Iams vs Pedigree
Iams against Pedigree, measured across 21 and 15 kibble recipes: 25.3% vs 22.7% protein and 40% vs 45% starch, as fed.
Iams and Pedigree are both made by Mars, so this is a choice between two ranges from one company rather than between two companies. The differences below are in the recipes, not the kitchen.
How They Differ
- Iams runs higher in protein: 25.3% against 22.7% as fed, averaged across the kibble we review from each.
- Iams is lower in starch, about 40% of the food as fed against 45%.
- Iams is more calorie dense, 377 kcal per cup on average against 317, so its portions run smaller for the same dog.
- Iams more often leads with meat, fish or egg as the first ingredient (90% of recipes against 0%).
Side by Side
Protein and fat:
| Measure | Iams | Pedigree | Average kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble recipes compared | 21 | 15 | 1,742 in total |
| Protein, as fed | 25.3%20.0% to 30.0% | 22.7%21.0% to 27.0% | 27.2% |
| Fat, as fed | 14.0%9.0% to 18.0% | 10.4%7.0% to 12.0% | 14.4% |
| Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. | 40%32% to 50% | 45%39% to 50% | 37% |
| Calories per cup | 377325 to 454 | 317292 to 335 | 398 |
| Meat, fish or egg listed first | 90% | 0% | |
| Grain-free recipes | 0% | 0% | |
| Most used proteins | Egg 100%, Chicken 95%, Lamb 14% | Chicken 87%, Lamb 13%, Beef 7% | |
| Recipes with corn, wheat, soy | Corn 95%, Wheat 0%, Soy 43% | Corn 100%, Wheat 93%, Soy 100% | |
| By-products | 95% | 87% | |
| FDA recalls, last 5 years | None1 older in the archive | 2Latest 20263 older in the archive | |
| Made by | Mars | Mars |
Brand figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that brand, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Freeze-dried, frozen, wet food and toppers are left out so the numbers compare like with like, and so are prescription diets, which are fed for a medical condition on a vet's advice. Everything is as fed, the way the bag prints it; the switch above the table shows protein and fat on a dry matter basis instead, which takes the water out so foods of different moisture compare evenly. Why we use as fed.
The Closest Matching Recipes
Brand averages hide the recipe you would actually buy. These are the pairs that come closest on protein, fat and starch, preferring recipes built on the same main protein, which is where a like-for-like choice gets made.
Iams Adult Healthy Weight Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Protein 22%
Fat 9%
Starch 48%
Pedigree Adult , Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Dry Dog Food
Protein 21%
Fat 10%
Starch 47%
Compare these two in full
Which Fits Your Dog
- For an active or working dog, or one that needs to hold muscle, Iams puts more protein in each bowl.
- For a dog that gains weight easily, Pedigree is less calorie dense, so a normal-looking portion carries fewer calories.
- If you are cutting back on starch, Iams starts lower.
- Iams has fewer FDA recalls in our record over the last five years (0 against 2). Read the list below before counting it against Pedigree: most recalls cover a few lots, not a whole range.
- The brands overlap more than the averages suggest: Iams runs from 20% to 30% protein as fed and Pedigree from 21% to 27%, so the right recipe matters more than the name on the bag.
Recall History
FDA recall notices from the last five years that name the brand or its maker. Older notices sit in each brand's archive below: still on the record, but not counted, since a recall that old says more about how a company used to run than how it runs now.
Iams
No FDA recalls in our record for Iams in the last five years.
Archive: 1 older recall
Iams; Eukanuba. Limited lots of Iams and Eukanuba dry dog and cat food (P&G)
Pedigree
Pedigree. High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor Wet Dog Food
Pedigree. Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food
Archive: 3 older recalls
Pedigree. Expansion: Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition dry dog food (Walmart/Dollar General)
Pedigree. Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition dry dog food, specific lots
Pedigree. Dog Food
About the Brands
Iams
IAMS is a dog and cat food brand owned by Mars, Incorporated and run by Mars Petcare US, which is based in Franklin, Tennessee. Its dry dog food lines include Proactive Health and Advanced Health. The company describes its food as science-backed nutrition formulated by Ph.D. animal nutritionists.
Based in Franklin, Tennessee, since 1946. Every Iams food we review
Pedigree
Pedigree is a mass-market dog food brand owned by Mars, Incorporated and sold in the US by Mars Petcare US, which is based in Franklin, Tennessee. It makes dry food, wet food and treats, and the company says its recipes are developed with science from the Waltham Petcare Science Institute. The brand is also known for backing the PEDIGREE Foundation, an independent nonprofit that supports shelter dog adoption.
Based in Franklin, Tennessee, since 1960. Every Pedigree food we review
More Brand Comparisons
How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brands' own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. Figures refreshed October 20, 2026.
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