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What guidelines do you follow when choosing the best food formula for your pup? Is it the advice from an expert, other users’ experience or simply your pet’s preference?

Whatever your answer may be, one thing is inevitable. The quality of nutrition definitely has a huge impact on your canine’s overall wellbeing. Today, we will try to help you make the right choice by taking a closer look at our Diamond Naturals dog food review.

So, here are a few basic details about the company itself.

This family-owned company, with its headquarters in Missouri, has had the same mission since 1970. They aim to provide your pet with nothing but the best of nutrition. Owing to the use of reliable ingredients, cutting-edge technology, and modern facilities, they comply with the standards of  AAFCO. Nutrient profiles of recipes presented below are given on the manufacturers’ web page and include food for Maintenance, Growth, Supplemental, All Life Stages or Unspecified.

Let’s try to summarize the main pros and cons of some of Diamond Naturals Dog Food formulas.

And if you’re looking for more popular brands, see our top rated dog food list.

Overview of 7 Diamond Naturals Dog Food Recipes

IMAGEPRODUCTINGREDIENTS 
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Small Product image of Diamond Naturals Adult Dog
Adult Dogs
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Beef Meal
Peas
Dried Yeast
Ground White Rice
Egg Product
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Small Product image of Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice
All Life Stages
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Chicken
Chicken Meal
Peas
Whole Grain Brown Rice
Cracked Pearled Barley
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Small Product image of Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Dog
Large Breed
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Chicken
Chicken Meal
Peas
Cracked Pearled Barley
Whole Grain Brown Rice
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Skin & Coat
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Salmon
Fish Meal
Peas
Lentils
Potatoes
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Small Product image of Diamond Naturals Senior
Senior
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Whole Grain Brown Rice
Chicken
Chicken Meal
Peas
Egg
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Small Product image of Diamond Naturals Light Adult Dog
Light
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Lamb Meal
Peas
Whole Grain Brown Rice
Cracked Pearled Barley
Oatmeal
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Small Product image of Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete ADULT DOG
Extreme Athlete
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Chicken Meal
Chicken
Cracked Pearled Barley
Chicken Fat
Ground White Rice
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Adult Dog - Beef Meal & Rice Formula

First Five Ingredients:

  • Beef Meal
  • Peas
  • Dried Yeast
  • Ground White Rice
  • Egg Product

Your adult dog will get all the essential nutrients from this rich formula, based on animal protein. It relies on beef meal as its major source, supported by fish protein too. In addition to these ingredients, the complex of probiotics and superfoods ensure a high nutritive value of this blend.

Fruits and vegetables selected for Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice help your pup stay healthy and vital, due to their high contents of vitamins and minerals. Some of these ingredients include peas, blueberries, kale, and coconut. They boost your canine’s immunity considerably.

Omega 3 and & Fatty Acids keep your furry friend’s skin and coat in good condition. Probiotic formula promotes healthy digestion, for the overall wellbeing of your pet. It also eliminates fillers, corn, and wheat. This blend excludes the use of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, too.

All things considered, Diamond Naturals Beef Meal and Rice will provide your pup with a substantial source of vital nutrients for a happy pup with an active lifestyle.

All Life Stages Dog - Chicken & Rice

First Five Ingredients:

  • Chicken
  • Chicken Meal
  • Peas
  • Whole Grain Brown Rice
  • Cracked Pearled Barley

This well-balanced dry food formula will suit pups of all life stages. Its number one ingredient is chicken, serving as a rich source of protein necessary for the proper nutrition of any canine. In this case, we are talking about quality cage-free chicken.

Diamond Naturals food formulas are enhanced with probiotic cultures and superfoods, so Chicken & Rice is no exception. Probiotics promote healthy digestion for the maximum utilization of nutrients.

At the same time, extremely nutritious components such as coconut, blueberries, kale, and peas contribute their vitamins, minerals and antioxidant features. Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids take care of your pet’s healthy skin and glossy coat. This formula contains neither artificial chemicals nor corn, wheat, and fillers.

Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice formula will make an optimal choice and ensure sound nutrition to your furry pal regardless of his life-stage.

Large Breed Adult Dog - Chicken & Rice Formula

First Five Ingredients:

  • Chicken
  • Chicken Meal
  • Peas
  • Cracked Pearled Barley
  • Whole Grain Brown Rice

Large breed pups require special nutrition, and Diamond Naturals Large Breed Chicken and Rice dry food formula successfully addresses these needs. It features animal protein as its number one ingredient, obtained from cage-free chicken meat.

Whole grain brown rice is another important component in this blend. Together with fruits and veggies abundant in minerals and vitamins, it takes care of all aspects of your pups general health and fitness. Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids result in healthy skin and coat. Probiotic cultures support easy and efficient digestion processes of vital nutrients.

This formula includes adequate levels of glucosamine and chondroitin, maintaining your large pal’s healthy and mobile joints. No artificial additives, as well as soy, corn, and filler are present in this blend.

Take no chances with your large breed furry friend and make sure he gets only the best kind of nutrition with this quality dry food formula.

Skin & Coat - Salmon & Potato Formula

First Five Ingredients:

  • Salmon
  • Fish Meal
  • Peas
  • Lentils
  • Potatoes

Wild-caught salmon, listed as the first ingredient in this quality formula, is a clear proof of its quality. You can feed it to pups regardless of how old they are, to support a lean body and strong muscles. At the same, canines with the over-sensitive skin can benefit greatly from this hypoallergenic formula.

Other quality ingredients included in Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat blend are whole-food veggies and fruits, some of which are blueberries, papaya, lentils, peas, and pumpkin. Every bite is packed with vitamins and minerals extremely important for proper nutrition.

This formula supports a healthy and functional gastrointestinal system of your pet dog, by adding healthy probiotic formulas.  To minimize the incidence of allergies, it rules out corn, fillers, and wheat, along with artificial flavors, and colors.

To sum up, Skin & Coat blend aims to provide well-rounded nutrition to your pup, taking particular care of his sensitivities.

Senior Dog - Chicken, Egg & Oatmeal formula

First Five Ingredients:

  • Whole Grain Brown Rice
  • Chicken
  • Chicken Meal
  • Peas
  • Egg

Your senior pet will be taken good care of if you provide him with this quality formula, specially designed for aged canines. Protein, the most important nutrient in their diet, comes from real chicken, to promote lean body and muscles.

Protein combines with carefully selected real fruits and vegetables, to address all aspects of your senior pet’s health. These supply minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, bolstering your pal’s immunity, metabolism, and elimination of toxic elements from the body.

Rich in Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids, this formula supports your pup’s healthy skin and coat. Probiotics added to the kibble support easy digestion in senior canines. It also excludes potential allergens such as corn, wheat, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.

Your senior age buddy can be happy and content, owing it to healthy nutrition in the form of the Diamond Naturals Senior formula.

Light Adult Dog - Lamb & Rice

First Five Ingredients:

  • Lamb Meal
  • Peas
  • Whole Grain Brown Rice
  • Cracked Pearled Barley
  • Oatmeal

If your pup is struggling to lose some weight, then you should consider Diamond Naturals Light Adult dog food formula. With a 15% lower caloric value, it is ideal for pups who need to get slimmer.

Protein in this blend comes from lamb meal and combines with quality fruit and vegetables to provide the best combination of nutrients. Antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins present in this food sustain proper body functions in your pal. Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids promote healthy skin and coat.

This recipe includes glucosamine, chondroitin, and L-carnitine, to help your pup reach desired body weight. Probiotics included in this blend ensure your furry friend’s digestive system health.

Reach the optimum weight and improve your pet’s overall health with this carefully designed good quality food blend.

Extreme Athlete - Chicken & Rice

First Five Ingredients:

  • Chicken Meal
  • Chicken
  • Cracked Pearled Barley
  • Chicken Fat
  • Ground White Rice

Highly active pups will find all the important nutrients in adequate amounts in Diamond Naturals Extreme Athletes dry dog food formula. In addition to protein obtained from cage-free chicken, it features superfoods, probiotics, fats, and fibers needed for the sound nutrition of hard-working canines.

This protein-rich formula will help your pup maintain a strong and muscular body. Its powerful antioxidant, vitamin and mineral formula takes care of all elements of your pal’s overall wellbeing.

Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids support the healthy skin and silky coat of your pet. Due to its probiotic culture, it will support healthy digestion and maximum usage of important nutrients. Glucosamine and chondroitin will keep your pup’s joints healthy and functional. By eliminating ingredients like corn, wheat, and artificial flavors, colors and preservatives, it reduces potential risks of allergies and sensitivities in dogs.

Hard working canines require a diet rich in quality protein and fat – this is what Extreme Athlete dry food formula is all about.

Image of beautiful canine and flowers

Why Buyers Love It

If you choose one of Diamond Naturals Dog Food formulas for your pup, you can expect to experience several benefits. This is what owners usually report as the brand’s strong points:

  • Ingredients used in these formulas come from reliable vendors and are tested for quality
  • Most products are savory and pets eat them gladly
  • Uses real animal protein
  • It uses fresh fruit and vegetables
  • Contains probiotic formulas to support digestion
  • Contains Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids
  • Uses no corn, wheat, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
  • Ensures high energy levels for active pups
  • It is reasonably priced
  • Addresses the needs of different life stages in canines

More great dog food brands you can find in our 10 Best Dog Food list.

Negative Feedback From Consumers

There have been a couple of buyers’ complaints, regarding the food products from this series. Here are some most commonly mentioned ones:

  • Some foods resulted in persistent vomiting in pups after switching from the previous formulas
  • Loose stool occurred in some pups after consuming certain products by this brand
  • The size of kibble may be too large for some pups
  • Feeding instructions should be thought through carefully, to avoid overfeeding and obesity
  • Transition to some foods from this manufacturer initially resulted in itchiness in some pups.

Nutrition Content Percentage

Protein

The content of protein of Diamond Naturals Beef and Rice formula amounts to a minimum of 25%. The largest proportion of it comes from the beef meal, which is the number one ingredient in this formula.

It should be noted that peas included in this blend also contribute a  certain amount of protein. This food provides optimal levels of this nutrient to meet the need of grown-up canines, maintaining their health and proper body weight.

Fat

Beef and Rice dog food formula contains a minimum of 15% of crude fat. The main source of this nutrient in this formula is chicken fat, a quality ingredient which is preserved with mixed Tocopherols. Fat is the most important source of energy, which supports an active adult pup in his day filled with activity.

Carbohydrates

Most adult dogs do not normally require high levels of carbs in their regular diet. For this reason, it is not advisable to include too much of this nutrient. Peas and white rice are the main sources of carbs in Beef and Rice formula, reaching 47% of all nutrients, which is close to average in canine foods in general.

Protein

25%

Fat

15%

Carbs

47%

Big image of Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice

Diamond Naturals Beef Meal and Rice Ingredients

Beef Meal

Beef meal is the primary source of protein in this food formula. It is packed with this nutrient, i.e. contains much higher levels of protein compared to the raw meat product. Meals are obtained through the process of raw ingredient rendering. It is considered to be a quality ingredient as long as the raw material used in its production are of high quality.

Chicken Fat

By including chicken fat in the ingredient list, the manufacturers of this food blend ensured sufficient levels of energy to sustain your pet’s activities and exercise on a daily basis. In addition, it serves as a substantial source of Omega & Fatty Acids, vital for several body functions. It is also obtained by over-cooking of chicken and separating the fat from the liquid.

Peas

Dog food manufacturers frequently add peas to dog food formulas. This is due to their contents of protein, carbs and high levels of fibers. They considerably improve the taste of food. However, pet parents should keep it in mind that the digestive system of a number of dogs may be oversensitive to this ingredient.  

Pea Flour

Roasted peas (usually yellow ones) are milled to produce the powder known as pea flour. You can often find it included in canine food formulas. Pea flour is rich in iron and calcium, featuring high contents of protein as well as fibers.

Dried Yeast

This ingredient is making its way more and more into the dog food industry. Dried Yeast features high amounts of amino acids. It is also rich in vitamin B and thus considered as a beneficial component in canine diets.

Egg Product

Eggs are common ingredients in canine food formulas. Egg products make use of egg whites and yolks, but their percentage in commercial foods varies considerably. They are easy to digest but can be of unspecified origin, which is something to beware of.

Ground White Rice

Rice is present in almost half of dry dog food formulas. It can be of different forms, and it can be a good replacement for wheat flour. Because it contains no gluten, it is safe for pups with this kind of sensitivity.

Rice Bran

Rice bran is produced by grinding the whole grain rice. It is a healthy ingredient, featuring several beneficial characteristics. It is rich in fiber and presents a good source of vitamins and minerals, protein, fat and starch.

Beet Pulp

Manufacturers obtain it after removing sugar from the dried residue of sugar beet. It is present in dry dog food formulas and is claimed to be rich in fibers, thus sustaining digestion. Yet, its definite impact on pups’ digestive functions is unclear.

Coconut

Coconut is known for its beneficial qualities and is often present in dry dog formulas. Some of its greatest pros include high levels of fibers and omega fatty acids. It helps your furry friend maintain healthy skin and soft, glossy coat. In senior dogs, it boosts cognitive functions considerably.

Chia Seed

This exceptionally rich nutrient has a number of advantages when included in the canine diet. It is abundant in Omega 3 Fatty acids, as well as fiber. Its role in maintaining stable levels of sugar and blood, ensuring adequate levels of energy.

Flaxseed

This ingredient contributes to high levels of good fats, i.e. Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids. It also has high contents of protein. It is usually present in the form of oil, made by grinding and pressing flaxseeds.

Quinoa

This gluten-free ingredient is packed with good components such as protein, vitamin B and E, as well as fibers. Several minerals such as magnesium, iron, calcium, and potassium are also present in quinoa. Some pups may have difficulty digesting it, though.

Chicory Root

Chicory root is a safe ingredient in canine diets, providing a natural source of fibers, supporting healthy digestion. Ith its prebiotic and probiotic features it helps the growth of useful bacteria in a pup’s intestinal system.

Minerals

Minerals included in the formula perform several significant functions. They bolster the immune system of pups, enhance the exchange of elements through metabolic processes. They also help in eliminating toxic material from the body, due to their antioxidant features. In quality food formulas, they are bound to proteins, for the more efficient absorption.  

What Dogs Are Diamond Naturals Suited For?

A wide choice of versatile products from the Diamond Naturals dry dog food formulas implies that the food products of this brand cater to a number of different nutrition needs.

  • A couple of these formulas are designed to supply the necessary nutrients to active, adult pups, maintaining their good health and fitness.
  • Senior formulas aim to provide quality nutrition to aging pups, maintaining their lean muscle, joint, brain and heart functions.
  • Pups with sensitivities will benefit most from hypoallergenic mixtures, which will minimize the occurrence of allergies in canines.
  • Formulas with limited calorie density are ideal for pups struggling with excessive pounds, as they promote a healthy weight and help overweight pups get slimmer.
  • Athletic dogs with high energy needs will thrive on the high-energy formulas, made especially for hyperactive pooches.

In a nutshell, with Diamond Naturals dog foods, pet parents can choose from several different options to meet the needs of their pups of all life stages.

Diamond Dog Food Recall History

There have been a couple of cases in which Diamond Naturals dog food was removed from store shelves. These followed after the presence of bacteria was shown during the testing procedures.

  • May 2012 – Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula, with Production Code #DSL0801. The potential risk for salmonella was again the reason for the recalling of this product.
  • May 2012 – This was the expansion of the previous recall. It  encompassed products made in Gaston facility, South California
  • April 2012 – Diamond Naturals Lamb and Rice – recalled because of potential contamination with salmonella

Conclusion

Making a definite decision on your canine’s diet is far from being easy. It requires careful consideration of several key factors individual for every single pup. Different life stages, activity levels, breeds and dogs with special needs will call for specifically designed nutrition plans.

Diamond Naturals Dry Dog Food products are the result of long tradition and experience, advanced technology and overall desire to provide pets with the best of nutrition. Their strong points definitely are healthy and reliable ingredients, combined to provide the maximum effect. Average levels of vital nutrients make it a good choice for your pet dog.

Despite some negative feedback which may potentially be the result of the specific needs of individual dogs, we believe this food brand deserves a chance to prove its quality and help your beloved furry friend thrive.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. I use Diamond naturals chicken and rice and extreme athlete i have tried a couple different brands that were supposed to be more premium food but after spending more money my dogs didnt carry much for those high priced and they did much better on diamond we are sold on diamond love it all 7 and rescues love it pups do well and working dogs do great

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