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Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
Diamond Naturals

Extreme Athlete Formula Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $1.37/lb

Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 74/100 (B) with Fair evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Reasonable protein quality. chicken meal delivers solid amino acid coverage..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Reasonable protein quality. chicken meal delivers solid amino acid coverage.

PQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 36%
Protein
32%
min (as fed)
Fat
25%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

56 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    chicken meal

    Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken.

  2. 2
    chicken

    Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

  3. 3
    white rice

    Refined grain with the bran stripped off. Easy to digest, but not as nutrient-dense as brown rice.

  4. 4
    chicken fat

    Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid.

  5. 5
    cracked pearled barley

    Pre-cracked pearled barley for better digestibility. Same whole-grain story.

  6. 6
    egg product

    Processed whole eggs. Same nutritional profile as fresh eggs, just shelf-stable.

  7. 7
    ground miscanthus grass

    Same as miscanthus grass. A plant fiber source, mostly there for stool quality.

  8. 8
    dried plain beet pulp

    Beet fiber, with the sugar removed. Long unfairly maligned. It's a real soluble fiber that supports stool quality.

  9. 9
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  10. 10
    flaxseed

    Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

  11. 11
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  12. 12
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  13. 13
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  14. 14
    dried chicory root

    Natural prebiotic. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The same compound (inulin) used in human gut-health products.

  15. 15
    glucosamine hydrochloride

    Joint-support compound. Most useful in larger doses for older dogs. The kibble dose is real but modest.

  16. 16
    l-carnitine

    Amino acid derivative that helps the body convert fat into energy. Common in weight-management formulas.

  17. 17
    kale

    Leafy green with antioxidants and fiber. Small dose in kibble, but it's not just for marketing.

  18. 18
    chia seed

    Plant source of omega-3 and fiber. Like flaxseed, useful in trace amounts.

  19. 19
    pumpkin

    Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.

  20. 20
    blueberries

    Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.

  21. 21
    oranges
  22. 22
    quinoa

    Pseudo-grain with a complete amino acid profile. Rare in dog food because it's expensive.

  23. 23
    dried kelp

    Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.

  24. 24
    coconut
  25. 25
    spinach

    Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.

Showing first 25 of 56. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.