Protein source
Premium pickFresh-meat led with no plant protein support
Top 3: Chicken, Chicken Meal, White Rice
It clears the protein floor without plant-protein boosting.
This is the kind of structure a premium food should have.
Public ReviewGrade BKibble (Extruded)Manufacturing: Kibble (Extruded)
Diamond Naturals
Diamond Naturals Small & Medium Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice
3.5★Public ScoreManufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety
Key points
Ingredient guide
Included support ingredients
Nutrient guideSalmon oilSkin and joint support ingredientEPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredientChicoryGut support ingredientYucca extractStool odor support ingredientProbioticsGut support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient
Solid build
Ingredient grade
B
Grade B
Top ingredient profile
Chicken
Chicken Meal
White Rice
Fresh-meat leadNo plant booster
Crude protein32%
Crude protein32%
Crude fat22%
Other 46%
Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.
biotechProtein position
Higherquery_statsFat position
Higherlocal_fire_departmentCalorie density
HigherThis food offers a stable basic protein structure.
Species-named animal protein ingredients stay near the top, and protein does not fall into a clearly low band. The trade-off is that this is not the same as a fresh-meat-first premium pattern.
Nutritional strengths
- The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
- Crude protein is on the higher side.
- Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.
What still needs work
- Phosphorus is 1.2% on the label, at or above 1%. Senior dogs or dogs with kidney concerns should have phosphorus restriction reviewed with a veterinarian before using it as a staple food.
- Refined carbohydrates lose fiber, vitamins, and minerals during processing, and mainly act as starch and energy sources. Because of that, our engine reads ingredient quality more conservatively than it would with whole grains.
- Calorie density is high, so this is not the best fit when weight reduction matters most.
Brand context
Brand background availableRecall history confirmed
Founded in 1970 in the United States. This brand has a confirmed public recall history, notably tied to the 2012 salmonella event.
Ingredient analysis
The top ingredients give this recipe a strong first protein read, so the ingredient section starts from a favorable position.
restaurantIngredient Quality Analysis
Ingredient Grade
Good
1Chicken
Fresh Meat · Top
2Chicken Meal
Named Meal · Upper
3White Rice
Refined Carb · Mid
Ingredient Analysis Comments
- •Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
- •Chicken Meal is a species-named animal meal ingredient. It is rendered rather than fresh, but the species source is still clearly identified. It reads as an upper-tier protein source.
- •White Rice is a refined carbohydrate source. It usually reads as a starch and energy source rather than a protein driver. It reads as an mid-tier carb source.
restaurantIngredient Grade BGood
Full collected ingredient list
56 ingredientsChickenchicken mealwhite ricechicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols)cracked pearled barleyegg productdried yeastdried plain beet pulpfish mealground Miscanthus grassnatural flavorflaxseedsalmon oil (source of DHA)saltpotassium chloridecholine chloridedried chicory rootkalechia seedpumpkinblueberriesorangesquinoadried kelpcoconutspinachcarrotspapayayucca schidigera extractdried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation productdried Bacillus subtilis fermentation productdried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation productdried Enterococcus faecium fermentation productdried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation productvitamin E supplementbeta caroteneiron proteinatezinc proteinatecopper proteinateferrous sulfatezinc sulfatemanganese sulfatecopper sulfatepotassium iodidethiamine mononitratemanganese proteinatevitamin A supplementbiotinniacincalcium pantothenatesodium selenitepyridoxine hydrochloridevitamin B12 supplementriboflavinvitamin D3 supplementfolic acid.
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients
Why did the base review land here?
Ingredient qualityNutrient disclosure levelManufacturing & trust
This review score combines ingredient composition, nutrient disclosure, manufacturing trust, and core nutrient caution signals.
Nutrient disclosure
Partial disclosure
Core guaranteed analysis is usable, but deeper rows still need a more cautious read.
Safety verification
No fails
No major red flag jumps out first, though undisclosed rows still define the limits of this safety read.
Public data trust (ETF)
D tier
Only basic guaranteed analysis is visible, so deeper nutrition comparison stays hard to trust.
Where it sits in the same processing cohort
Kibble (Extruded) cohortUpper middle
Within the Kibble (Extruded) cohort, this recipe sits in the upper middle band.
Final word
This is a credible shortlist food, but the personalized step is where the final order should be decided.
What to compare next
Criteria to compare with this food
These criteria come from the product name, brand, veterinary purpose, and disclosed nutrients, so you can compare similar foods after reading the review.
Brand analysis
Royal Canin dog food analysis: veterinary diets, breed lines, and label checks
Royal Canin spans veterinary, breed, and daily lines, so product purpose matters first.
Heart criteriaBest dog food for heart disease: sodium, taurine, L-carnitine, omega-3, and DCM context
Heart context should connect sodium, taurine, L-carnitine, and omega-3 disclosure.
Joint criteriaBest dog food for joint support: weight control, EPA/DHA, glucosamine, and mobility checks
Joint context should connect weight control, EPA+DHA, and disclosed support ingredients.
Label basicsBest dog food criteria: ingredients, calories, disclosure, and health context
Before the brand claim, compare top ingredients, guaranteed analysis, kcal/kg, and disclosure.