Recommended
DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Our Verdict
IAMS Advanced Health dry product range is made up of four recipes with ratings varying from 2.5 to 3.5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 3.5 stars.
This Iams product range has high protein from real meat listed as the first ingredient, however, it also contains by-products as well as controversial ingredients and added color.
Pros
- High in protein
- Real meat is the first ingredient
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Uses controversial ingredients, by-products and added color
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
IAMS Advanced Health Healthy Digestion Chicken and Whole Grain was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
IAMS Advanced Health Healthy Digestion Chicken and Whole Grain
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken by-product meal, ground whole grain corn, ground whole grain sorghum, ground barley, dried plain beet pulp, natural flavor, dried egg product, fructooligosaccharides, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), flaxseed, caramel color, potassium chloride, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, carrots, choline chloride, dl-methionine, calcium carbonate, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid, d-calcium pantothenate, biotin, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin A supplement, niacin, riboflavin supplement (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, manganous oxide), mixed tocopherols (preservative), citric acid (preservative), rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 14% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 29% | 16% | 48% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 33% | 42% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken by-product meal, a dry rendered product of slaughterhouse waste. It’s made from what’s left of a slaughtered chicken after all the choice cuts have been removed.
On the brighter side, by-product meals are meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The quality of this ingredient can vary, depending on the caliber of the raw materials obtained by the manufacturer.
The third ingredient is ground whole-grain corn, which contains all the essential parts and naturally-occurring nutrients of the entire grain seed in their original proportions. If the grain has been processed (e.g., cracked, crushed, rolled, extruded, and/or cooked), the food product should deliver the same rich balance of nutrients that are found in the original grain seed.
Whole grain corn contains fibers, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Aside from its energy content, however, this whole grain cereal is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient is sorghum (milo), a starchy cereal grain with a nutrient profile similar to corn.
Since it is gluten-free and boasts a smoother blood sugar behavior than other grains, sorghum may be considered an acceptable non-meat ingredient.
The fifth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The sixth ingredient is dried beet pulp, a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
After natural flavor we have dried egg product, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries — from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The ninth ingredient is fructooligosaccharides are included here as a prebiotic. Prebiotics support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine and deliver digestive health benefits.
From here the list goes on to include a number of other items. But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of the product.
This recipe has five notable exceptions.
First flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flaxseeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
Next is caramel, a natural coloring agent made by caramelizing carbohydrates. It’s used by pet food manufacturers to impart a golden brown tint to the finished product.
However, the concentrated version of this ingredient commonly known as caramel coloring has been more recently considered controversial and found to cause cancer in laboratory animals.2
In any case, even though caramel is considered safe by the FDA, we’re always disappointed to find any added coloring in a pet food.
That’s because coloring is used to make the product more appealing to humans – not your dog. After all, do you really think your dog cares what color their food is?
We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
We also note sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
Lastly, this food includes chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, IAMS Advanced Health Healthy Digestion Chicken and Whole Grain looks like an average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 48%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 27% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 50% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 57%.
This means this IAMS Advanced Health product line contains near-average protein, near-average carbohydrate, and near-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.
IAMS Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to IAMS through November 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of IAMS Advanced Health Dog Food
The product range includes chicken as the primary ingredient, which is a positive aspect. However, it contains meat by-products and controversial ingredients that provide only modest nutritional value, along with added colors, consequently bringing down the overall rating to 3.5 stars.
About
Iams was founded in Ohio in 1946 by self-taught animal nutritionist, Paul Iams. He spent time learning about the importance of protein in pet food and then created his first small batch in the 1950s. At this time Iams was considered a premium brand producing high-quality dog food.
Iams is currently owned by Mars. However, it is now considered more of a budget-friendly option rather than a premium brand.
Compare IAMS Advanced Health Dog Food
How does IAMS Advanced Health compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
