Diamond Naturals Dog Food Review: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary

Introduction

Diamond Naturals dog food is a variety of above-average quality recipes by the Diamond pet products company. It’s marketed as a high-quality product with a considerably lower price tag than most premium or popular name brand foods. Diamond Naturals Dog Food has a wide range of different recipes to choose from, including limited ingredients and grain-free diets. Find out if Diamond Naturals is a good option for your dog:

At a Glance: The Best Diamond Naturals Dog Food Recipes:

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Our favorite		Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult	Made with lamb meal Added powerful antioxidants Designed for large breed dogs	Check Latest Price
		Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult	Chicken is the first ingredient Fortified for small breed dogs No fillers like corn wheat or soy	Check Latest Price
		Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy	Highly digestible recipe Made for large breed puppies No colors or preservatives added	Check Latest Price
		Diamond Naturals Light Formula	Nutrient-rich Real lamb protein Made for overweight dogs	Check Latest Price
		Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula	Grain-free kibble Made with wild-caught salmon Complete and balanced nutrition	Check Latest Price

Diamond Naturals Dog Food Reviewed

About Diamond Pet Foods

Diamond Naturals is one collection of recipes from the large line of products by the Diamond Pet Foods company. Started in the 1970s, Diamond Pet Foods is a family-owned company in the U.S. that manufactures its own products. They have numerous security and testing measures to ensure the quality of their ingredients, but they have had faced some recalls and lawsuits regardless of the stringent standards they’ve placed. However, Diamond Pet Foods has been around for 50 years, so their recipes, ingredient standards, and safety measures have improved since.

Which Types of Dogs is Diamond Naturals Best Suited For?

Diamond Naturals dog food is best for budget dog owners looking for dog food that is above-average in quality. Although it’s not the best of the best, it’s one of the better options available. In other words: Diamond Naturals is a good food choice if you don’t want to sacrifice quality for value.

Which Types of Dogs Might Do Better with a Different Brand?

If you’re looking for quality over all other standards, we recommend trying Nutro Wholesome Essentials for better quality and higher nutrition content. If you’re not looking to spend a lot, another possible brand to try is the Rachael Ray Nutrish line of dog food.

Diamond Naturals Dog Food Recall History

Since Diamond Pet Foods has been around since the 1970s, it has had a few recalls. Two recalls occurred in the same month for possible salmonella contamination, as well as one case in the previous month. Thankfully, the last known recall was in 2013, so it has been a significant length of time since the last recall was issued.

2013

• March – FDA recalled select bags of kitten food due to low levels of thiamine.

2012

• May – FDA recalled select bags of small breed dry dog food due to possible salmonella contamination.
• May – FDA sent out a massive recall of all Diamond Pet Foods for possible salmonella
• April – FDA recalled select bags of Naturals and Puppy dry dog food for possible salmonella contamination

2005

• December – The FDA recalled several bags of Diamond dry dog food for possible aflatoxin present in the food.

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Discussion of the Primary Ingredients

1. Whole Meat: Great

In most of the Diamond Naturals dog food recipes, the first or second ingredient is whole meat. The exception is with the Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food, which only uses lamb meal.

Whole meats are vital for quality dog food and proper protein intake. Although whole meats lose up to 70% of their weight while being processed, it’s an ingredient that still should not be skipped. Whole meats are a natural part of a dog’s diet and should be listed as one of the top five ingredients.

 2. Meat Meals: Great

Diamond Naturals lists poultry, fish, and other meat meals as one of their primary ingredients. This is a great sign because meat meals are nutrient-rich in protein without losing its size during processing and cooking. Meat meals are not the same as by-products and only contain the clean, necessary parts of the animal. By-products should be avoided if possible since they’re mainly used as fillers to cut costs.

 3. Rice: Good

Rice is one of their popular sources of carbohydrates. As a grain, it may not be ideal for your grain-free dog. However, most dogs don’t have grain or rice allergies. Rice can be an excellent source of carbs and protein, so we always look for rice and other healthy grains in dog food. Always test out new food in small doses and with the advice of a veterinarian in case of a potential allergy.

 4. Potatoes, Lentils, and Peas: Potential Issue

Grain-free diets usually rely on potatoes, lentils, and peas as forms of grain-free carbohydrates. While this may work for a small percentage of dogs that are allergic to grains, the FDA recently sent out a mass recall of all grain-free dog foods. The reason is due to a link of heart conditions and grain-free diets that use potatoes, lentils, and peas in their recipes. While the studies are still a bit unclear, it’s essential to talk to your dog’s vet to see what your options are.

Reviews of the 2 Best Diamond Naturals Dog Food Recipes

1. Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food is decent quality dry dog kibble. It’s designed and fortified specifically for large breed dogs to get the necessary vitamins and minerals for their size. It’s made with lamb meal as the first ingredient, which is a protein-rich ingredient with additional health benefits. Diamond Naturals is also on the affordable side of the dog food market, so you’ll be able to stay below your monthly budget if you switch to this food. However, there is no whole lamb meat listed, which is essential for dogs to have in their food. All in all, this is one of the best Diamond Naturals Dog foods they produce.

Ingredient Breakdown:

2. Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Chicken and Rice Formula Dry Dog Food is an above-average quality dry dog food made for small and toy adult dogs. It’s made with chicken as the first ingredient, which is a good sign when looking at dog food ingredients. It’s not made with filler ingredients like other subpar brands, which rely on corn, soy, and wheat products to cut costs. It’s also fortified for small breeds, which have different dietary requirements than their larger cousins. However, chicken is a potential allergen, so it may not be a suitable option if your dog has food allergies.

Guaranteed Analysis:

What Other Users Are Saying

Diamond Pet Foods has been around long enough to be tested and reviewed by hundreds of customers and professionals. Here’s what everyone is saying about Diamond Pet Foods:

• HerePup – “The overall quality of ingredients appears to be above average…”
• Dog Food Guru – “Most Diamond foods provide good nutrition at a reasonable cost…”
• Amazon – As pet owners, we always double-check with Amazon reviews from buyers before we buy something. You can read these by clicking here.

Conclusion

Diamond Naturals dog food is a good option for dog owners who want more out of their value dog food, without the fillers that come along with it. Although the company has had multiple salmonella contamination scares, the company has always gone through great lengths to fix any issues. If you’re looking for dog food with better-than-average quality, Diamond Naturals should be on your list.

Featured Image Credit: Diamond Naturals