Iams Veterinary Formulas Skin and Coat (Dry)

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Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Iams Veterinary Formulas Skin and Coat Plus Response dog food earns the Advisor’s second-lowest tier rating of 2 stars.

The Iams Veterinary Formulas Skin and Coat Plus Response product line includes two dry dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.

The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.

  • Iams Veterinary Formulas Skin and Coat Plus Response FP
  • Iams Veterinary Formulas Skin and Coat Plus Response KO

Iams Veterinary Formulas Skin and Coat Response FP was selected to represent both products in the line for this review.

Iams Veterinary Formulas Skin and Coat Response FP

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 24% | Fat = 13% | Carbs = 54%

Ingredients: Potato, herring meal (source of fish oil), catfish, animal fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), dried beet pulp, fish digest, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, fructooligosaccharides, choline chloride, potassium chloride, dl-methionine, minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, potassium iodide, cobalt carbonate), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, 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), ethoxyquin (a preservative), rosemary extract

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
MethodProteinFatCarbs
Guaranteed Analysis22%12%NA
Dry Matter Basis24%13%54%
Calorie Weighted Basis22%29%49%

The first ingredient in this dog food lists potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The second ingredient is herring meal. Herring meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh herring.

Unfortunately, the controversial chemical, ethoxyquin, is frequently used as a preservative in many fish meals.

But because it’s usually added to the raw fish before processing, ethoxyquin’s presence does not have to be reported to consumers.

However, in this case, Iams does indeed report the use of ethoxyquin as a preservative in this recipe. Because of the fish meal’s higher position on the ingredients list, we would assume there to be a notable amount of the preservative in this recipe.

The third ingredient lists catfish. This item is typically sourced from clean, undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.1

Although it is a quality item, raw fish contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The fourth item is animal fat. Animal fat is a generic by-product of rendering, the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.

Since there’s no mention of a specific animal, this item could come from almost anywhere: roadkill, spoiled supermarket meat, dead, diseased or dying cattle — even euthanized livestock.

For this reason, we do not consider generic animal fat a quality ingredient.

The fifth ingredient is dried 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 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.

The sixth item is fish digest, a chemically hydrolyzed mixture of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings. Animal digests are usually sprayed onto the surface of a dry dog food to improve its taste.

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 have much of an effect on the overall rating of this product.

With two notable exceptions

First, we note the inclusion of sodium hexametaphosphate, a man-made industrial polymer with no known nutritive value.

HMP is used in making soap, detergents, water treatment, metal finishing and most likely here to decrease tartar build-up on the teeth.

Although some might disagree, we’re of the opinion that food is not the place for tartar control chemicals or any other non-nutritive substances.

Next, this recipe contains fructooligosaccharide, an alternative sweetener2 probably used here as a prebiotic. Prebiotics function to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine.

And lastly, 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.

Iams Veterinary Formulas Skin and Coat
The Bottom Line

Even though this is a prescription product, we continue to limit our judgment to the estimated meat content of the recipe as well as the apparent quality of its ingredients. And nothing else.

Our ratings have nothing to do with the accuracy of claims made by the manufacturer as to this product’s ability to effectively treat or cure a specific health condition.

So, to find out whether or not this dog food is appropriate for your particular pet, you must consult your veterinarian.

With that understanding…

Judging by its ingredients alone, Iams Veterinary Formulas Skin and Coat appears to be a below-average dry dog food.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 24%, a fat level of 13% and estimated carbohydrates of about 54%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 23% and a mean fat level of 13%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 56% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 58%.

Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing only a modest amount of meat.

However, it’s unfortunate the company chose to include ethoxyquin in its recipes. For without this controversial preservative and more meat, we would have been compelled to award this brand a higher rating.

Bottom line?

Iams Veterinary Formulas Skin and Coat is a plant-based kibble using a limited amount of herring meal or kangaroo as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 2 stars.

Not recommended.

Special Alert

Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.

A Final Word

The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.

Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.

Each review is offered in good faith and has been designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food.

However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.

For a better understanding of how we analyze each product, please read our article, "The Problem with Dog Food Reviews".

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt, consult a qualified veterinary professional for help.

In closing, we do not accept money, gifts or samples from pet food companies in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings.

To learn how we support the cost of operating this website, please visit our public Disclosure and Disclaimer page.

Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

02/02/2010 Original review
09/07/2010 Review updated
06/07/2012 Last Update

  1. Adapted by The Dog Food Advisor from the official definition of other fish ingredients as published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials
  2. Wikipedia definition
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  • Toxed2loss

    Hi Dostana,
    As you’re researching which grain free, potato free food (both of those contribute to skin issues) you might want to look at environmental triggers as well. Many things we’ve been taught to put on our dogs (and ourselves, which transfers to the dog) cause contact dermatitis – skin problems. The skin is the largest organ of the body. It is a major player in detox. Toxins that are eaten are processed by the liver, & lymphatic system and much of it is expelled through the skin. Toxins are also absorbed through the skin. Symptoms of toxins being on or coming out of the skin include red irritated patches, pustules, blisters, black skin, or hyper-pigmentation, oozing, rashes, boils, lumps, calluses, dry, cracked scaly patches, hot spots, Etc.

    So number one, what kind of flea and tick control are you using? Commercial preparations are pesticides and pesticides are poisons. If you’re applying it to the skin, the poison absorbs through the skin and into the dogs blood stream, where it’s carried to every cell in his body. Those are facts, not scare tactics…. Though it is scary when you think about it that way. Luckily non-toxic flea control is available, cheap and effective.

    Remember, what ever you put on or in your dog also gets transferred to you and your family members (especially kids).

    Secondly, worm Meds. These are also classed as pesticides. They are ingested to poison the worms. They concomitantly poison your dog… Ths too can be the cause of skin problems,

    The next suspect is vaccines. Many vaccines, especially rabies, cause all kinds of adverse events which include skin reactions. My Rosie (in my avatar) has vaccinosis that includes ear discharge, swelling and yeasty smell. She got it from her first puppy shot… D/P. but, there’s a lot you can do to improve the health of your dog and turn their immune system around, so don’t panic! Lots of our regulars came here with dogs with health problems and they have some amazing looking animals. Check out the recent before and after pics of JohnandChristo on the Brother’s thread. ;-) . Mike P’s Jubilee s amazing as well! So is Alexandra’s Dante!

    So now we’ve covered the basic 3 on your dog, next lets consider his environment… Pesticides are also common in his environment and effect him more, as he’s closer to the ground. Weed and feed product, vegetable and garden dust, even fertilizer… All poisons that harm your dogs immune system. Bug sprays and baits, continue to volatize toxins long after you’ve sprayed or placed them.

    Next most people are unaware that all fragrance contains pesticide… Or you’d be swarmed by bugs. Especially the biting, stinging kind. It doesn’t matter if the fragrance is cheap or expensive, a component of a cleaner or laundry product or the most expensive perfume. On average fragrances contain about 200 known toxic ingredients. They’re trade secrets so they can’t be monitored by any government agency.

    You’ll find dramatic health benefits in going fragrance free. While your at it, use only non-toxic cleaners. Not “green.” that could mean that they just use recycled plastic containers! With the same toxic concoction of nasty chemicals.

    If you are interested in safer alternatives, just ask. :-)

  • Dostana

    we went to a specialist vet for my dogs skin problems and she prescribed us this same formula. after seeing it was a an Iams brand i told her i wasnt comfotable feeding my dog ‘low grade foods’ and she looked at me like i was crazy. i asked her if there as any other limited food diet i can give my dog that wasnt commercial low grade food and she gave me an attitude and told me to do my own research and get my food from ‘wherever’ i usually get it!! after reading the ingredient list on the bag i saw it contained ‘animal fats’ with no mention of what animal. being on this site now i can see what i already knew, that this is a very low grade food. i most defiantly will not be feeding my dog this, and i will be looking for a high quality dog food with limited ingredients. i will also NEVER go to that vet again, she was a jerk.

  • Jonathan

    PJ, Simple solutions may work… there is also Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets… I have seen dogs do a 180 with their stomach problems after changing to NB with no transition! Of course, I recommend transitioning… that was meant only as a testament to how well I have seen the food work. And as Cathy mentioned above, too, Raw food would certainly be a limited ingredient diet. And concidering the tiny size of your pooch, even a commercial raw diet wouldn’t be that costly.

  • ShamelessRawFoodie

    PJ –
    For superior quality ingredients, high meat protein, low carbs – try feeding raw! It’s nature’s way.
    Real whole foods, uncooked, and minimally processed typically results in optimum health.
    Here are some raw foods available:
    http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/raw-dog-food/
    Gastro problems generally disappear with raw feeding.

  • PJ

    I have a toy breed dog, 11 lbs, 10 years old. She has always had a sensitive stomach with gurgling, stomach upset, urping, spitting up & sometimes diahrea or constipation (which I treat with pumpkin). My vet put her on Iams FP about 2 years ago & she had the most beautiful coat & NO upset stomach. This food was recalled last summer so I have desperately been trying to find a better quality food with the same results as FP. The FP is back on the market, but it is crap so want to find a higher quality food that will not cause the stomach upset. I have tried Evo (way to rich for her & resulted in gastroenteritis), Wellness super 5 (lots of stomach upset) and now have her on Wellness Core. I changed over one kibble at a time and all went well. Now that she is eating just the Core she is starting to wake up in the morning with a gurgling upset stomach. She runs out and starts eating grass and shrubs & refuses to eat her breakfast (she has always been a good eater). I give her pepcid which helps, but I hate to try to change her over again to a different food. I like the idea of no grain (helps with her yeasty itchy ears) but have to find something that doesn’t bother her stomach. Does anyone out there have any similar experience & if so can you recommend another brand? I thought of trying Wellness Simple Solution, but it seems very high in carbs. Any thoughts? Thanks

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Judy… This review here presents the sum total of my opinion of this dog food. But please remember, our evaluations are always based upon apparent ingredient quality and estimated meat content only. And are “not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in a specific health benefit for your pet”. We’ll leave that up to you, your vet and the experiences of our readers as they’re reported in these comments. Sorry I can’t be more help.

  • judy fedorchuk

    i went to a dermatoligist yesterdasy with mu dog who has very bad bacteria infections in his ears and onhis feet she spent 2 hr with him bath, soak and medicine. he was suffering terrible. she changed his diet to iams food above mentioned for 30 days to see if the allergy is a food problem do you agree

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Sam,

    I have already prepared a list of all the better hypoallergenic dog foods currently in our database. However, there are many other dog foods yet to be analyzed. And we continue to add them gradually to our website. So, stay tuned as we get to the others.

  • SAM

    I would like to get a list of other dog foods available for dogs who have problems with allergies (skin and coat). Thanks.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Jason… Why not look through our list of 3, 4 and 5-star dog foods and find one that suits your needs (skin and coat?) and fits your budget. We plan to post a number of lists of recommended products for specific issues some time later this fall (2010). So stay in touch.

  • Jason

    What would you suggest instead?