Diamond Pet Foods is one of the largest pet food manufacturers in the world, producing dog and cat foods under multiple brand names including Diamond Naturals. Their Diamond Naturals line aims to provide premium natural nutrition at an affordable price point.
But how does Diamond Naturals stack up against competitor brands? This comprehensive review will analyze Diamond Natural’s key features, ingredients, and product line to help you determine if it’s the right choice for your dog.
An Overview of Diamond Pet Foods
Diamond Pet Foods was founded in 1970 in Meta, Missouri. They produce pet foods for dogs, cats, and other animals which are sold under multiple brand names:
- Diamond Naturals – Their premium natural line of dog and cat foods.
- Diamond – Their standard line of affordable dog and cat foods.
- Taste of the Wild – A premium grain-free dog and cat food line.
- Kirkland – Diamond produces dog and cat food for Costco’s Kirkland brand.
Diamond operates four manufacturing facilities in the U.S and has plants in China, Thailand, and Australia as well. They produce over 17 million pounds of dog and cat food per week.
Diamond faced some serious recalls in recent years due to potential salmonella contamination at their facilities. However, food safety protocols have since been upgraded.
Key highlights about Diamond Pet Foods:
- Family owned company since 1970
- Produces pet food for brands sold globally
- 4 manufacturing facilities in the U.S
- History of recalls but have upgraded facilities and protocols
- Affordable pricing for premium natural ingredients
Next, let’s take a close look at the key features and product lines within the Diamond Naturals brand of dog food.
Diamond Naturals Dog Food: At a Glance
Diamond Naturals aims to provide premium quality natural nutrition without the premium price tag. Here are some quick facts about their dog food line:
- Made in the U.S – All Diamond Naturals formulas are made in company-owned facilities in the U.S.
- No corn, wheat, filler – Formulas are free from corn, wheat, and filler ingredients like soy and by-products.
- Affordable pricing – Designed to provide quality at a lower cost than competitors.
- Natural ingredients – Features real meat as the first ingredient and natural ingredients overall.
- Variety of lines – Specialized formulas for puppies, small breeds, skin/coat health, etc.
- Dry kibble and canned – Available in standard kibble formulas but also canned/wet foods.
- Veterinarian approved – Formulas are developed with veterinary guidance and approval.
In summary, the Diamond Naturals brand aims to provide premium natural nutrition without premium pricing. Key features include made in the U.S.A, no filler ingredients, real meat first, and specialized formulas.
Next let’s analyze the key ingredients and nutritional quality of Diamond Naturals dog food.
Analyzing Diamond Naturals Dog Food Ingredients
The key to a high quality dog food is high quality ingredients. Let’s take a close look at what goes into Diamond Naturals formulas:
Protein Sources
- Real meat, poultry, or fish is always the first ingredient. Sources include beef, lamb, salmon, chicken, turkey, etc. No by-product meals.
- High quality grain-free proteins like venison and bison are also used in specialty formulas.
- Eggs are included as a highly digestible protein source.
Fruits and Vegetables
- Fresh fruits and veggies like blueberries, spinach, kale, squash, and papaya provide antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
- Dried fruits and veggies like potatoes, peas, and apples serve as nutrient-rich carbohydrates.
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Healthy Grains
- Some formulas include whole grain brown rice, oatmeal, and quinoa for fiber and nutrients.
- No corn, wheat, soy, or filler grains. Only quality whole grains are used.
Oils and Fats
- Chicken fat naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols is a concentrated energy source.
- Omega fatty acids from salmon oil, flaxseed, and other oils support skin/coat health.
Vitamins and Minerals
- Formulated with a precise vitamin and mineral blend for complete daily nutrition.
- No artificial vitamin sprays used after cooking.
Overall, Diamond Naturals features quality natural ingredients with excellent protein sources as the foundation of each formula. Fruits, veggies, oils, and vitamins provide balanced natural nutrition.
Next let’s overview the different product lines and formulas within the brand.
Diamond Naturals Product Lines for Dogs
Diamond Naturals offers an array of tailored formulas for puppies, adults, senior dogs, small breeds, skin/coat health, and more. Here is an overview of their product lines:
Diamond Naturals Standard Formulas for Adult Dogs
- Diamond Naturals Beef & Rice Formula – Features beef meal as the first ingredient along with brown rice, fruits, and veggies.
- Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice Formula – Lamb meal is the first ingredient along with fiber-rich whole grain brown rice.
- Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice Formula – Made with cage-free chicken as the first ingredient and nutrient-rich superfoods.
- Diamond Naturals Whitefish & Sweet Potato Formula – Grain-free with whitefish meal first and sweet potatoes.
Key features: Quality proteins like beef, lamb, chicken. Whole grains like brown rice. Natural fruits/veggies. Affordable pricing.
Diamond Naturals Puppy Formulas
- Diamond Naturals Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula – Small kibble size with chicken meal first. DHA for brain development.
- Diamond Naturals Puppy Lamb & Rice Formula – Lamb meal first with brown rice. Formulated for puppy growth.
- Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy – Larger kibble size perfect for big puppies. With glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.
Key features: Small or large kibble sizes. Tailored nutrition for puppy growth and development. Affordably priced.
Diamond Naturals Formulas for Senior Dogs
- Diamond Naturals Senior Chicken & Rice – Chicken meal first. Glucosamine boosts joints. Antioxidants for immunity.
- Diamond Naturals Senior Lamb Meal & Rice – Lamb protein for muscle support. Probiotics and fiber for digestion. Lower calories.
Key features: Formulated for senior nutritional needs. Glucosamine and probiotics. Lower calories. Affordable pricing.
Diamond Naturals Small Breed Formulas
- Diamond Naturals Small Breed Chicken & Rice – Small kibble for little mouths. Chicken first. DHA for brain development.
- Diamond Naturals Small Breed Lamb & Rice – Small kibble perfect for petite dogs. With lamb meal and brown rice.
Key features: Tailored nutrition in a small kibble size. Quality proteins like chicken and lamb meal. Affordable pricing.
Diamond Naturals Specialized Formulas
- Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete – 30% protein and 20% fat for performance dogs. With 60+ superfoods.
- Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula – For sensitive stomachs. Limited ingredients including prebiotic fiber.
- Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Real Salmon & Potato – Omega fatty acids from salmon oil support skin and coat health. Grain-free.
Key features: Formulated to address specific needs like digestion, allergies, skin/coat health. Limited ingredients or extra protein.
This covers the main dry kibble formulas under the Diamond Naturals brand. Next let’s look at their canned/wet food options.
Diamond Naturals Canned Dog Foods
In addition to kibble, Diamond offers a line of canned wet dog foods:
- Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice Formula – Shredded lamb in gravy. Brown rice. Carrots, squash, blueberries.
- Diamond Naturals Beef & Rice Formula – Shredded beef in gravy. With brown rice, peas, and papaya.
- Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice Formula – Shredded chicken in a chicken broth. With butternut squash and cranberries.
- Diamond Naturals Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula – Shredded chicken and broth tailored for puppies.
Key features: Quality shredded proteins like lamb, beef, and chicken. Whole grain brown rice. Fruits and veggies. Affordable pricing.
The canned food provides an affordable way to supplement kibble or feed a 100% wet food diet. It offers the same natural ingredients in a convenient canned form.
Now that we’ve covered an overview of Diamond Naturals’ key features, ingredients, and product line, let’s analyze the pros and cons of this dog food brand.
Diamond Naturals Dog Food: The Pros and Cons
Here is an overview of the main advantages and disadvantages associated with Diamond Natural dog foods:
The Pros:
- Quality natural ingredients featuring real meat, fish, or poultry as first ingredient
- No corn, wheat, soy, by-products, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
- Formulated with probiotics, omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine etc.
- Tailored formulas for puppies, seniors, small breeds, skin health, digestion etc.
- Produced at company-owned facilities in the U.S.A.
- Very affordable pricing for premium natural nutrition
- All life stages approval from veterinary nutritionists
Potential Cons:
- History of recalls due to potential salmonella issues at manufacturing plants
- Some dogs may have sensitivity to ingredients like chicken fat or eggs
- Only a moderate amount of high quality proteins vs competitors
- Lack variety of exotic proteins like duck, venison, boar etc.
- Some formulas contain peas, potatoes, and tomato pomace
Overall, Diamond Naturals offers very high quality natural nutrition at prices competitors can’t beat. However, they’ve had past recall issues, use some lower quality plant proteins, and lack exotic protein offerings.
Next, let’s dive into some frequently asked questions about Diamond Naturals dog food.
Diamond Naturals Dog Food: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about this brand of dog food:
Is Diamond Naturals a good quality dog food?
Yes, Diamond Naturals is considered a good quality food featuring premium natural ingredients and meeting AAFCO nutritional standards. Their formulas are veterinarian approved and avoid artificial additives.
Is Diamond Naturals human-grade dog food?
No, Diamond Naturals is not considered a human-grade dog food. However, they use high quality animal and plant ingredients that are fit for human consumption.
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Is Diamond Naturals grain-free?
Diamond offers both grain-inclusive and grain-free formulas. Their grain-free lines include Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete and their Whitefish & Sweet Potato recipe.
Is Diamond Naturals made in the USA?
Yes, all Diamond Naturals formulas are made in company-owned manufacturing facilities in the USA. Diamond has plants located in California, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Missouri.
Does Diamond Naturals contain lead?
Diamond had some concerns with potential lead contamination back in 2005. However, they’ve upgraded all food safety procedures and current formulas meet stringent quality and purity standards with no lead.
Is Diamond Naturals dog food recalled?
Diamond did experience some voluntary recalls in recent years tied to potential salmonella at their plants. But they’ve revamped protocols and no Diamond Naturals formulas are part of current recalls.
Is Diamond Naturals better than Purina?
Diamond Naturals and Purina both offer quality recipes. Diamond provides comparable quality at lower price points. But Purina has more specialized formulas for needs like weight loss or sensitive stomachs.
This covers some of the most frequently asked questions. Next let’s provide a final recommendation on Diamond Natural’s dog food.
Diamond Naturals: Final Verdict
At the end of the day, Diamond Naturals offers very high quality dog food at extremely affordable prices. With their focus on premium American-made ingredients, veterinarian-approved recipes, and avoiding corn/wheat/soy, they provide great nutritional value.
While past recalls and average protein percentages are small drawbacks, the quality is still extremely impressive for the price. For dog owners seeking budget-friendly but nutritious kibble or wet food, Diamond Naturals is definitely worth trying for your pup!
