IAMS Lamb and Rice: Read This Before Buying

Written by Sarah Psaradelis
Updated: February 7, 2023
© demanescale/Shutterstock.com

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IAMS has a few dog food recipes that include lamb and rice as the main ingredients and flavor of the foods. These recipes have been carefully crafted to keep your pet healthy and provide them with complete and balanced nutrition.

The IAMS lamb and rice recipes seem to be quite popular as the ingredients and flavor is found in most of their dog breed food recipes. Each IAMS lamb and rice food that we review in this article is either wet or dry and each food has different ingredients and fat, fiber, and protein percentages to offer your pet.

If you are looking for a detailed review of each of IAMS lamb and rice dog foods recipes so that you can choose which one is best for your dog, then this article will give you all the information you need!

  1. Iams Lamb & Rice Recipe Large Breed Dry Dog Food
    • Lamb is excellent source of protein
    • No artificial colors, or preservatives
    • Contains natural fibers and prebiotics
    • Best for large adult dog breeds
    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  2. IAMS Proactive Health Minichunks Lamb & Rice Adult Dry Dog Food
    • Rich in animal-based proteins
    • Contains minerals, and healthy animal fats
    • Promote healthy digestion
    • Really affordable option
    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  3. IAMS ProActive Health Classic Ground with Lamb & Whole Grain Rice Adult Wet Dog Food
    • Includes natural ingredients slow-cooked in real broth
    • The first few ingredients are chicken, chicken by-products, and lamb
    • Features brown rice for healthy carbohydrates, nutrients, and fiber
    • Also includes flaxseeds, which provide omega-fatty acids that improve skin and coat health
    Check Chewy Check Amazon

A-Z-Animals Top Picks for IAMS Lamb and Rice Dog Food

#1 Best Overall: IAMS Lamb and Rice Recipe Large Breed Dry Dog Food

Our selection as the best overall option is the IAMS Lamb and Rice Recipe Large Breed Dry Dog Food.

The first ingredient in this food is lamb, which is an excellent source of protein that contains approximately 60% of moisture. However, the moisture level is decreased once the lamb has been cooked into the kibble. This is a dry dog food suitable for large adult dog breeds.

This recipe does not contain any artificial colors, preservatives, or unknown meats. This dog food derives most of its protein from animal-based sources which means that this food contains all the amino acids necessary to keep your dog healthy. It includes a mixture of natural fibers and prebiotics to help support your dog’s digestive system, along with omega-6 fatty acids to nourish your dog’s skin and coat. Since this food contains quality-sourced animal-based protein into this kibble, it can help maintain a large dog breeds muscle development.

This IAMBS lamb and rice dog food is best suited for large adult dog breeds that need dog food rich in fiber, and protein, with a moderate level of fat. This dog food has around 3534 calories of metabolized energy (ME) per kilogram which provides your dog with energy to stay active.

As this food is designed for larger breeds the kibble pieces are too large for smaller dogs. However, some customers have reported that there are a lot of broken pieces and powder in the bottom of each bag.

Guaranteed Analysis:

  • Crude Protein: 22.5%
  • Crude Fat: 12.5%
  • Crude Fiber: 5.0%

Pros and Cons of the IAMS Lamb and Rice Recipe Large Breed Dry Dog Food

ProsCons
This food is specifically designed to meet the needs of larger dog breeds.It is not suitable for smaller dogs.
It does not contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.There are often broken kibble pieces and powder in the bottom of the bag.
It includes a mixture of natural fibers and prebiotics to help support your dog’s digestive system.
It contains omega-6 fatty acids to promote a healthy skin and coat.
Best Overall
Iams Lamb & Rice Recipe Large Breed Dry Dog Food
  • Lamb is excellent source of protein
  • No artificial colors, or preservatives
  • Contains natural fibers and prebiotics
  • Best for large adult dog breeds
Check Chewy Check Amazon

2. Most Affordable: IAMS Proactive Health Minichunks Lamb & Rice Adult Dry Dog Food

Our selection as the most affordable option is the IAMS ProActive Health Minichunks Lamb and Rice Adult Dry Dog Food.

This dry dog food’s primary proteins consist of lamb, chicken, and corn gluten meal, which means that the food is rich in animal-based proteins. This is an affordable food from the Minichunks line that has lamb as the main ingredient which is a great source of natural amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

This food has a moderate level of protein, fat, and carbohydrate content with a lower price in comparison to other dogs’ foods with a similar nutritional value. Overall, the ingredients help promote healthy digestion in adult dog breeds because it contains a tailored blend of wholesome fibers and prebiotics, along with omega-6 fatty acids to support a dog’s skin and coat health. Since this is a high-protein dog food with a 25% protein level, it is great for dogs’ lean muscle development and maintenance.

IAMS has created this food to be affordable, and it comes in a dry form of dog food with all the ingredients packed into the small-sized kibble. However, as the kibble is small it may be unsuitable for larger dogs.

Guaranteed Analysis

  • Crude protein: 25.0%
  • Crude fat: 14.0%
  • Crude fiber: 5.0%

Pros and Cons of the IAMS Proactive Health Minichunks Lamb & Rice Adult Dry Dog Food

ProsCons
This food is a great source of natural amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.The small-sized kibble may not be suitable for larger dogs.
It contains omega fatty acids to promote a healthy skin and coat.
It contains a tailored blend of wholesome fibers and prebiotics to support the digestive system.
This food has a high protein level that supports the development of lean muscles.
Most Affordable
IAMS Proactive Health Minichunks Lamb & Rice Adult Dry Dog Food
  • Rich in animal-based proteins
  • Contains minerals, and healthy animal fats
  • Promote healthy digestion
  • Really affordable option
Check Chewy Check Amazon

3. Best Wet Food: IAMS ProActive Health Classic Ground with Lamb & Whole Grain Rice Adult Wet Dog Food

Most dogs love wet food because of it’s appetizing flavor and palatable texture, so that’s why we recommend the IAMS ProActive Health Classic Ground with Lamb and Whole Grain Rice Adult Wet Dog Food.

This is a wet dog food that has been created by IAMS for adult dogs. This complete and balanced pate dog food is formulated with omega fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coats in adult dogs. This food is made with high-quality animal proteins such as lamb as the main ingredient and chicken by-product meal. It is cooked in a broth to ensure that the food retains a decent level of moisture that helps add better flavor and taste for dogs, making it a great choice for fussy eaters.

This food has a high level of protein per serving, but a low percentage of fiber. It provides a dog with 390 calories per can serving and the cans of this lamb and rice dog food can be purchased in bulk for an affordable price. It contains beneficial vitamins like vitamin E, B1, A, and D3, and essential minerals like potassium and magnesium. Plus, antioxidants help to keep your dog’s immune system healthy and strong.

his food contains no potentially harmful ingredients; however, it does contain sodium nitrite which is a controversial ingredient for color retention. The only other drawbacks include some cans arriving dented, and not all dogs liking this food.

Guaranteed Analysis:

  • Crude protein: 8.0%
  • Crude fat: 6.0%
  • Crude fiber: 1.0%

Pros and Cons of the IAMS ProActive Health Classic Ground with Lamb & Whole Grain Rice Adult Wet Dog Food

ProsCons
This food features lamb as the first ingredient.It contains sodium nitrite which is a controversial ingredient for color retention.
This food is formulated with omega fatty acids to promote a healthy skin and coat.Not all dogs like this food.
It is cooked in a broth to ensure that the food retains a good level of moisture.Customers reported that some cans arrived dented.
This food contains vitamins A, B1, D and E, plus essential minerals like potassium and magnesium.
It features antioxidants to support the immune system.
Best Wet Food
IAMS ProActive Health Classic Ground with Lamb & Whole Grain Rice Adult Wet Dog Food
  • Includes natural ingredients slow-cooked in real broth
  • The first few ingredients are chicken, chicken by-products, and lamb
  • Features brown rice for healthy carbohydrates, nutrients, and fiber
  • Also includes flaxseeds, which provide omega-fatty acids that improve skin and coat health
Check Chewy Check Amazon

Choosing the Best: What to Look For

When choosing the best IAMS lamb and rice recipe for your dog, there are only three factors you need to consider, the guaranteed analysis, your dog’s breed, and age, along with the price. Here is how to consider the best IAMS lamb and rice recipes by considering each of these factors:

Guaranteed Analysis

The guaranteed analysis on the back of a dog food label gives you an indication as to how much nutrients your dog is consuming per serving. This can help you learn more about how much protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals are found in dog food. Most of IAMS lamb and rice recipes have a moderate protein content for the dry dog foods, which range from 22% to 25% as maximum crude protein content.

The IAMS lamb and rice wet dog food have a lower percentage of total protein because it is packaged in a smaller can. A protein percentage between 20% to 28% is usually ideal for adult dogs who are above one year of age. Anything lower might not give your dog enough protein for energy and muscle maintenance. Fat and fiber are also essential to consider before purchasing food, so make sure the guaranteed analysis for the food you choose falls within the ideal range for your dog’s breed and age.

Dog Breed and Age

Before choosing an IAMS lamb and rice dog food recipe, it is important to check if the food is suitable for your dog’s breed size and age. Some recipes will target bigger dog breeds as the kibble size will be larger along with the right amount of protein, fat, fiber, and vitamins and minerals to meet a large dog breed’s nutritional requirement.

Keep in mind that dog foods that are labeled for small dog breeds will usually have a certain amount of minerals and vitamins that are better suited for a small dog’s size when it comes to the serving size per your dog’s weight. It seems that IAMS lamb and rice recipes are mainly created for adult dogs who are older than one year of age.

A small dog breed will also have difficulty eating large pellets that are better suited for dogs with larger mouths. Your dog’s age also plays a role in the type of food you choose for them. Some foods are better suited for puppies (under one year of age) because it has the right balance of proteins, fats, fiber, and vitamins to fuel a growing puppy. Whereas foods for adult dogs will have a lower amount of protein and fats to help dogs maintain their developed muscles.

Price

The price you pay for dog food is important because the quality of the food should match the price. The volume of food in the bag can also influence the price of the food. All IAMS lamb and rice dry dog food recipes seem to come in 15 to 40-pound bags at an affordable price, however, the canned dog foods seem to have a slightly higher price. The price will also help you determine whether you can afford to feed your dog this type of food in the long term, or if the food is not worth the value for money.

Up Next

Now that you have discovered what lamb and rice recipes IAMS has to offer your dog, you can check out these other articles about IAMS pet food:

About the Author

Sarah is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering aquatic pets, rodents, arachnids, and reptiles. Sarah has over 3 years of experience in writing and researching various animal topics. She is currently working towards furthering her studies in the animal field. A resident of South Africa, Sarah enjoys writing alongside her pets and almost always has her rats perched on her shoulders.

IAMS Lamb and Rice: Read This Before Buying FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Can I mix a combination of dry and wet dog food together?

Yes, wet and dry dog food can be mixed together. Many owners mix a little wet food in with dry food to make the food more appealing and tastier for their dogs. However, keep in mind that when mixing foods, it is important to make sure both the wet and dry foods are designed to match the dietary needs of your dog. For example, this means that you should avoid mixing dry puppy food with wet adult food.

What other flavors of food does IAMS offer?

IAMS offers a variety of food to keep your pets healthy. Other popular flavors are chicken and beef which are available in both wet and dry options, as well as for seniors and puppies.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.