat food due to potential melamine contamination.