I fed my dog Iams Proactive Health for five years before realizing that it is a unhealthy, low-quality, and species-innappropriate dog food.
The package states "No fillers." However, take a look at the first five ingredients...chicken, corn meal, ground whole grain sorghum, chicken byproduct meal, dried beet pulp. The last four of the first five ingredients are fillers! Also, the first ingredient, chicken, probably occupies a lower position on the list because, after cooking, most of the moisture is lost and chicken is about 80% moisture. [1][2]
As to being species-inappropriate, have you ever heard of a wolf attacking a corn stalk?
After I started researching dog food, I switched my dog to Taste of the Wild, a grain-free kibble, and Bravo Balance, raw dog food. When my dog was eating Iams, she often left food in her bowl for several hours. Now she eats her food as soon as I give it to her. Also, her coat is softer and she doesn't get constipated anymore (she did every now and then eating Iams).
Yes, Iams is "vet-recommended" and my vet approved of it. However, I have reason to believe that many vets have been improperly and undereducated in nutrition, and the education that they do receive is biased. Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., which makes "Hill's Science Diet" with similar ingredients to Iams, has created and distributes a nutrition curriculum to vet schools around the world. They also administer the Hill's vet school graduate feeding program, which provides pet food to students at no charge that they can resell for a profit. In addition to providing course materials to veterinary students, Hills's, Iams, Purina, and other well-known manufacturers also offer additional perks for students. [3][4]
Please, do not believe pet food companies' claims without looking at the ingredients for yourself! It's a pay now or pay later situation. If you feed your dog a high-quality, wholesome food now you will have to pay less in vet bills later. The Dog Food Advisor's website, which rates dog foods based on their ingredients, is a great, unbiased resource.
[1] Sagman, Mike. "Iams ProActive Health Adult (Dry)." The Dog Food Advisor Web. September 22, 2011.
[2] Contreras, Sabine. "Ingredients to Avoid." The Dog Food Project Web. September 22, 2011.
[3] Dempsey, Deb. "Why Do You Really Need a Prescription for Your Dog's Food? ...Just Follow the Money!" The American Dog Spring 2010: 98-100.
[4] Messonnier, Shawn, DVM. "What Do Vets Learn About Nutrition?" Tail Blazers Web. September 22, 2011.
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