Diamond Care Dog Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary

Introduction

Diamond Care dog food is a variety of veterinarian-formulated dog food from the Diamond Pet Products line. They’re on the expensive side and comparable to boutique and premium brand dog food, so this won’t be the best value for dog owners looking to save money. Diamond Care dog food specializes in limited ingredients and seems to offer quality dry kibble, but there are some issues we were concerned with that lowered our rating. Let’s dive into Diamond Care dog food to see what’s good and what’s not so stellar about it:

At a Glance: The 4 Best Diamond Care Dog Food Recipes:

Diamond Care Dog Food Reviewed

 About Diamond Pet Products

Diamond Pet Products began in 1970 intending to bring quality pet food and products. Manufactured in the United States, Diamond has been around for over 50 years. Though not as well known as other name brands like Purina and Iams, Diamond Pet Products has grown in popularity due to the wide variety of dietary options they offer. Diamond has strict protocols and testing to ensure their products are safe and high quality. Still, the company has faced some recalls that may change your mind about this brand.

Which Types of Dogs is Diamond Care Best Suited For?

Diamond Care dog food is best for dogs that need strict, limited diets due to medical conditions. They should only be considered if your dog’s vet has recommended them since they’re formulated differently than regular kibble. Diamond Care is a lower-cost option than some prescription dog food, so it may be an acceptable option for people that don’t want to spend hundreds on a vet-approved diet.

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

Since Diamond Care dog food is aimed towards dogs with specific health problems, we recommend them only to dogs that suffer from these health conditions. If you think your dog may need a specialized diet, it’s important to consult with your vet before switching.

Diamond Pet Products Recall List

Diamond Pet Products has had some salmonella scares, as well as other issues with their products. While they haven’t had a recall in a few years, it’s important to know the history behind any dog product brand.

Here’s the list of Diamond Pet Products’ recalls:

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.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

Calorie Breakdown:

Peas and Pea Flour (Potential Issues)

Peas and pea flour are listed as the FIRST and SECOND ingredients, which is not a good sign for a diet that is marketed as veterinarian-formulated dog food. Peas can be a good source of plant-based protein and carbohydrates, but they’ve been recently linked to canine heart disease. Peas or pea flour should not be the very first ingredient in your dog’s food, so this is not a good start.

Hydrolyzed Salmon (Good) ✅

The third ingredient is hydrolyzed salmon, so there’s at least another source of protein in this dog food. It’s also a great source of fatty acids containing omega-3 and omega-6, which are important for your dog’s overall health and wellbeing. However, we would prefer to see salmon meat as the first ingredient instead of a carbohydrate like peas.

Sunflower Oil (Good) ✅

Sunflower Oil is another source of omega-6 fatty acids and we really like that they’ve added this to their recipes. It’s also a great skin and coat supplement, so your dog’s fur will have a nice sheen from this food. However, it is lacking in omega-3 fatty acids, but the Hydrolyzed Salmon makes up for that.

The 2 Best Diamond Care Dog Food Recipes Reviewed

1. Diamond Care Sensitive Skin Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Diamond Care Sensitive Skin Formula Adult Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is one of 4 specialized diets for dogs. It’s designed for dogs that suffer from skin conditions, marketed as a veterinarian-formulated recipe. It also contains salmon and salmon oil, giving your dog the nutrients needed for healthy skin and coat. However, peas are listed as the first ingredient, which is a huge concern. Peas are not nearly as rich in protein as whole meats or meat meals, but they’re also considered a controversial ingredient. It’s also expensive especially for dogs over 30-40 pounds, requiring 4 or more cups of food a day.

2. Diamond Care Sensitive Stomach Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Diamond Care Sensitive Stomach Formula Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is another selection of the Care collection of Diamond’s limited ingredient diets. It’s fortified for dogs with digestive issues, formulated with flaxseed fiber blend for aid in digestion. It also contains menhaden fish oil, which is a great source of fatty acids rich in omega-3 and omega-6 for skin and coat health.

However, potatoes are the first ingredient, which is a red flag when looking at the top 5 ingredients of dog food. The first ingredient should always be whole meats or a protein-rich ingredient. It’s also expensive compared to premium brands, especially for big dogs that will need multiple cups a day.

What Other Users Are Saying

Diamond Care has a decent fan-base, with customers enjoying this line of science-based diets. Here’s what their loyal customers and dog food pros have been saying about this line of dog food:

• HerePup – “…would rate this as an average product.”
• Dog Food Guru “Most Diamond foods provide good nutrition at a reasonable cost…”
• Chewy – As pet owners, we always double-check with Chewy reviews from buyers before we buy something. You can read these by clicking here.

Conclusion

Overall, Diamond Care dog food is an average dry kibble that didn’t leave us with the best impression. While it’s certainly not the worst dog food, it’s incredibly expensive for subpar ingredients. We would only recommend this food if your veterinarian suggests it, but there are better options available that will give you great results. We rate this food 3 stars out of 5.

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Featured Image Credit: Diamond Care, Chewy