frequently asked
questions

Ingredients

Diamond Pet Foods does not irradiate its formulas for a number of reasons. Irradiation can accelerate the oxidation of the fat in food making it spoil faster, and if misapplied, irradiation has proven to be hostile toward vitamins, especially B1 (thiamine) activity. If you have additional questions, you can reach our team at 866-214-6945 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT weekdays) or by visiting https://www.diamondpet.com/contact-us/.

FOR CATS: A thiamine deficiency in cats can cause numerous health concerns, including neurological disorders.

Diamond Pet Foods sources all protein meals (chicken meal, fish meal, etc.) from vendors that do not add ethoxyquin. Ethoxyquin is a common preservative throughout the fish meal supply. We work with our fish meal suppliers and pay a premium so that our fish meals are not preserved with ethoxyquin.

Phytonutrients are nutrients derived from plant material. Vegetables and fruits such as sweet potatoes, peas, garbanzo beans, potatoes, blueberries and raspberries provide a spectrum of phytonutrients.

Sodium is an essential nutrient for all animals. It is important in maintaining fluid balance, conducting nerve impulses, and proper muscle function. Our foods are formulated to meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) requirements for sodium.

Products

At this time we do not have any vegetarian diets because we strongly believe in the value of nutrient-rich animal proteins for healthy pets with lean bodies. The blend of amino acids that are found in animal proteins better meet the nutritional requirements for dogs and cats and we offer a variety of formulas with varied animal protein sources. This does not mean that a balanced vegetarian diet is not possible, but we have decided to stick with quality animal protein sources for now.

The number of cups in each bag of food will vary by the formula. The kibble in a formula like Diamond Puppy is small and dense due to the high protein and fat content in the formula. This makes it a heavier product than a formula like Diamond Naturals Light Adult Dog. There will be fewer cups of a heavier product because bags are filled by weight.

Diamond Pet Foods offers a diverse line of pet foods, and there is a formula available to meet the needs of every pet. If you would like personal advice on which formula may best meet your pet’s needs, reach out to us via the Contact Us page, and we will work with you on a specific recommendation.

We don’t recommend leaving an open can of Diamond Naturals out for more than 30 minutes. Partially eaten cans should be covered or put into an airtight container in the refrigerator and kept no longer than three days after opening.

The recommended storage method is to keep the food in its original packaging, in order to keep vital information handy. You may store the entire bag in a closed container as well. If you prefer to pour the food directly into a covered container we recommend that you cut out the UPC/production code and “Best By” date from the bag before you empty and store it in the container, so you have the information readily available. Whichever storage method you choose, the food should be kept in a cool, dry location as excess heat or moisture may cause the nutrients to break down.

Health and Lifestyle

Food allergies in dogs are typically reactions to specific types of protein in the food. Any protein in the food could potentially trigger a reaction in a dog that is allergic to that particular protein ingredient. While some dogs with food allergies will do well on certain diets, others will not – it all depends on what they are allergic to. Diamond Pet Foods does not have any foods labeled as “hypoallergenic.” We recommend consulting with your veterinarian to determine which type of diet is best for your pet.

Small breed dogs usually weigh less than 25 pounds as adults. Large breed dogs typically weigh 70 pounds or more as adults.

We include glucosamine and chondroitin in some dog formulas, with higher levels included in the senior dog and large breed dog formulas than our regular adult dog formulas. This may not be enough to treat pets with severe arthritis, but could be enough to help provide relief to dogs with minor arthritis. Helping your dog maintain a healthy body weight is another important factor in minimizing arthritis complications as overweight dogs are more likely to develop arthritis and suffer from extreme pain that comes with it. As always, we recommend you consult with your veterinarian to determine the right treatment plan.

There are many causes of digestive upset, and food can be one of them. For dogs that have occasional diarrhea, the most likely culprit is something they ate that was not part of their regular diet. If your pet’s symptoms persist, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian.

Your cat may benefit from our Diamond CARE Urinary Support Formula for Adult Cats, as it helps to reduce pH level for urinary tract health. To learn more about our Diamond CARE Urinary Support Formula for Adult Cats, please visit: https://www.diamondpet.com/cat/diamond-care/urinary-support-adult-cats/. As always, we recommend working closely with your veterinarian to choose the best food for your cat’s condition.

Feeding and Nutrition

You can mix a dry product and a canned product if you like to feed a mixture of these types of foods to your pet. We do not recommend feeding your pet a mixture of two dry products at once; however, if you would like to follow a rotation diet and transition to another recipe, we recommend a gradual transition between formulas over a period of 7-10 days.

Unless directed by your veterinarian, it is not necessary to add supplements to your pet’s diet. All of Diamond pet foods are formulated to be complete and balanced in accordance with AAFCO guidelines to provide your pet with the nutrition they need.

Your senior pet may benefit from a low-calorie diet, especially if they are not very active or are overweight. It is important to closely monitor your pet’s body condition. Your veterinarian can show you what an “ideal, lean” body condition is and help you keep your pet in this condition. We recommend consulting with your veterinarian before making changes to your pet’s diet.

Because some nutrients in the food may be affected by the cooking process, Diamond Pet Foods formulates our formulas to ensure the final formulas meet or exceed both Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards.

The feeding guide for each formula is listed on the packaging as well as on the individual product pages of this website. These guides are offered as starting points to determine the right amount to feed your pet. The amount listed in the feeding guide is the recommended total number of 8-ounce measuring cups (standard kitchen measuring cup) that your pet should eat per day. Feeding amounts can be adjusted based on the age, breed and activity level of your pet.

Puppy/dog: Feeding frequency can vary depending on your pet’s age, activity level, and lifestyle. Both free-choice feeding and set meal times are acceptable for dogs; however, having set meal times allows pet parents to control and monitor portions. If you feel your dog is eating its meal too quickly, you may want to try feeding in a slow-feeder bowl.

For Puppies:
– Puppies less than 4 months of age, consider 3–4 meals per day
– Puppies between the ages of 4–6 months, consider 2–3 meals per day
– Puppies 6 months and older, consider 2 meals per day
– For toy breed puppies, we recommended feeding 3–4 meals per day until they are 10–12 months of age.

For Adult Dogs:
– Consider 2 meals per day

For more information, visit our blog at: https://www.diamondpet.com/blog/performance/nutrition-performance/mealtime-matters-for-pets/. Additionally, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian to determine the proper amount to feed your dog/puppy, based on their needs.

Cats: Feeding frequency can vary depending on your pet’s age, activity level, and lifestyle. Both free-choice feeding and set meal times are acceptable for cats; however, having set meal times allows pet parents to control and monitor portions. To help keep your cat in lean body condition, using puzzles or toys that mimic hunting behavior and dispense food while they are interacting is a great approach to feeding time. For more information, visit our blog at: https://www.diamondpet.com/blog/performance/nutrition-performance/mealtime-matters-for-pets/. Additionally, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian to determine the proper amount to feed your cat, based on their needs.

We recommend a gradual transition between formulas over a period of 7–10 days.

For the first two to three days, start with 25% of the recommended feeding portion of the new food mixed with 75% of the recommended portion of the current diet. For the next two to three days, feed 50% each of the recommended portions of the new and current diets. For the last two to three days, feed 75% of the new diet and 25% of the current one before transitioning to the new formula entirely.

The guaranteed analysis gives you a nutritional breakdown of the formula and what is included. By the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regulations, the guaranteed analysis is required to list four nutrients: crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber and moisture.

Ash is the non-combustible portion of the diet and is a measurement of the total amount of minerals in the food including calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, and others. We do not add an ingredient called ash to the food, but our foods and all other pet foods do contain ash.

Ash comes primarily from the bone content of the dry protein ingredients, such as chicken meal. Chicken meal is made from chicken meat and bone and is a source of essential minerals. This ingredient is also made up of fat, moisture, fiber and ash.

Ash levels in pet foods should be controlled, especially in adult or senior diets.

Our puppy and All Life Stages formulas are specifically developed to meet the nutritional needs of dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors. Our puppy and All Life Stages formulas contain added DHA, which aids in brain and vision development in puppies. Additionally, our puppy formulas feature a smaller kibble size than our adult maintenance formulas. Our adult maintenance formulas are formulated to meet the nutritional needs of adult dogs and are not suitable for puppies.

Probiotics have numerous benefits, including helping your pet digest food more efficiently, supporting a healthy digestive and immune system, and helping your pet live an active, comfortable life. Additionally, the probiotics are processed under strict quality and safety standards. Each strain is purified and guaranteed to be free of harmful pathogens or other contaminants.

You can feed just canned food to your pet; however, it is not recommended for pregnant or nursing dogs or cats. If you are going to feed only canned food, we recommend you introduce a small amount at a time to ensure it agrees with your pet’s digestive system.

Note for cats: If you are feeding your cat canned food, we recommend you feed at room temperature as they don’t always like cold food from the refrigerator.

Diamond Naturals canned food is made with real meat and delivers delicious taste with the nutrition of a premium pet food. Select canned formulas also include superfoods for great nutrition and digestibility.

Company

Diamond Pet Foods is committed to product safety and quality and adheres to stringent food safety protocols. We constantly monitor and test our raw materials, production environment, processes and finished products. We’ve developed a comprehensive on-site product testing process that checks for mycotoxin control, microbial testing, water purification and air quality control.

We also implement our test and hold program, in which product tests are conducted by a certified, independent laboratory. We use scientifically and statistically based referencing standards set by the ICMSF (International Commission on the Microbiological Specification for Foods). Samples are collected and tested for every product produced. Every sample is kept for a time equal to the guaranteed shelf life of the product, typically 12 months. If you’d like to learn more about our safety protocols and facilities, we encourage you to watch our facilities video, which can be found here: https://www.diamondpet.com/about/

We have six manufacturing facilities, all located in the United States. Two facilities are located in California, one in Missouri, one in South Carolina, one in Arkansas and one in Kansas.

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