Diamond Naturals Dog Food Review 2024

Diamond Naturals dog food  is Diamond’s premium brand. In this range you’ll find dry dog food with grain-free options as well as canned food. Recipes are made with holistic ingredients and free of fillers and artificial preservatives. They state that they only make products they would be proud to feed their own dogs.  

Alongside Diamond Naturals is Diamond, which is the original range, Diamond CARE, which has been developed by veterinarians for specific conditions, and Diamond Pro89, which is for dogs that need high protein. 

Read on for our Diamond Naturals dog food review to find out what we really like about it and what you should be aware of before feeding it to your pup. Is Diamond Naturals a good dog food? Let’s find out.

The Diamond Naturals range includes both dry and canned food. There are recipes formulated for dogs of all sizes and ages, as well as for specific needs. 

Diamond Naturals Dry Food

Many of the recipes have real meat as the first or second ingredient. We’d prefer it if real meat was the first ingredient in all of the food. However, most recipes that use meat meal don’t feature real meat at all, so we like that it’s often at least the second ingredient when it isn’t the first. 

Alongside the protein, these recipes include fruits, vegetables and superfoods such as chia seeds. They’re also enhanced with K9 Strain Probiotics, which supports healthy digestion and immune system health. 

The adult formulas feature glucosamine and chondroitin for joint and cartilage support while salmon oil is added to the puppy formulas to provide DHA which is needed for both brain and vision development. 

The dry food options include: 

• Adult Dog Beef Meal & Rice Formula 
• Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula 
• All Life Stages Dog Chicken & Rice Formula 
• Extreme Athlete Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula 
• Large Breed Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula 
• Large Breed Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula 
• Large Breed Puppy Lamb & Rice Formula 
• Light Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula 
• Senior Dog Chicken, Egg & Oatmeal Formula 
• Small Breed Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula 
• Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula 
• Small & Medium Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula 
• Skin & Coat All Life Stages Dog Salmon & Potato Formula 
  
• Grain-Free Pasture-Raised Beef & Sweet Potato
• Grain-Free Cage-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato
• Grain-Free Wild-Caught Whitefish & Sweet Potato

Diamond Naturals Canned food: 

Real meat is the first ingredient in this canned food. Alongside this are vitamins, minerals and antioxidants from fruit, vegetables and superfoods including cranberries and blueberries. 

There’s no corn, wheat, fillers or artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. The wet food can be fed on its own or used as a topper for the dry food. 

There are three flavors to choose from:

• Beef Dinner for Adult Dogs & Puppies
• Chicken Dinner for Adult Dogs & Puppies
• Lamb Dinner for Adult Dogs

Diamond Naturals Grain-Free

Whether your dog has a grain allergy or there’s another reason they require a grain-free diet, this is ideal for those with food sensitivities. 

The first ingredient is real beef, chicken and fish. The recipes also feature real fruits and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, kale, blueberries, with the complex carbohydrates providing energy. 

These easy digestible recipes also include omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support  healthy skin and coat.

Flavors include:

• Pasture-Raised Beef & Sweet Potato
• Cage-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato
• Wild-Caught Whitefish & Sweet Potato

Here’s what we like about this dog food and what we think you — and your dog — will like about it too. 

Made with real meat 

Real meat is the first ingredient in a number of the recipes. The Extreme Athlete Adult Dog, for example, is made with cage-free chicken and 91% of the protein comes from the chicken as well as egg. However, chicken meal is the first ingredient and chicken is the second ingredient. 

All Life Stages Dog, on the other hand, is the opposite way around with chicken as the first ingredient and chicken meal as the second. Real meat and fish is the first ingredient in all the grain-free options and the canned food. 

Quality pet food at an affordable price

This may be Diamond's premium brand but their philosophy has always been to provide high-quality food at an affordable price and this is no different. It may not be the cheapest food on the market but it definitely won’t break the bank. 

There is a wide range to choose from 

There is plenty to choose from in the Diamond Naturals range. Firstly you have the option of grain-inclusive or grain-free. There is dry food as well as wet food. Then you have a number of tasty flavors including chicken, beef and lamb. Plus, there are recipes formulated for puppies and seniors as well as small or large breeds.  

There are a few things you should be aware of and consider before deciding if Diamond Naturals is the right food for your dog. 

It has been recalled 

Diamond Naturals has been recalled. While this was back in 2012 it was due to contamination with salmonella and did result in a lawsuit. However, on their website Diamond says that they adhere to stringent food safety protocols. They monitor and test at every stage from the raw materials to the finished product. Advancements in science and technology have enabled them to develop a comprehensive food safety system. 

It has caused stomach upset for some dogs

Pet parents have said that this food has caused their dogs to have stomach issues such as diarrhea. Many of them stated that this seems to be a new issue as their dog has previously eaten it with no problem and so potentially there has been a change to some of the recipes.

Some picky eaters don’t like it 

Some pet parents say they have picky eaters that have turned their nose up at Diamond Naturals. There are plenty of flavors to choose from, though and you can always mix and match with the wet food to see if they prefer that. 

“I recently had to change my Shepherds kibble because of a recall on the kibble (I have) had them on for the past 4 years. I have 5 German Shepherds ranging in ages from 7 years old to 10 months and have always fed them an All Life Stages Kibble. We free feed our Shepherds. I decided to purchase Diamond Naturals Chicken and Rice Formula.

I especially like the fact that there is no Corn, Wheat or Soy in this kibble, and that there is whole grains like Chia Seeds, Quinoa, and fruits and vegetables like Blueberries and Kale. The Shepherds had no gastrointestinal problems with the transition to the new kibble. I will continue to feed my pack Diamond Naturals from now on, they love it!”

“My 8 yr old Springer needed to get put on a lower fat dog food compared to her previous food for certain health issues & she's officially hit "senior" age. After a ton of researching, I decided to try the Diamond (Naturals) for Seniors because I liked the ingredients & the price point.

I was a little hesitant at first, my Springer is a very picky eater and snubs 90% of the food & treats you put in front of her. I slowly introduced her to this food and she LOVED it. She's been on it now for 3-4 weeks, and we have had zero issues. No upset belly, no vomiting and she chows it down. We will definitely continue to feed her this food throughout her senior years!”

Check out more Diamond Naturals dog food reviews on Chewy.

Diamond Pet Foods dates back to 1970 when it was founded by brothers-in-law Gary Schell and Richard Kampeter. 

They first purchased an old milling plant in Meta, Missouri. This was later updated with state-of-the-art equipment and, over time, the company acquired further plants including two in California. 

Today, Diamond is owned by the second generation of the Schell and Kampeter families.

Alongside the Diamond Naturals range is Diamond, Diamond CARE and Diamond Pro89. 

Diamond Pet Foods also owns brands including Taste of the Wild. 

Diamond Naturals was recalled in 2012. The first voluntary recall was in April for Diamond Naturals Lamb and Rice  dry dog food due to possible contamination with salmonella bacteria. 

Food tested positive and so throughout April and May the recall was expanded a further four times. More of its products were added including Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb and Rice Formula.

These products were distributed to states across the USA. 

The contaminated food caused both pets and people to become sick and resulted in a consumer class-action lawsuit. Among the alleged claims were state law violations, unjust enrichment and negligence. It was settled for $2 million. 

Product images sourced from the Chewy and Diamond websites. Copyright SCHELL & KAMPETER, INC.