Diamond Naturals Dog Food Reviews, Ratings, Recalls!
About The Company
Diamond Naturals dog food is made by Diamond Pet Foods, owned by US giant Schell and Kampeter. Diamond pet food started in 1970 with a mission to provide good quality pet food at an affordable price. Their brands in include Diamond, Diamond Naturals and Diamond Naturals grain free.
Brothers-in-law Gary Schell and Richard Kampeter set out to produce a premium pet food at an affordable price. They purchased a former milling company in the town of Meta, Missouri and the Diamond company was established.
The company is still based in Meta with plants in Missouri, Lathrop, California and Gaston, South Carolina. The company remains a family-owned, privately held business run by the Schell and Kampeter family.
Dry Food
Canned Food
Rating
Due to the use of quality ingredients with the inclusion of super-foods, anti-oxidants, omega acids and real meat protein. The absence of corn, wheat and soy is also a sign of a quality product and so I am awarding this pet food.
Diamond Naturals Dog Food Reviews
Diamond Naturals claims to provide complete holistic nutrition for every pet. Historically they just sold dry food but have now expanded their product line to include wet food and treats.
They claim to be a Holistic brand of dog food and have a higher price tag than normal dog foods, so what does this mean and what benefits will you see in your dog?
Holistic pet foods claim to use only natural ingredients that can be traced back to the source and do not use cheap fillers, chemicals or by-products. Dog owners will attest that this has a number of benefits including; shinier coats, increased energy, better overall health and wait for the best one; less and more solid doggy poop!
Cheaper dog food brands are often labelled as “meat flavor” or a “chicken dinner,” but this does not require them to contain a high meat content, not only that but the meat source is also unclear and might contain any type of animal or byproduct from road-kill or even, and this is horrific, euthanized pets!
You can immediately see why holistic pet foods might have some dog lovers digging deeper into their wallets.
Pros
- Use of holistic nutrition free from wheat, soy and corn which are considered to have little nutritional value for the dog.
- Inclusion of superfoods such as kale, chia seeds, pumpkin and blueberries which are a source of key nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and proteins.
- Use of pro-biotics in their food which aids digestion and helps keep a healthy immune system.
- Use of real chicken beef and lamb protein enhances the taste for you dog and is nutritionally beneficial.
- The inclusion of chelated minerals which are normally included in better dog foods which make the food easier to absorb.
- Good ingredients are more easily absorbed by the dog which leads to fewer trips to the yard with your pooper scooper and less smelly feces.
- It is competitively priced when compared to other health food brands of dog food. A 30 lb bag of Natural Choice is $52.99 whereas a 40lb bag of Diamond Naturals is between $46.99 and $57.74
Cons
- The inclusion of high protein sources in the ingredient list could mean that the meat content is not as high as you would expect.
- The company producing the food Diamond Pet Foods does not have the best reputation as it has had several recalls due to salmonella contamination.
- The Diamond Naturals range is more expensive than normal dog food. I can buy a 40Lb bag of chicken and rice formula dog food listed price for 49.19 (although Chewy.com were offering a discount to $36.99) whereas a 55lb bag of pedigree chum adult roast chicken flavor is $42.99
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Diamond Naturals Dog Food Ingredients
Based On Lamb Meal And Rice Formula For Adult Dogs
The website claims that Lamb protein and moderate levels of fat help support ideal body condition while providing the nutrients your dog needs to stay active day after day. My ingredient check will analyze if this is true.
Lamb Meal = I would prefer a recipe to contain actual lamb however lamb meal does provide 300% more protein to a dog than actual meat.
Ground Rice = This is another name for rice flour and provides carbohydrates that are digested slowly and gives the dog a feeling of fullness after the meal. Most dogs are tolerant to rice and so there are no issues here.
Cracked Pearl Barley And Millett = These are another slow releasing source of carbs which supplies fiber but has a limited nutritional value to the dog.
Chicken Fat = Chicken fat is obtained from boiling chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid. It is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid and is a quality ingredient.
Peas = Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in fiber.
Egg Product = This is a bit vague as sometimes it can come from un-hatched eggs, but in general, eggs are a good source of protein and easily digestible for the dogs so can be considered a good ingredient.
The overall quality of ingredients appears to be above average and the included carbohydrates come from the less common grains which might be beneficial if your dog has a problem with allergies.
There is a lot of rice in the food, which as a Lamb and Rice formula, means it does what it says on the tin! I would say therefore it only has a moderate meat content which may put off some dog owners.
Diamond Naturals Dog Food Recalls
The Diamond Naturals line of foods was involved in the April/May 2012 recalls due to Salmonella concerns. I can find no recalls in the last 2 years.
Final Thoughts
All Diamond Naturals Dog Food Reviews I have read are positive. All their products are perfectly legal and monitored by the FDA and by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Operatives) who oversee pet food labeling. The only negative I have found is the recalls for Salmonella.
Unfortunately, there is a higher risk of contamination when natural ingredients are used than if you buy a mass produced lesser quality food. Diamond, however, now claim they have fixed the issues they had and you may want to consider that the very small risk of your dog contracting salmonella, is less of a risk than you pose by giving your dog a bad diet?
