Rating: 
Iams ProActive Health Active Maturity earns the Advisor’s second-lowest rating of two stars.
Currently, the Iams ProActive Health Active Maturity product line includes three dry kibbles… each designed for senior dogs.
- Iams ProActive Health Active Maturity
- Iams ProActive Health Active Maturity Large Breed
- Iams ProActive Health Active Maturity Small and Toy Breed
Iams ProActive Health Active Maturity was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Iams ProActive Health Active Maturity
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Corn meal, chicken by-product meal, ground whole grain sorghum, dried egg product, dried beet pulp, chicken, chicken flavor, ground whole grain barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), brewers dried yeast, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, salt, sodium hexametaphosphate, flax meal, caramel, fructooligosaccharides, minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, potassium iodide, cobalt carbonate), dl-methionine, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, vitamins (ascorbic acid, vitamin A acetate, calcium pantothenate, biotin, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), vitamin B12 supplement, niacin, riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), inositol, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), l-lysine monohydrochloride, beta-carotene, l-carnitine, citric acid, rosemary extract.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.6%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is corn meal. Corn meal is a ground flour made from dried corn. Although there’s no way to know for sure, it’s reasonable to assume the corn used here is similar to the kind used to make feed for livestock.
Feed corn is frequently contaminated with insects, mites and molds.
Many blame corn for chronic canine allergies. But those allergies are probably more a result of what’s in the corn… than the corn itself.
The second item lists 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 prime cuts have been removed.
In a nutshell… chicken by-products are the unsavory and inedible leftovers deemed “unfit for human consumption”.
This stuff can contain almost anything… feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs… you name it. This is certainly not a quality ingredient.
The third ingredient is sorghum. Sorghum is 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 a decent non-meat ingredient.
The fourth ingredient is dried egg product… a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary greatly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries… from eggs that have failed to hatch.
The quality of this item all depends on the caliber of the ingredient purchased by Iams (you get what you pay for).
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The fifth item is beet pulp. Beet pulp is 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 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 completely acceptable.
The sixth item mentions chicken. Raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just 20% of its original weight.
That’s what makes uncooked meat a much smaller contributor to the overall protein content of a dry dog food… than its equivalent and comparable meat meal.
So, don’t be impressed by chicken’s inclusion here. To reflect its significantly lighter weight, this item should more suitably occupy a much lower position on the list.
After the added chicken flavor (whatever that is), we find barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. This is considered a quality grain ingredient.
The ninth ingredient includes chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.
Also, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
The Bottom Line
Like most “senior” dog food recipes, Iams ProActive Health Active Maturity appears to lower its calories by reducing animal-based ingredients… and raising fiber.
This should become evident as we turn our attention now to the product’s nutrient profile.
The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 11% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 54%.
The nutrient gauges confirm our hunch.
Compared to Iams ProActive Health Adult, this Iams Active Maturity product contains slightly less protein, 31% less fat and 27% more fiber.
Unfortunately, though, the missing fat is now replaced with higher carbs… in the form of more corn meal, sorghum and beet pulp.
And (of course) a lower meat content almost always signals a lower quality product.
Sure, senior dog foods contain fewer calories… per serving.
But rather than dilute the meat content… why not consider using a higher quality (higher protein) food… and simply feed less of it?
A commonsense suggestion to run by your favorite vet… next time you get a chance.
Bottom line?
Iams ProActive Health Active Maturity is primarily a corn-based dog food using a cheap by-product meal as its main meat ingredient… thus earning the brand a disappointing two-stars.
Not recommended.
Some Final Thoughts
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?
Please feel free to share your comments below.
