Diamond Naturals is mostly kibble: 16 of its 19 recipes are dry food, and 13 of those contain grain, with rice, cracked pearled barley and grain sorghum near the top of the ingredient lists. Egg appears in 11 kibbles, chicken in 7, and lamb and fish in 6 each. Three canned dinners round out the line.
Kibble protein runs from 18% in the Light formula to 32% in Extreme Athlete and the Small & Medium Breed Puppy recipe, and estimated starch spans 23% to 52%. The kibble average of 25.1% protein sits below the catalog kibble average of 26.9%, while average estimated starch is 40% against 37.4%. The wet recipes average 9.2% protein, above the 8.3% catalog wet average. All figures are as fed.
The trade-off is that most kibbles lean on grains, which keeps average starch above the catalog figure. Only the three Grain-Free recipes skip grain, and they plus Skin & Coat Salmon & Potato are the four kibbles with peas and lentils. Owners who want a high protein, lower starch option have two choices: Extreme Athlete and the Small & Medium Breed Puppy formula.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme Athlete Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula | 32% | 25% | 23% | 466 | Chicken meal, chicken, white rice |
| Small & Medium Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula | 32% | 22% | 26.5% | 453 | Chicken, chicken meal, white rice |
| Large Breed Puppy Lamb & Rice Formula | 27% | 15% | 38.5% | 414 | Lamb, lamb meal, whole grain brown rice |
| Small Breed Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula | 27% | 16% | 38% | 418 | Chicken, chicken meal, cracked pearled barley |
| All Life Stages Dog Chicken & Rice Formula | 26% | 16% | 39.5% | 421 | Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice |
| Adult Dog Beef Meal & Rice Formula | 25% | 15% | 40.5% | 399 | Beef meal, grain sorghum, white rice |
| Senior Dog Chicken, Egg & Oatmeal Formula | 25% | 11% | 45% | 347 | Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice |
| Skin & Coat Formula All Life Stages Salmon & Potato Formula | 25% | 14% | 39.5% | 408 | Salmon, fish meal, potatoes |
| Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula | 25% | 15% | 41% | 414 | Lamb, lamb meal, white rice |
| Grain-Free Pasture-Raised Beef & Sweet Potato Formula | 24% | 14% | 41% | 406 | Beef, lamb meal, sweet potatoes |
| Grain-Free Cage-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Formula | 24% | 14% | 41% | 406 | Chicken, chicken meal, sweet potatoes |
| Grain-Free Wild-Caught Whitefish & Sweet Potato Formula | 24% | 14% | 41% | 406 | Whitefish, fish meal, sweet potatoes |
| Large Breed Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula | 23% | 13% | 44.5% | 397 | Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice |
| Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula | 23% | 14% | 43% | 403 | Lamb meal, white rice, cracked pearled barley |
| Large Breed Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula | 22% | 12% | 46% | 350 | Lamb meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley |
| Light Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula | 18% | 6% | 52% | 310 | Lamb meal, whole grain brown rice, oatmeal |
| Line average | 25.1% | 14.8% | 40% | 401 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
32% protein · 25% fat · 23% starch · 466 kcal/cup · Adult
Extreme Athlete has the most fat (25%), most calories (466 kcal per cup) and least estimated starch (23%) in the line, with 32% protein. Made for active adults, it lists chicken meal first and chicken fat fourth.
Full review of Extreme Athlete Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula32% protein · 22% fat · 26.5% starch · 453 kcal/cup · Puppy
The small and medium breed puppy kibble ties Extreme Athlete for the most protein at 32%, with 22% fat and 26.5% estimated starch. Chicken fat is the fourth ingredient, and it suits growing puppies of smaller breeds needing 453 kcal per cup.
Full review of Small & Medium Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula27% protein · 15% fat · 38.5% starch · 414 kcal/cup · Puppy
The only large breed puppy recipe, it starts with lamb and lamb meal and also contains egg and fish. At 27% protein, 15% fat and 38.5% estimated starch, it suits growing large breed puppies on a lamb diet.
Full review of Large Breed Puppy Lamb & Rice Formula27% protein · 16% fat · 38% starch · 418 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold for small breed adults, this chicken kibble lists barley ahead of white rice and grain sorghum. With 27% protein, 16% fat and 38% estimated starch at 418 kcal per cup, it suits small adults that do well on chicken.
Full review of Small Breed Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula26% protein · 16% fat · 39.5% starch · 421 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
This all life stages chicken kibble has the lowest fiber in the line at 2.5%, with 26% protein, 16% fat and 421 kcal per cup. It suits multi dog homes wanting one grain-inclusive chicken bag for puppies and adults.
Full review of All Life Stages Dog Chicken & Rice Formula25% protein · 15% fat · 40.5% starch · 399 kcal/cup · Adult
This is the only grain-inclusive kibble led by beef meal, followed by grain sorghum, white rice and dried yeast. With 25% protein, 15% fat and 40.5% estimated starch, it suits adult dogs whose owners want beef with grains.
Full review of Adult Dog Beef Meal & Rice Formula25% protein · 11% fat · 45% starch · 347 kcal/cup · Senior
The only senior recipe pairs chicken and chicken meal with brown rice and barley at 25% protein and 11% fat. At 347 kcal per cup with 45% estimated starch, it suits older dogs whose owners want a lower fat chicken kibble.
Full review of Senior Dog Chicken, Egg & Oatmeal Formula25% protein · 14% fat · 39.5% starch · 408 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Skin & Coat is the only grain-inclusive kibble with peas and lentils, opening with salmon, fish meal, potatoes, lentils and peas. Fish is its only animal protein, and it is labeled for all life stages at 25% protein and 5.5% fiber.
Full review of Skin & Coat Formula All Life Stages Salmon & Potato Formula25% protein · 15% fat · 41% starch · 414 kcal/cup · Adult
The small breed lamb kibble leads with lamb and lamb meal, then white rice, barley and grain sorghum, at 25% protein and 41% estimated starch. It suits small adult dogs whose owners prefer lamb over the chicken small breed recipe.
Full review of Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula24% protein · 14% fat · 41% starch · 406 kcal/cup · Adult
This grain-free kibble leads with beef and lamb meal, then sweet potatoes, peas and lentils, at 24% protein and 41% estimated starch. It is the only grain-free option here for owners who want red meat proteins instead of poultry or fish.
Full review of Grain-Free Pasture-Raised Beef & Sweet Potato Formula24% protein · 14% fat · 41% starch · 406 kcal/cup · Adult
This grain-free kibble uses chicken and chicken meal ahead of sweet potatoes, peas and lentils, with fish as its other animal protein. At 24% protein and 41% estimated starch, it suits adults whose owners want poultry without grain.
Full review of Grain-Free Cage-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Formula24% protein · 14% fat · 41% starch · 406 kcal/cup · Adult
The whitefish grain-free kibble uses only fish for animal protein, starting with whitefish and fish meal before sweet potatoes, peas and lentils. With 24% protein and 41% estimated starch, it suits adults kept off both grain and land animal proteins.
Full review of Grain-Free Wild-Caught Whitefish & Sweet Potato Formula23% protein · 13% fat · 44.5% starch · 397 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold for large breed adults, this chicken and chicken meal kibble lists brown rice, barley and white rice next, with 23% protein and 44.5% estimated starch. At 397 kcal per cup, it suits big adult dogs on a chicken diet.
Full review of Large Breed Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula23% protein · 14% fat · 43% starch · 403 kcal/cup · Adult
This standard adult lamb kibble opens with lamb meal, white rice, barley, grain sorghum and egg product, at 23% protein and 43% estimated starch. At 403 kcal per cup, it suits all breed adults that do well on lamb and grains.
Full review of Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula22% protein · 12% fat · 46% starch · 350 kcal/cup · Adult
This large breed adult lamb kibble includes oatmeal among its first five ingredients and lands at 22% protein, 12% fat and 46% estimated starch. At 350 kcal per cup, it suits big adults that need fewer calories than the chicken version.
Full review of Large Breed Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula18% protein · 6% fat · 52% starch · 310 kcal/cup · Adult
The Light formula has the least protein (18%), least fat (6%), most estimated starch (52%) and fewest calories (310 kcal per cup) in the line, plus 8% fiber. Lamb is its only animal protein, and it is sold for adult weight control.
Full review of Light Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beef Dinner for Adult Dogs & Puppies | 10% | 5% | 78% | 1,283 | Beef, beef broth, beef liver |
| Chicken Dinner for Adult Dogs & Puppies | 9.5% | 7% | 78% | 1,281 | Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver |
| Lamb Dinner | 8% | 5% | 78% | 1,260 | Lamb, lamb broth, beef liver |
| Line average | 9.2% | 5.7% | 78% | 1,275 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
10% protein · 5% fat · 480 kcal/can · All Life Stages
Beef Dinner has the most protein of the canned dinners at 10% and is the only wet recipe here that includes fish. Labeled for all life stages, it suits homes feeding a puppy and an adult the same can.
Full review of Beef Dinner for Adult Dogs & Puppies9.5% protein · 7% fat · 479 kcal/can · All Life Stages
Chicken Dinner carries the most fat of the wet recipes at 7% and is the only can built on chicken, with egg as its only other animal protein. It suits owners who want a chicken can labeled for all life stages.
Full review of Chicken Dinner for Adult Dogs & Puppies8% protein · 5% fat · 472 kcal/can · Adult
Lamb Dinner has the least protein of the three cans at 8%, with lamb, lamb broth and beef liver leading the ingredients. It is labeled for adults only, so it suits owners feeding a grown dog who prefer lamb as the main protein.
Full review of Lamb DinnerMost of the line is not. Three kibbles are grain free: Grain-Free Pasture-Raised Beef & Sweet Potato, Grain-Free Cage-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato and Grain-Free Wild-Caught Whitefish & Sweet Potato. The other 13 kibbles and all three wet dinners contain grain.
Among kibbles, Extreme Athlete Adult Dog Chicken & Rice and Small & Medium Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice both list 32% protein. Among wet foods, Beef Dinner for Adult Dogs & Puppies leads at 10%.
Light Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice has the fewest calories in the line at 310 kcal per cup, with 6% fat. Senior Dog Chicken, Egg & Oatmeal at 347 kcal per cup and Large Breed Adult Lamb Meal & Rice at 350 kcal per cup are also on the lower end.
Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (27.9% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is higher than average, at 40% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
21% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
MOST PROTEIN
Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Adult Dog Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
35.6% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Diamond Naturals Small & Medium Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
27% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Diamond Naturals Light Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
310 kcal per cup
Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula dry dog food.
Expansion to batches of nine brands of dry dog and cat food made at Gaston, SC plant Dec 9 2011 - Apr 7 2012
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food (one production run)
Lamb Meal & Rice
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