Label analysisGrade DKibble (Extruded)

Iams

Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy Large Breed Chicken

Calculate portions with this foodChoosing for your dog
Editor ingredient insight

Iams ProActive Health Large Breed Puppy starts with chicken, corn and chicken by-product meal.

At 28% protein, 14% fat and 3,633 kcal/kg, it is worth considering for large-breed puppies that tolerate chicken and grains when a very fatty growth food is unwanted.

Declared calcium of 1.2%, phosphorus of 0.9% and DHA provide growth-related information to assess.

Soybean meal and corn gluten also contribute protein, so it does not suit exclusively meat-derived protein or grain and soy avoidance.

Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Illustration of chicken beside a dog-food bowl
Primary protein ingredient · Chicken

01. NUTRIENT PROFILE

Key nutrients & mineral profile

As-fed basis
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 28%Fat 14%Other 58%Other includes moisture, ash and remaining components.
Position within the same processing type

Compare protein, fat and energy density in low, typical and high bands.

Protein positionTypical

This food sits around the typical crude protein range among extruded foods.

Fat positionTypical

This food sits around the typical crude fat range among extruded foods.

Calorie densityTypical

This food sits around the typical calorie range among extruded foods. Check the feeding guide and weight trend alongside this comparison.

Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
Calcium1.2%
Phosphorus0.9%
Crude fiber4%
Omega-30.5%
Omega-63%

Undisclosed values are not treated as zero.

02. INGREDIENT QUALITY & DISCLOSURE

Ingredient assessment · 23 disclosed ingredients

The top ingredients are still usable, but this is the part to inspect more carefully before calling the recipe a clear strength.

Chicken ingredient illustration
Primary protein ingredient · Chicken
C3/6Ingredient gradeMixed
Ingredient #1 · ChickenTop
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #2 · Ground Whole Grain CornUpper
Whole Grain
Ingredient #3 · Chicken By-Product Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate)Lowest
By-product Meal
Ingredient #1Top

Chicken

Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #2Upper

Ground Whole Grain Corn

Ground Whole Grain Corn is a whole or coarse grain ingredient. It usually plays more of a carbohydrate and fiber role than a core protein role. It reads as an upper-tier carb and fiber source.

Ingredient #3Lowest

Chicken By-Product Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate)

Chicken By-Product Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) is a by-product meal. It can still contribute protein, but the primary-ingredient read should stay conservative. It reads as an bottom-tier protein source.

Full disclosed ingredient listIn disclosed order
Chicken — Primary positive ingredientsGround Whole Grain Corn — Neutral ingredientsChicken By-Product Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) — High-caution ingredientsGround Whole Grain Sorghum — Neutral ingredientsDried Plain Beet Pulp — Support positive ingredientsBrewers Rice — Neutral ingredientsSoybean Meal — High-caution ingredientsNatural Flavor — Support positive ingredientsCorn Gluten Meal — High-caution ingredientsFish Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols) — Support positive ingredientsDried Egg Product — Primary positive ingredientsCaramel Color — Neutral ingredientsDicalcium Phosphate — Neutral ingredientsSalt — Neutral ingredientsCarrots — Neutral ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsFructooligosaccharides — Neutral ingredientsVitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid) — Support positive ingredientsMinerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Manganous Oxide) — Support positive ingredientsMixed Tocopherols (preservative) — Neutral ingredientsCitric Acid (preservative) — Neutral ingredientsRosemary Extract — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide

Unclear animal protein source

Animal protein · Chicken (#1), Chicken By-Product Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) (#3), Dried Egg Product (#11)

Plant protein · Soybean Meal (#7), Corn Gluten Meal (#9)

Animal-based does not always mean clearly sourced.

Unspecified animal protein is read conservatively.

Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
Fish oilSkin and joint support ingredientFOSGut support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientChondroitinJoint support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient

03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG

What to consider before feeding

Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Ground Whole Grain Corn, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.

Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal supplement plant protein further down the list, after the first three ingredients. The crude-protein figure includes both animal and plant contributions.

Across the registered ingredients, multiple protein sources appear, including chicken, egg. If a protein must be excluded, any of these sources can change the decision; the first ingredient alone does not make this a single-protein diet.

What works well in this food

  • The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
  • Crude protein does not drop into a clearly low band.
  • Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.

Check before feeding

  • By-product meal is a rendered ingredient that can include parts such as heads, feet, and organs. It can still provide protein, but it is harder to tell exactly what parts are included and in what proportion, so ingredient transparency is read more conservatively.
  • Plant proteins can lift crude protein on the label, but the real animal-protein share still needs a closer check.
  • Even at a low price per kilogram, this only makes sense as a price-first consideration.

When this food fits your dog

Among foods made the same way, protein is typical, fat is typical, and calorie density is typical. Calorie density alone does not separate this into an active-dog or weight-management food. Consider protein exclusions and fat, then set portions for the dog’s weight and activity.

Consider it first when

  • Price is the main filter
  • Lowest-budget comparison first
  • Value-first shopping only

Choose another food first when

  • Ingredient quality matters more than price
  • You want a normal recommendation candidate first

Plant-protein concentration remains the clearest trade-off here.

04. COMPARE FOODS

Smart chicken alternatives

Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.

05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE

Manufacturer background & public information

Iams background

Founded in 1946 in the United States.

Disclosure confidence D

Only basic guaranteed analysis is visible, so deeper nutrition comparison stays hard to trust.

Recall information

This brand has multiple confirmed recall events in public sources.

May 12, 2026

Final word

Interpret this for my dog

The food-first public score is only the starting point. Once your dog’s activity, weight goals, life stage, and health status are applied, the recommendation order and interpretation can change.

Treat this review as an early screen. If the food stays interesting, verify it again with your dog-specific context before acting.