Rating: 
Iams Veterinary Formulas Weight dry dog food earns the Advisor’s second-lowest rating of two stars.
The Iams Veterinary Formula Weight management product line lists two dry kibbles… each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
- Iams Veterinary Formulas Weight Control D Optimum Weight
- Iams Veterinary Formulas Weight Loss Restricted Calorie
Iams Veterinary Formulas Weight Loss Restricted Calorie dog food was selected to represent both products in the line for this review.
Iams Veterinary Formulas Weight Loss Restricted Calorie
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Corn grits, chicken by-product meal, ground whole grain sorghum, ground whole grain barley, dried beet pulp, chicken flavor, fish meal, dried egg product, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), brewer's dried yeast, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, sodium hexametaphosphate, fish oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin A acetate, ascorbic acid, 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), dicalcium phosphate, choline chloride, flax meal, minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, potassium iodide, cobalt carbonate), dl-methionine, ethoxyquin (a preservative), l-carnitine, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is corn grits. Grits are made from ground corn. Now, contrary to what you may have heard, corn isn’t necessarily a bad ingredient.
On the other hand, although there’s no way to know for sure here, the corn used in making many pet foods can be similar to the kind used to make feed for livestock.
And that can sometimes be problematic.
What’s more, corn is commonly linked to canine food allergies1.
For these reasons, we rarely consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.
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 those unsavory leftovers usually considered “unfit for human consumption”.
This stuff can contain almost anything… feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs… anything (that is) but skeletal muscle (real meat).
On the brighter side, by-product meals are meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
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 an acceptable non-meat ingredient.
The fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.
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 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 the chicken flavor, we find fish meal. Fish meal is another high-protein meat concentrate.
Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. The term “fish” does little to properly describe this ingredient.
Fish meal is commonly made from the by-products of commercial fish operations.
What’s more, the controversial chemical ethoxyquin is frequently used as a preservative in fish meals.
But because it’s usually added to the raw fish before processing, the chemical does not have to be reported to consumers.
However, in this case, the company has confirmed the presence of ethoxyquin on the product’s ingredient list.
The eighth ingredient includes 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.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The ninth ingredient lists 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. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.
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 find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
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 Weight Dog Food
The Bottom Line
The veterinary product reviewed here may or may not be suitable for your particular pet. Moreover, it is not our intention to judge the capability of any dog food to treat a specific health condition.
Nor is it our aim to act as a substitute for sound medical advice.
Nevertheless…
Judging by its ingredients alone, Iams Veterinary Formulas Weight Control appears to be an average-to-below-average kibble.
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 25%, a fat level of 9% and estimated carbohydrates of about 58%.
The two products feature an average protein content of 26% and a mean fat level of 8%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 58% for the overall product line.
Below-average protein. Low fat. And fairly high carbohydrates… as compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Iams Veterinary Formulas Weight is a grain-based kibble using a moderate amount of chicken by-product meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand two stars.
Not recommended.
A Final Word
This review is 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 a specific health benefit for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to 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 veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
02/04/2010 Original review
09/09/2010 Review updated
- White, S., Update on food allergy in the dog and cat, World Small Animal Veterinary Association, Vancouver, 2001 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.