Label analysisGrade BListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)

Diamond Naturals

Diamond Naturals Small & Medium Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice

Editor ingredient insight

Diamond Naturals Small/Medium Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice is calorie-dense, led by chicken, chicken meal, and white rice.

It is worth considering for energetic puppies that tolerate chicken, not for easy weight gain or fat-sensitive stool.

Fresh-meat leadFull ingredient check needed
Illustration of chicken beside a dog-food bowl
Primary protein ingredient · Chicken

01. NUTRIENT PROFILE

Key nutrients & mineral profile

As-fed basis
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 32%Fat 22%Other 46%Other includes moisture, ash and remaining components.
Position within the same processing type

Compare protein, fat and energy density in low, typical and high bands.

Protein positionHigher

This food is on the higher side for crude protein among extruded foods.

Fat positionHigher

This food is on the higher side for crude fat among extruded foods.

Calorie densityHigher

This food is on the higher side for calorie density among extruded foods. The same serving can provide more energy, so check portion guidance.

Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
Calcium1.5%
Phosphorus1.2%
Crude fiber3.5%
Omega-30.5%
Omega-63.4%

Undisclosed values are not treated as zero.

02. INGREDIENT QUALITY & DISCLOSURE

Disclosed ingredients & ingredient grade

The analysis uses the registered ingredients. Complete-panel coverage is not verified, so an unlisted ingredient cannot be assumed absent.

Listed ingredients

Read the listed ingredients below. Complete-panel coverage is not verified here; do not infer that an unlisted ingredient is absent.

Chicken ingredient illustration
Primary protein ingredient · Chicken
B4.5/6Ingredient gradeGood
Ingredient #1 · ChickenTop
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #2 · chicken mealUpper
Named Meal
Ingredient #3 · white riceMid
Refined Carb
Ingredient #1Top

Chicken

Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #2Upper

chicken meal

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.

Ingredient #3Mid

white rice

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.

Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Chicken — Primary positive ingredientschicken meal — Support positive ingredientswhite rice — Neutral ingredientschicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols) — Neutral ingredientscracked pearled barley — Neutral ingredientsegg product — Primary positive ingredientsdried yeast — Neutral ingredientsdried plain beet pulp — Support positive ingredientsfish meal — Support positive ingredientsground Miscanthus grass — Neutral ingredientsnatural flavor — Support positive ingredientsflaxseed — Neutral ingredientssalmon oil (source of DHA) — Support positive ingredientssalt — Neutral ingredientspotassium chloride — Support positive ingredientscholine chloride — Support positive ingredientsdried chicory root — Support positive ingredientskale — Neutral ingredientschia seed — Neutral ingredientspumpkin — Neutral ingredientsblueberries — Neutral ingredientsoranges — Neutral ingredientsquinoa — Neutral ingredientsdried kelp — Support positive ingredientscoconut — Neutral ingredientsspinach — Neutral ingredientscarrots — Neutral ingredientspapaya — Neutral ingredientsyucca schidigera extract — Support positive ingredientsdried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product — Support positive ingredientsdried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product — Neutral ingredientsdried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product — Support positive ingredientsdried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product — Support positive ingredientsdried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product — Support positive ingredientsvitamin E supplement — Support positive ingredientsbeta carotene — Neutral ingredientsiron proteinate — Neutral ingredientszinc proteinate — Support positive ingredientscopper proteinate — Support positive ingredientsferrous sulfate — Neutral ingredientszinc sulfate — Support positive ingredientsmanganese sulfate — Neutral ingredientscopper sulfate — Support positive ingredientspotassium iodide — Neutral ingredientsthiamine mononitrate — Neutral ingredientsmanganese proteinate — Neutral ingredientsvitamin A supplement — Neutral ingredientsbiotin — Support positive ingredientsniacin — Neutral ingredientscalcium pantothenate — Neutral ingredientssodium selenite — Support positive ingredientspyridoxine hydrochloride — Neutral ingredientsvitamin B12 supplement — Neutral ingredientsriboflavin — Neutral ingredientsvitamin D3 supplement — Neutral ingredientsfolic acid. — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide

Fresh meat is the first ingredient

Animal protein · Chicken (#1), chicken meal (#2), egg product (#6), fish meal (#9)

Fresh meat leads the recipe and supplies animal protein, a useful choice point when you prioritize fresh-meat ingredients.

The complete ingredient panel has not been verified, so absence of plant-protein supplements is not confirmed.

Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
Salmon oilSkin and joint 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

03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG

What to consider before feeding

Chicken, chicken meal supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. white rice, cracked pearled barley supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.

chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols) add fat and energy; fat content is a separate choice criterion from the protein sources.

Across the registered ingredients, multiple protein sources appear, including chicken, egg, unspecified. Some protein sources are not fully identified, which limits choices that require excluding a specific protein.

What works well in this food

  • 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.

Check before feeding

  • 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.
  • Higher calorie density can raise daily intake in a gram-for-gram switch. Weight reduction needs portions and treat calories to be adjusted together.

When this food fits your dog

Among foods made the same way, protein is higher, fat is higher, and calorie density is higher. Compare this combination when both protein and concentrated energy matter. It can help plan smaller portions, but dogs prone to weight gain should not switch gram-for-gram from a less calorie-dense food. Stable basic protein structure.

Consider it first when

  • Steady protein-first shopping
  • Choosing from named animal proteins
  • Balanced shortlist building

Choose another food first when

  • Weight control comes first
  • Fresh-meat-first premium quality matters most

High calorie density remains the clearest trade-off here.

04. COMPARE FOODS

Smart chicken alternatives

Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.

05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE

Manufacturer background & public information

Diamond Naturals background

Founded in 1970 in the United States.

Disclosure confidence D

Only basic guaranteed analysis is visible, so deeper nutrition comparison stays hard to trust.

Recall information

This brand has a confirmed public recall history, notably tied to the 2012 salmonella event.

May 12, 2026

Final word

Interpret this for my dog

The food-first public score is only the starting point. Once your dog’s activity, weight goals, life stage, and health status are applied, the recommendation order and interpretation can change.

This is a credible shortlist food, but the personalized step is where the final order should be decided.