Diamond Naturals is a sub-brand of Diamond Pet Foods. The company uses high-quality ingredients and offers solid quality for an affordable price.
However, the unavailability of products is a common issue, so it’s always good to have an alternative at hand.
Our favorite alternative to one of the most popular Diamond Naturals’ adult formulas is Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Beef Dry Dog Food.
It’s budget-friendly, nutritious, and carefully crafted for a complete and balanced diet.
We’ve gathered dog food similar to Diamond Naturals’ most loved recipes below.
Diamond Naturals Dog Food Alternatives
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Beef Recipe Dry Dog Food (Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula Alternative)
- American Journey Salmon, Whitefish & Trout Grain-Free Dog Food (Diamond Naturals Whitefish & Sweet Potato Formula Alternative)
- AvoDerm Natural Salmon & Vegetables Dog Food (Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula Alternative)
- VICTOR Purpose Nutra Pro Dry Dog Food (Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula Alternative)
- Nature’s Recipe Mature Dry Dog Food (Diamond Naturals Senior Formula Alternative)
5 Dog Foods Comparable to Diamond Naturals Reviewed
Diamond Naturals is a small range, but they cater to different dietary needs of dogs.
Most of their recipes are grain-free and, for the most part, include whole meat as the first ingredient.
The biggest advantage of this brand is its relatively high value for money.
Check out our best picks for Diamond Naturals alternatives below.
All the formulas meet the AAFCO nutritional guidelines and come from established, tried-and-tested dog food brands.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Beef Recipe Dry Dog Food
Rachael Ray Nutrish is a boutique dog food brand created by celebrity chef Rachael Ray.
The brand offers premium formulas that are budget-friendly, so their Real Beef recipe is pretty similar to Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice formula.
Both products include high protein to support your dogs’ muscles and overall wellbeing. Rachael Ray Nutrish is richer in animal sources, though. Their formula starts with whole beef and beef meal, while Diamond Naturals contains only beef meal.
Whole ancient grains like brown rice, sorghum, and millet complement the meat and provide steady energy for your canine. Both formulas contain fillers — Rachael Ray has whole corn, while Diamond Naturals opted for white rice.
Nutrish Beef is easily digestible because of all the probiotics it contains. In addition to these, there is also inulin — a prebiotic that brings extra healthy bacteria to the gut.
The formula doesn’t contain any artificial colors or preservatives. However, it does include soy and annatto extract, which can trigger allergic reactions in some dogs.
This dog food is a great, affordable, mid-range quality option for adult dogs that aren’t allergic to corn, soy, or annatto.
American Journey Grain-Free with Salmon, Whitefish & Trout Dry Dog Food
American Journey is Chewy’s pet food brand. Due to this, the brand is in a unique position to offer great formulas at a pretty affordable price.
Their grain-free recipe is similar to Diamond Naturals Whitefish & Sweet Potato formula and better in some regards.
Your dog will get a little more protein from American Journey, but its main advantage is the bigger selection of animal sources. This dog food is filled with salmon, whitefish, trout, and turkey. Besides providing high-quality protein, they also introduce healthy Omega 3 fatty acids.
The carb department is weaker since the formula’s primary carbs are peas and chickpeas. Diamond Naturals, on the other hand, has sweet potatoes as well, which are rich in vitamins and dietary fiber.
To be completely fair, American Journey does list sweet potatoes, but they are so far down the ingredients list they might be there just for the taste.
As with other grain-free recipes, American Journey also includes added taurine for a stronger heart and better vision.
The taste is rounded by fresh fruits and veggies, like carrots, blueberries, and cranberries. Dogs love these and will surely wag their tails approvingly.
AvoDerm Natural Salmon & Vegetables Dry Dog Food
Avoderm is a bit of a unicorn among dog foods. The company specializes in canine skin and coat health. To that end, they use avocado in all their formulas.
We thought this recipe is a great and high-quality alternative to Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula. Not only is it affordable, but it also brings something unique to the table (or rather, the kibble).
We get it — we were skeptical at first about the avocados, too. However, after reading many Avoderm dog food reviews on the skin and fur benefits, we’re believers.
Avocado contains many healthy fats that nourish your canine’s skin inside-out and add to that blinding shine of a healthy fur. Moreover, Avoderm sources these from California, USA, and their technology makes it highly bioavailable to dogs.
The glossy fur effect is boosted by all the fish in the recipe. Avoderm sports salmon and herring, which have Omega-3 fatty acids. Any formula for sensitive skin needs to have these. Just ask your vet.
It’s also important that this dog food has no corn, soy, by-product meals, artificial flavors, or colors. These are common allergens and can trigger rashes across your furry friend’s skin.
Fresh fruits and vegetables in Avoderm raise the bar further by introducing health-promoting antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
VICTOR Purpose Nutra Pro Dry Dog Food
VICTOR is another highly affordable dog food brand. The company has a penchant for active dogs, and they produce high-protein, nutritious formulas to support their everyday activities.
Naturally, their formula made a lot of sense as an alternative to Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula.
To start with, your dog gets plenty more proteins with Victor dog food. This recipe offers 38% crude protein, which is quite a lot. This amount will support your active canine’s muscles and fuel them for their endeavors.
The carbs are better, too. Victor opted for ancient grains like millet and sorghum. These are much better options than Diamond’s white rice and cracked pearled barley. They are gluten-free and filled with the good stuff: high-quality carbs for energy, dietary fiber, and vitamins.
A healthy choice of fats further supports your furry friend’s sports career. Chicken fat and menhaden fish meal provide an extra boost of energy and healthy Omega-3s.
Finally, the formula sports Victor’s signature VPRO Blend of probiotics and antioxidants. This way, your dog’s immune system, and digestive system are running as smoothly as a seasoned marathon runner on a 5-mile race.
Nature’s Recipe Mature Dry Dog Food
Nature’s Recipe enjoys the reputation of budget-friendly, high-quality dog food. The brand doesn’t use any fillers — which is best reflected in their slogan, “Every ingredient counts.” The senior formula seems like a great alternative to the Diamond Naturals Senior.
Both products are grain-inclusive, but Nature’s Recipe has a better selection. Your furry pal will get plenty of energy from brown rice, barley, and oatmeal. These are whole, healthy grains filled with dietary fiber and beneficial nutrients.
The meat portion includes a delicious combination of duck, chicken, and turkey. Besides being yummy, these are high-quality animal sources of proteins and fats. While the overall protein content is lower than Diamond Naturals’, it’s still plenty for your furry friend.
In fact, senior dogs generally don’t need too much protein because of their kidney health.
They do need immune support and healthy joints. This formula provides that via its blend of essential vitamins and minerals.
It’s also great that it doesn’t contain corn, wheat, soy, artificial color, flavors, or preservatives. These can irritate your dog’s digestive tract or trigger allergic reactions. Excluding them is always a good choice.
Nature’s Recipe is an excellent choice for senior dogs that aren’t too active. It will provide all the nutrients and support for a happy, healthy everyday life — and it’s easy on the wallet.
How to Transition to a New Food
To prevent wasting money, it’s best to talk to the vet first before introducing any new food. They will give you valuable pointers about your dog’s specific dietary needs.
Choosing a new dog food is an effort in itself. However, it’s equally important for your dog to get used to it properly.
Failing to switch dog food gradually often results in upset stomachs and other digestive problems.
What should you do? Start by incorporating 25% of the new food and mixing it with your furry friend’s usual kibble. After 2–3 days, you can increase the amount to 50% if the dog doesn’t react to the new food.
Repeat this process by increasing the ratio to 75% in a few days, and in 7–10 days, you can switch the food entirely.
Pay attention to any symptoms of digestive distress. If your dog is experiencing increased flatulence and diarrhea, back off a little with the new food. They might be just getting used to the new food, but you should discontinue feeding it if the symptoms continue.
Our Verdict
Diamond Naturals is a budget-friendly dog food that offers good value for money.
Still, some dog owners find it difficult to buy this brand (because of unavailability), or they simply want better ingredients without breaking the bank.
Our top alternative to Diamond Naturals is Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Beef Recipe Dog Food.
The formula is affordable and offers premium ingredients for dogs’ complete and balanced nutrition.
