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In the case of selecting the best pet food, energetic canine house owners face a singular problem. Whether or not you’re caring for a sporting breed, a searching canine, or a canine that joins you on hikes and lengthy runs, not simply any kibble will do. You want a components that helps stamina, builds lean muscle, and promotes total well-being—with out breaking the financial institution. That’s the place Diamond Naturals Excessive Athlete comes into play.
On this detailed overview, we’ll dive into each side of this high-performance pet food, exploring what makes it stand out, the professionals and cons, and whether or not it’s the best selection on your four-legged companion.
Diamond Naturals Excessive Athlete is a premium dry pet food particularly formulated for canines with excessive vitality calls for. Whether or not your canine is coaching, searching, herding, or just blessed with boundless vitality, this meals is engineered to ship the protein, fats, and important vitamins they should thrive.
The Excessive Athlete components is a part of the bigger Diamond Naturals line, a model that positions itself as offering premium diet with out premium costs. Manufactured by Diamond Pet Meals, it’s identified for its give attention to actual meat, complete grains, and superfood components.

Product Overview
Model: Diamond Pet Meals
Based in 1970, Diamond Pet Meals is a family-owned firm headquartered in Meta, Missouri. Through the years, it has grown to be one of the crucial trusted producers of pet meals in North America, supplying each its personal manufacturers and private-label merchandise.
Formulation Identify: Diamond Naturals Excessive Athlete
Kind: Dry Canine Meals
Class: Efficiency/Excessive-Exercise Formulation
Life Stage: Grownup Canines
Taste: Hen & Rice Formulation
Key Dietary Particulars
Nutrient | Assured Evaluation |
---|---|
Crude Protein | 32% minimal |
Crude Fats | 25% minimal |
Crude Fiber | 3.5% most |
Moisture | 10% most |
Omega-6 Fatty Acids | 3.5% minimal |
Omega-3 Fatty Acids | 0.5% minimal |
Glucosamine | 300 mg/kg |
Chondroitin Sulfate | 100 mg/kg |
Caloric Content material | 470 kcal/cup |
These numbers replicate a nutrient-dense recipe geared toward optimizing vitality ranges and selling robust muscular well being in extremely energetic canines.
Key Options
1. Excessive-Calorie Formulation
One of many main benefits of this pet food is its excessive caloric density. At 470 kcal per cup, it’s considerably extra energy-rich than commonplace formulation. This implies your energetic pup can keep its weight and stamina with out consuming monumental portions of meals.
2. Actual Meat First
Hen meal is the primary ingredient on this components—a concentrated supply of protein that’s extra nutrient-dense than complete hen. This selection ensures that the meals is full of the amino acids vital for muscle restore and power.
3. Superfood Mix
Past simply meat and grains, Diamond Naturals incorporates a “superfood” mix into its formulation. Within the Excessive Athlete selection, components like chia seeds, kale, blueberries, quinoa, pumpkin, and oranges present added antioxidants, fiber, and micronutrients.
4. Digestive Assist
With probiotics, dried beet pulp, and chicory root, this meals helps a wholesome digestive system. The stay probiotics are assured to outlive the cooking course of, serving to your canine soak up vitamins extra successfully.
5. Joint Assist
For working canines, joint well being is important. That’s why this components contains glucosamine and chondroitin, two dietary supplements broadly used to help cartilage and forestall joint deterioration.
6. Free from Fillers
In contrast to many budget-focused canine meals, this components accommodates no corn, wheat, soy, synthetic flavors, or synthetic preservatives.
Buyer Suggestions
A. Optimistic Opinions
1. Style and Palatability
Many pet house owners reward Diamond Naturals Excessive Athlete for its excessive palatability. Canines which can be normally choosy eaters usually appear desirous to dive into this meals. Some have even reported enhancements in urge for food and meal enthusiasm.
“My lab has all the time been a finicky eater, however he completely devours these things. I lastly discovered one thing that retains his vitality up and that he really enjoys!” — Verified Purchaser
2. Vitality and Efficiency Enhance
House owners of working and athletic canines incessantly report improved stamina and vitality. Canines that beforehand struggled with weight upkeep or sluggishness usually present noticeable enhancements inside weeks of switching.
“I prepare German Shepherds for agility, and this meals has been a game-changer. Their restoration occasions are shorter, and their coats look wonderful too.” — Agility Coach
3. Coat, Muscle, and Physique Situation
Numerous customers touch upon seen enhancements in coat shine, muscle tone, and physique situation. The excessive protein content material, together with omega fatty acids, seems to help lean muscle mass and wholesome pores and skin.
4. Funds-Pleasant High quality
In comparison with different premium efficiency canine meals like Orijen or Style of the Wild, Diamond Naturals Excessive Athlete is notably extra inexpensive whereas providing aggressive components.
B. Unfavorable Opinions
1. Digestive Upset
Some canines expertise gastrointestinal points when switching to this meals. Widespread complaints embody delicate stools, fuel, and occasional vomiting in the course of the transition interval.
“My border collie had horrible fuel for the primary week. It improved over time, but it surely was actually tough initially.” — Pet Guardian Overview
2. Not Ideally suited for All Canines
This components is not really useful for sedentary canines, puppies, or these with delicate digestive methods. The excessive fats content material might be overwhelming for much less energetic or senior canines.
3. Recollects and Status
Diamond Pet Meals has had a number of recollects prior to now, principally as a result of salmonella contamination in different formulation. Whereas none of those affected the Excessive Athlete line, some pet dad and mom are cautious about model historical past.
Professional Opinions
Canine Meals Advisor
Canine Meals Advisor, a trusted unbiased website, provides Diamond Naturals Excessive Athlete a 5-star ranking. They spotlight its above-average protein ranges, high quality meat components, and affordability as key promoting factors.
“Diamond Naturals Excessive Athlete is a grain-inclusive dry pet food utilizing a major quantity of named meat meals as its predominant supply of animal protein… extremely really useful.” — DogFoodAdvisor.com
Veterinary Perception
Veterinarians usually suggest high-calorie pet food like this for extremely energetic canines however warning that it is probably not appropriate for canines with current well being points reminiscent of pancreatitis or weight problems.
“Formulation like Diamond Naturals Excessive Athlete are wonderful for canines with excessive calorie necessities, however pet dad and mom ought to seek the advice of their vet earlier than switching if their canine has any metabolic situations.” — Dr. Alice Benton, DVM
Professionals and Cons
✅ Professionals
- Excessive protein and fats content material perfect for energetic canines
- Actual hen meal as first ingredient
- Consists of superfoods and probiotics
- Helps digestive and joint well being
- Funds-friendly for a high-performance components
- No synthetic flavors, preservatives, corn, or soy
❌ Cons
- Too wealthy for low-activity or senior canines
- Could trigger preliminary digestive upset
- Some skepticism as a result of model’s previous recollects
Who Ought to Feed Diamond Naturals Excessive Athlete?
This components is greatest fitted to:
- Working breeds (Border Collies, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois)
- Sporting canines (Labradors, Retrievers)
- Agility or competitors canines
- Searching and sled canines
- Underweight canines needing to achieve muscle mass
In case your canine burns energy like an expert athlete, this meals is prone to meet their dietary wants extra successfully than a regular upkeep components.
Transitioning Ideas
To keep away from digestive points when switching to Diamond Naturals Excessive Athlete, comply with this schedule:
- Days 1–2: 75% outdated meals + 25% new meals
- Days 3–4: 50% outdated meals + 50% new meals
- Days 5–6: 25% outdated meals + 75% new meals
- Day 7+: 100% new meals
Together with a probiotic complement in the course of the transition can additional ease the method.
Ultimate Verdict
Diamond Naturals Excessive Athlete stands out within the crowded pet food market by providing premium-quality diet tailor-made for high-performance canines at an inexpensive value. Its excessive protein and fats content material, paired with joint and digestive help, make it a go-to selection for house owners of working and sporting canines.
That mentioned, this meals is not perfect for each canine. House owners of older, chubby, or sedentary canines ought to search for a lighter components. And as all the time, it’s greatest to seek the advice of your veterinarian earlier than making any important adjustments to your canine’s food regimen.
⭐ Ultimate Ranking: 4.7 out of 5
Really useful for: Excessive-energy canines, working breeds, agility, and sporting companions.