When bringing a new puppy home, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is which food to feed them. With so many options on the market, it can get overwhelming trying to determine which puppy food is the best choice. In this article we talk about IAMS Vs.ORIJEN-Premium Puppy Food Face-Off.
Two premium brands that frequently come up in the puppy food debate are Iams and Orijen. But how exactly do these two popular foods stack up? We’ll compare Iams and Orijen puppy formulas side-by-side on ingredients, price, quality, and more to help you decide.
Iams Proactive Health Smart Puppy Large Breed
Key Features:
- Made with farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient
- Formulated with 22 key nutrients for cognitive, muscle, and joint development
- Contains Iams’ special Proactive Health blend
- Created specifically for large breed puppies
- Veterinarian recommended brand
Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken Flavor, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Dried Beet Pulp, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Dried Egg Product, Potassium Chloride, Brewers Dried Yeast, Salt, Choline Chloride, Fructooligosaccharides, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), DL-Methionine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, 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), Dried Tomato Pomace, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.
Key Ingredients Analysis:
- Chicken is the first ingredient, providing quality protein
- Contains chicken by-product meal rather than whole meat chicken
- Includes corn, sorghum and beet pulp as primary carbohydrates – these can be controversial ingredients
- Has supplemental vitamins and minerals added
- Fish oil provides omega fatty acids
Orijen Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Key Features:
- Made with 85% fresh or raw poultry and fish ingredients
- WholePrey ratio includes organ meats and cartilage
- Grain-free formula
- Formulated to mimic ancestral canine diets
- Made in the USA
Ingredients: Chicken, turkey, chicken liver, salmon, whole herring, dehydrated chicken, dehydrated turkey, dehydrated sardine, dehydrated chicken liver, dehydrated egg, whole red lentils, whole pinto beans, chicken fat, pollock oil, whole navy beans, whole green lentils, whole chickpeas, whole peas, turkey giblets (liver, heart, gizzard), eggs, natural chicken flavor, dried apple pomace, chicken heart, salt, vitamin E supplement, whole pumpkin, whole butternut squash, collard greens, whole pears, whole apples, whole cranberries, dried kelp, zinc proteinate, mixed tocopherols (preservative), niacin, thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, copper proteinate, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, dried chicory root, turmeric, sarsaparilla root, althea root, rosehips, juniper berries, citric acid (preservative), rosemary extract.
Key Ingredients Analysis:
- 85% high-quality animal ingredients
- Multiple fresh and raw meat sources including chicken, turkey, fish
- Organ meats offer nutritional variety
- Grain-free carbohydrates from lentils, beans, veggies and fruits
- Fortified with vitamins and minerals
Comparing Ingredients
When it comes to ingredients, Orijen clearly contains more premium protein sources. The first five ingredients are all fresh or raw meats, compared to just one fresh meat in the Iams food.
Iams relies more on plant-based proteins like corn and soy. Orijen takes the ancestral approach, mimicking the whole prey diet a puppy’s ancestors would have consumed. This includes muscle meat, organs, and bones.
As far as carbohydrates, Iams contains grains while Orijen utilizes fruits, vegetables and legumes instead. This gives Orijen the edge for dogs that may have sensitivities to grains.
Based on ingredients alone, Orijen puppy food is the superior option. But ingredients don’t tell the whole story…next up is pricing and affordability.
Price and Affordability
When it comes to price, Iams has a significant advantage over Orijen. You can purchase over 3 times as much Iams puppy food for the same price as Orijen.
This drastic price difference reflects the contrast in ingredients. Orijen utilizes far more premium protein ingredients—which come at a higher cost.
Iams makes an affordable puppy food while still providing good nutritional value. But for pet owners willing to invest more for quality, Orijen is worth the higher price tag.
So which food provides the best value? That depends on your budget and priorities…
Best Value Puppy Food
For pet owners wanting an affordable, nutrition-packed puppy food from a trusted brand, Iams Proactive Health Smart Puppy offers outstanding value.
You can feed an Iams-based diet for a fraction of the cost of many competitor brands (like Orijen). This doesn’t mean Orijen isn’t a good choice though…it just costs more.
Orijen is one of the priciest puppy foods on the market—but it’s not overpriced. When you factor in the outstanding ingredient quality and nutritional standards, Orijen delivers exceptional value at its premium price point.
So if your #1 priority is an affordable yet nutritious food from a reputable brand, Iams puppy food is the best value pick. But if you want the very highest quality ingredients and are willing to pay more, then Orijen offers standout value for a premium food.
Puppy Food for Large Breeds
One area Iams puppy food has an advantage is with its specialized large breed formula.
Iams Proactive Health Smart Puppy food is specifically tailored to meet the needs of large breed puppies during the crucial developmental stage. This includes optimal protein, fat and calcium levels to support controlled bone growth.
Orijen is an excellent all-life stages food, but doesn’t offer breed-specific formulas. For giant and large breed owners wanting a tailored nutrition solution for their pup, Iams is an ideal pick.
Best Puppy Food for Large Breeds
If your priority is finding the best puppy food specifically geared for large breeds, Iams Proactive Health Smart Puppy is an excellent choice. From appropriate protein levels to the right calcium content, this formula helps set up big pups for long-term musculoskeletal health.
For owners of small or medium-sized breeds, both Iams and Orijen offer terrific nutritional profiles. So the choice comes down to budget and preferences around ingredients and processing.
The Verdict: Iams vs. Orijen Puppy Food
When choosing between Iams vs. Orijen puppy foods, there’s no universally “best” option. Iams offers outstanding quality and value, while Orijen utilizes superior ingredients.
Here’s a quick summary:
Iams Pros:
- Very affordable price per pound
- Formulated specifically for large breeds
- Contains optimal calcium and protein levels for big pups
- Trusted brand used by many pet owners
Orijen Pros:
- Abundance of premium meat ingredients
- Grain-free carbohydrate sources
- Nutritionally mimics ancestral canine diets
- Exceptional quality for a premium-priced food
For pet owners wanting a time-tested, affordable puppy food from a leading brand, Iams Proactive Health Smart Puppy is a wonderful choice.
But if finding the highest quality ingredients and nutrition is most important to you—regardless of price—then Orijen Grain-Free Puppy is easily one of the best foods out there. I sincerely hope you find this “IAMS Vs.ORIJEN-Premium Puppy Food Face-Off” article helpful.
