Contents
- Reports from the Veterinary Community and FDA
- What makes Peas, Lentils, Legumes, and Potatoes Bad for Our Dogs
- Factors to consider when choosing your dog’s food
- How to Choose a Pea, Lentil, Legume, and Potato Free Food
- Grain-free dog foods and their role in DCM
- Top 10 Best Dog Foods Without Peas, Lentils, Legumes, and Potatoes
- 1. Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Dog Food
- 2. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Raw Dinner Patties Dog Food
- 3. Farmina Ancestral Grain Dog Food
- 4. Purina Pro Plan SPORT Formula Dry Dog Food
- 5. Canine Caviar Free Spirit Limited Ingredient Alkaline Holistic Dog Food
- 6. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Dry Dog Food
- 7. IAMS ProActive Health Adult Small & Toy Breed Dry Dog Food
- 8. Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
- 9. Fromm Classics Adult Dry Dog Food
- 10. Just Food For Dogs – Grain Free Natural Dog Food
- FAQs
- Final Thoughts
There are thousands of dog foods available in today’s pet food market. It can be challenging to know which one is the healthiest choice for your dog. In addition to the abundance of dog food options available, there are also new concerns over ingredients that come up every day. For a while it was thought the best dog foods were grain-free, some now believe chicken free diets are best, and yet others believe dog foods free from peas, lentils, legumes, and potatoes are best.
In this article, you will find:
- Facts from the FDA and veterinary community
- The problem with dog foods that contain peas, lentils, legumes, and potatoes
- Factors to consider when choosing your dog’s food
- How to pick the best dog foods without peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes.
- Grain-free dog foods and their role in DCM
- 1. Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Dog Food
- 2. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Raw Dinner Patties Dog Food
- 3. Farmina Ancestral Grain Dog Food
- 4. Purina Pro Plan SPORT Formula Dry Dog Food
- 5. Canine Caviar Free Spirit Limited Ingredient Alkaline Holistic Dog Food
- 6. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Dry Dog Food
- 7. IAMS ProActive Health Adult Small & Toy Breed Dry Dog Food
- 8. Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
- 9. Fromm Classics Adult Dry Dog Food
- 10. Just Food For Dogs – Grain Free Natural Dog Food
Reports from the Veterinary Community and FDA
The problem with feeding your dog a diet that contains peas, lentils, legumes, and potatoes is that these foods are connected with an increase in cases of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. In December of 2018, an article was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The article discussed the rise of cases of DCM caused by diets containing peas, lentils, legumes, and potatoes.
These diets referred to as BEG diets, which stands for boutique, exotic-ingredient, and grain-free.
The FDA released the findings from their investigation, that started in 2014.
One aspect of the study was the link between DCM and BEG diets. Another part of the report showed the break down of the breeds most impacted by DCM, showing Golden Retrievers to have the highest reported cases.
The FDA’s research did uncover a link between dry dog foods containing peas, lentils, legumes, or potatoes as the main ingredients in the diets consumed by dogs involved in the study.
On June 29th, 2019, the FDA released a list of sixteen dog food brands commonly associated with diet-related DCM. The sixteen companies listed are:
- Acana
- Zignature
- Taste of the Wild
- 4Health
- Earthborn Holistic
- Blue Buffalo
- Nature’s Domain
- Fromm
- Merrick
- California Natural
- Natural Balance
- Orijen
- Nature’s Variety
- NutriSource
- Nutro
- Rachael Ray Nutrish
The list is in the order of highest to lowest reported incidents.
What makes Peas, Lentils, Legumes, and Potatoes Bad for Our Dogs
No one knows for sure that peas, lentils, legumes, and potatoes are the cause of the increase in DCM. It is important to point out that the FDA clearly states that the investigation into diet DCM is still ongoing.
That being said, the FDA also reported that one of the more noticeable trends in the foods was the high percentage of foods that contained high amounts of pea and/or lentils. It is not yet known if it is a grain-free problem or if it is an ingredient replacement problem. At this time, too little is known for sure what the culprit is.
The update from the FDA on 6/27/19 states:
“Based on the data collected and analyzed thus far, the agency believes that the potential association between diet and DCM in dogs is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors.”
What this means to us is that there still is not a definitive answer as to what is causing the diet-induced DCM. However, because peas, lentils, legumes, and potatoes are currently under scrutiny for their role in DCM, it is best to find a food that does not contain these ingredients until more information is understood about the situation.
It is crucial to note at this time that though DCM is extremely serious and can be fatal, the percentage of animals assumed to be affected by diet-induced DCM is still quite low. Between 2014-2019 there were a total of 515 canine reports, the majority of which were filed in 2018 & 2019. The reason diet DCM has gained in popularity in the media is that the number of reports jumped from single digits to triple digits in only twelve months.
Factors to consider when choosing your dog’s food
For those of us looking to switch over to a new lentil, pea, legume, and potato free food, there are a lot of high-quality options available. When choosing the right dog food for your dog, it is essential to consider all of the different factors; this will help narrow down your search.
- Your dog’s specific dietary needs
- Allergies
- Diseases like Irritable Bowel Disease, Kidney Disease, Cushing’s, or Chronic Pancreatitis
- Age
- Weight
- Breed/Size of your dog
- Cost
- Availability
- Protein Levels
- Protein Types
How to Choose a Pea, Lentil, Legume, and Potato Free Food
When looking for a food that doesn’t contain peas, lentils, legumes, and potatoes, keep in mind that the veterinary community is warning against foods that contain large amounts of these ingredients.
For example, when you look at the label of the food if any of the first ten ingredients are the traditional grain replacements, you will want to find a different diet. If pea flour is the twentieth ingredient, it is likely a safe food for your dog.
The FDA states explicitly that foods under investigation for diet-induced DCM are foods reflecting these ingredients high on the ingredient list, meaning that they are considered main components.
So, when deciding on a food, you must take the time to read the ingredient list.
In addition to ensuring peas, lentils, legumes, and potatoes are not the main ingredients in your dog’s food, and you will also want to look at:
- Protein Levels – The AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control) recommends a minimum of 18% crude protein for adult dogs and 22.5% for growing puppies
- Fat Levels – The AAFCO recommends a minimum of 5.5% crude fat for adult dogs and 8.5% for growing puppies
- Probiotics – Foods enhanced with probiotics help promote good gut health
- Chondroitin and Glucosamine – Foods containing chondroitin and glucosamine are excellent for dogs requiring supplements to aid in maintaining healthy joints
- Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids
Finally, foods will not list “legume” in their ingredient list. Legumes are the pod or seed of a fruit plant. Examples of legumes are soy, chickpeas (aka garbanzo), beans and peas.
Grain-free dog foods and their role in DCM
The FDA has never stated that grain-free foods are bad. What they did say is that a lot of the foods they are looking into are “labeled as “grain-free.” It is unclear as to how or when it started, but at some point, a misconception spread that grains were not suitable for dogs. Thus, a considerable uptick in grain-free foods.
Three Truths About Grain-Free Dog Food…
- Just because a diet is grain-free does not mean that it will cause DCM
- Grains are not bad for all dogs; some dogs have allergies or sensitivities to grains, and those dogs should stay on a grain-free diet
- If your dog does not have a grain sensitivity there is no scientific proof that your dog benefits from grain-free food
Top 10 Best Dog Foods Without Peas, Lentils, Legumes, and Potatoes
The below list has been sorted into different categories. Keep in mind that many of these foods could fit multiple categories, so always check the “variety” section to see if there are other unique recipes available.
1. Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Dog Food
Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Dog Food is a New Zealand based company. Their foods are protein forward food, of which 96% is made up of meat, organs, and New Zealand Green Mussels. All of the meat is from green free range farms.
All of the Ziwi dog foods are free from grains, peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes, sugars, and glycerin. However, because of the lack of carbohydrates, the fiber content is considerably lower than other dry dog foods. However, it has been enhanced with glucosamine and chondroitin, and rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
Ziwi’s food is a concentrated food, meaning that you feed smaller portions.
- Based on the Beef Formula
- Crude Protein Min: 36%
- Crude Fat Min: 32%
- Crude Fiber Max: 2%
- Best for dogs who require a high protein diet.
- Varieties available without peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes: Mackerel and Lamb, Venison, Lamb, Beef, Chicken, and Tripe and Lamb
2. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Raw Dinner Patties Dog Food
Stella and Chewy’s freeze-dried raw patties are 95% animal protein. This is a high protein food, rich in superfoods like spinach, carrots, and blueberries. Because of the large number of fruits and vegetables, these foods are higher in fiber as well. Stella and Chewy’s diet has been enhanced with probiotics to ensure good GI health.
This freeze-dried raw food has been minimally processed to retain the natural vitamins and nutrients of the ingredients involved in making this food.
- Based on the Chicken Formula
- Crude Protein Min: 48%
- Crude Fat Min: 28%
- Crude Fiber Max: 5%
- Best for dogs who require a high protein diet. Also, because there are several unique protein varieties available this would also be good for dogs with food sensitivities.
- Varieties available without peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes: 12 varieties available, including formulas for puppies.
3. Farmina Ancestral Grain Dog Food
Farmina is an Italian based company. They have four different dog food lines, but only one, the ancient grain formula, is pea, lentil, legume, and potato free. The main ingredients in the ancient grain formula are chicken, spelt, and oats.
Farmina uses foods naturally rich in chondroitin and glucosamine, like chicken and herring. The food is full of antioxidant-rich ingredients such as pomegranates, blueberries, and spinach.
- Based on the Chicken Formula
- Crude Protein Min: 30%
- Crude Fat Min: 18%
- Crude Fiber Max: 2.9%
- Best for: Due to the use of unique grains, this food would be good for dogs with food sensitivities. Also, because of the glucosamine and chondroitin levels it would be good for dogs who have joint issues.
- Varieties available without peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes: There are several varieties in this line, including those for puppies, seniors, weight management, and canned food.
4. Purina Pro Plan SPORT Formula Dry Dog Food
Purina has several food lines that do not contain peas, lentils, legumes, or potatoes. Though they are a company that has been around a long time, they have a solid record for providing balanced nutrition.
The Pro Plan formulas come in a variety of recipes, covering a range of needs. Some of the options are Focus, Sport, Savor, and Bright Mind, within each of these recipes, there are several other options for dogs of different ages, sizes, and health needs.
Animal protein is always the first ingredient, followed by a carbohydrate such as brown rice.
- Based on the Sport Chicken Formula
- Crude Protein Min: 30%
- Crude Fat Min: 20%
- Crude Fiber Max: 3%
- Best for any dog, because of the vast number of options this food comes in, there is a recipe for any dog.
- Varieties available without peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes: There are 26 varieties to choose from including recipes for seniors, puppy (large and small breed), and weight management.
5. Canine Caviar Free Spirit Limited Ingredient Alkaline Holistic Dog Food
Canine caviar chicken’s main ingredients are chicken and pearl millet; it is free from peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes, rice, wheat, soy, dairy, corn, and gluten. This food has been enhanced with probiotics and superfoods like kelp and flaxseed. Canine caviar chicken LID is an all life stage food so that it can be safely fed to puppies, adults, or seniors.
- Based on the Sport LID Chicken Formula
- Crude Protein Min: 27%
- Crude Fat Min: 17%
- Crude Fiber Max: 5.7%
- Best for all life stages, including large breed puppies. Also, the food can help dogs with allergies, skin issues, and digestive issues.
- Varieties available without peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes: There are two other dry dog foods that are free of peas, lentils, legumes, and potatoes, Open Meadow – Lamb and Special Needs – Chicken and Rice.
6. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Dry Dog Food
Lamb and brown rice are the main ingredients in this food. The food is specially created for large breed adult dogs. Natural Balance large breed bites L.I.D lamb and brown rice is a single animal protein food. It is excellent for helping maintain a healthy coat. In addition to it being free of peas, lentils, legumes, and potatoes, it is also free from soy, wheat, and corn.
This is a lower protein food but has a high fiber content, which aids in maintaining a healthy weight.
- Based on the Lamb and Brown Rice Formula
- Crude Protein Min: 21%
- Crude Fat Min: 12%
- Crude Fiber Max: 4%
- Best for large breed dogs.
- Varieties available without peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes: Available in puppy, small breed and adult formulas.
7. IAMS ProActive Health Adult Small & Toy Breed Dry Dog Food
IAMS carries several breed and size-specific foods. The main ingredients in IAMS Proactive are chicken, corn, sorghum, and beet pulp. The beet pulp helps to ensure a healthy digestive system. Also, this formula contains L-carnitine, which aids in maintaining a healthy weight and metabolism.
- Based on the Chicken Formula
- Crude Protein Min: 27%
- Crude Fat Min: 17%
- Crude Fiber Max: 4%
- Best for small or toy breed dogs.
- Varieties available without peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes: Available in puppy, small breed and adult formulas.
8. Nutro Ultra Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
Nutro Ultra Large Breed food’s primary ingredients are Chicken, Grains, Lamb, and Salmon. This large breed formula contains Omega-3 & 6 fatty acids and has been enhanced with chondroitin and glucosamine. Also, this food has an abundance of superfoods like chia seed, spinach, and kale all of which will aid in boosting your pup’s immune system.
- Based on the Trio Protein Formula
- Crude Protein Min:23%
- Crude Fat Min:12%
- Crude Fiber Max:4%
- Best for: Large Breed dogs
- Varieties available without peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes: None
9. Fromm Classics Adult Dry Dog Food
Fromm has several food lines that do not contain peas, lentils, legumes, or potatoes. Though they are on the FDA list, Fromm does have a food line that is not involved in the investigation.
The Classic formulas come in a variety of recipes puppy, senior, and adult.
The main ingredients in the Classic Chicken recipe are chicken, oats, barley, and rice. Adult Classic is a good maintenance food. It has adequate protein, fiber, and fats.
- Based on the Adult Gold Formula
- Crude Protein Min: 23%
- Crude Fat Min: 15%
- Crude Fiber Max: 4%
- Best for: Dogs of average activity level, who need to maintain their weight.
- Varieties available without peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes: Classic has three varieties, Adult, Puppy, and Mature Adult.
10. Just Food For Dogs – Grain Free Natural Dog Food
Just Food for Dogs is a fresh food that is made with human grade ingredients. Though there are six recipes to choose from only three are free from peas, lentils, legumes, and potatoes. The main ingredients in the turkey formula is turkey, whole wheat macaroni, and broccoli.
This food also contains zucchini, carrots, cranberries, and fish oil, all of which help to provide a perfectly healthy and balanced meal.
Just Food for Dogs is sealed in Tetra Pak packaging allowing the food to remain fresh without the need for refrigeration. The food is minimally processed to keep all of the essential vitamins and nutrients in the food. Overall, it has a good amount of protein, but it is light in the fiber.
- Based on the Turkey and Whole Wheat Macaroni Formula
- Crude Protein Min: 36%
- Crude Fat Min: 13%
- Crude Fiber Max: 3%
- Best for dogs who are picky and for those who benefit from eating fresh food.
- Varieties available without peas, lentils, legumes, potatoes: Chicken and White Rice and Lamb and Brown Rice
FAQs
Is there a dog food that is grain-free as well as free from peas, legumes, lentils, and potatoes?
-> Yes! There are a few different dog foods that are free of traditional carbohydrates.
Are legumes and lentils bad for dogs?
-> The FDA is leading an investigation into diet-induced Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), at this time lentils and legumes are both suspected in having a part in this issue.
Final Thoughts
There are no definitive answers on the cause for the increase in diet-induced DCM. However, it might be wise to change your dog to a new food until the FDA can rule out these ingredients negatively impacting our dogs’ health. Also, if your dog’s breed is predisposed to DCM, it is even more critical to consider a dog food free of these ingredients.
With the large variety of high-quality dog food’s free of peas, legumes, lentils, and potatoes, it should be easy to find a dog food that will fit your dog’s needs. Even if your dog has skin or food sensitivities, there are even grain-free diets that are also free of these carbohydrates.
Top 6 Best Low Protein Foods For Dogs With Kidney, Liver Disease or Allergies
The link to the Chewy site for the Natural Balance lamb and rice formula actually takes you to a grain free variety with peas in it. Just an FYI. Might want to make the link go to the product listed.
Good Morning Amanda!
I am sorry for the late response. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know about the discrepancy in the Chewy.Com link. I am in the process of getting that updated.
Best Regards,
Jessica Mabie
The Fromm Gold has potatoes in the ingredients list.
Good Morning Mike,
Thank you so much for pointing that out! I am so sorry for my error, and I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to let me know.
I am in the process of updating the website to reflect Fromm’s Classic version that is free of potatoes as well.
Best Regards,
Jessica
Hey there! Hoping I can get this bit of information out there to the author, and maybe onwards to those involved in the review that ties peas and legumes with these issues… it may relate to the following (which is shared from a good friend, who professionally is an analytical chemist)
The standard basic test for protein content used by the USDA and most labs is the Kjeldahl test, which actually looks for nitrogen content. Protein contains known Nitrogen ratios, and you can therefore extrapolate protein content from nitrogen content. However that test assumes that the sample tested is mostly animal protein and that nobody is cheating. Because you can easily trick a Kjeldahl protein test by artificially boosting the nitrogen content. (Anyone remember the melamine disaster coming out of China in the early mod-00’s? That was a direct result of the manufacturer using a non-food chemical to fake the test). A less nefarious and non-fatal way to boost the protein content rating, but a cheat nonetheless is to use legumes or other edible content that is high in nitrogen. So the dog or cat food in question gets it’s higher USDA protein certificate, but isn’t necessarily as good as one might think. These manufactured foods include a lot of things that canines and felines just aren’t evolved to digest well. Ie. Peas. The manufacturers would love us to believe the addition of these things was to benefit our pet’s health , but in reality it was so they could claim higher protein content without actually spending the $ to actually increase it.
Jesse,
Thank you for your comments and information!
I appreciate you taking the time to share that with other reader and me.
Jessica
This info is so helpful!! Thank you.
Sounds typical. Look at what they feed the cows. Cows are NOT meant to eat corn, their stomachs can’t digest it at all. It’s why they have all the issues they do, and why they have to give them all the steroids, antibiotics, and all. Stupid humans….everything for the all mighty dollar!!
Hi,
The list you publish is interesting , but many seem hard to get, and expensive ( not all.)
What is your opinion of PetFresh? It is free of the potential problem ingredients. Dogs absolutely love it- picky eaters, dogs with all sorts of stomach, skin and allergy issues thrive on it.
Secondly, after the melamine tragedy for so many, a lot of homemade diets on the web included peas and lentils, and potatoes. Dogs don’t even require carbohydrates in their diet!
Hello Whitney,
Thank you for your message.
All of the foods are available online at Amazon.com, to be sure that they are at least accessible at an online retailer. Additionally, I agree some of the foods are expensive, but I do my best to research a variety of brands and price points to ensure that there are food options at different ranges.
The information I researched regarding potatoes, lentils, and peas is directly from the FDA website. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy
I am familiar with Pet Fresh and think it’s a good brand. I have fed this brand to my dogs on multiple occasions since they are picky eaters.
I can’t speak much regarding homemade foods. The time I did a homemade diet, I received the recipes directly from a veterinarian who is a nutritionist at the University of MN. I feel strongly that those who feed homemade food consult their trusted vet for advice to ensure they are feeding a balanced diet. Check out this great article from Tufts University regarding homecooked meals. https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/nutrition-service-forms/protein-and-carbohydrate-sources-of-home-cooked-pet-diets/
According to several vets carbohydrates do act as an important source of energy and can provide much added vitamins and nutrients. Also, the link above to Tufts does encourage including carbs to ensure a balanced diet, also, another great article regarding carbs in a dog’s diet can be found on PetMd. https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_carbohydrates_key_to_balanced_dog_food
Best Regards,
Jessica
The Nutro Ultra Senior variety as listed above as being free from peas, etc, states on the ingredient list Pea Protein. 🙁
Angela,
Thank you for taking the time to contact me and letting me know of the error. I apologize for the error and have sent in an edit to get this corrected.
With Great Appreciation,
Jessica Mabie
I am waiting for the new Merrick dog food that will be free of those starchy thing. When will the stores start selling the new version. They told me that what is already there has to be sold and that stinks.
Trust me I had a major run in with canned and dry America dog n cat foods a couple of years ago. I kept finding black slimy stuff in the canned. Instead of checking it out they just kept sending me that I had to throw away. Then they got quite nasty with me when I kept pushing them to find out what it was which they never did. Please don’t buy their products, my dogs got really sick on their food.
Sorry that was supposed to be MERRICK not American in my previous post.
I just want to give my reasons for going grain free. It is not because I’m some kind of trendy food extremest who just thinks carbs are bad (which is how the pet food industry portrays us). My concern is very high arsenic levels found in all rice (brown, white, organic, etc.). Consumer Reports revealed this years ago and FDA acknowledges it, yet the pet industry continues to use rice as a primary ingredient. Animals who eat rice products twice daily are ingesting arsenic far more than humans do and we are bound to see toxic results, such as cancer. So, for the same reasons humans are advised to reduce consumption of rice and other foods (such as tuna, due to its high mercury and other heavy metal contamination, etc.), I switched to grain free to reduce my pets’ exposure to known toxins/carcinogens. Of course, now I have to deal with the lectin controversy, which has far less evidence of toxicity than rice, but still can’t be ignored.
Kathy,
Thank you for taking the time to write in. I appreciate and understand your concerns and I think many of us have various reasons for omitting or including different ingredients in our dog’s diets.
Jessica
Hi Jessica, do you know brand names of a grain free and legume free dog food? Thank you
Hello Alissa,
Have you checked out Natural Balance? They offer Grain-Free potato and duck, sweet potato and fish, sweet potato and Bison, sweet potato and venison, chicken and sweet potato
I am pretty sure they are legume-free, but please double-check the ingredients
This is all so frustrating our little doxie girl is allergic to: beef, fish, lamb, corn, milk and POTATOES. even Natural Balance that has sweet potato still has dehydrated regular potatoes in it. She cannot eat kibble or even a stew type (no chunks) must be a pate (turkey for example) so even one you would think she could have still has hidden potatoe in it often. we fed her Zignature turkey but they quit making it or distributing it back n December. Everyone seems to come up with the best DRY dog food without potatoes but not canned. we are desperate!!
Alberta,
I am sorry to hear about your frustrations. If your dog has allergies, I would suggest a prescription food Z/D. It is a pate canned food. However, I believe Nulo freestyle trim turkey & cod recipe might work for you.
I hope this helps! Best wishes,
Jessica
How do you find out if the company uses China for making their dog food? I would like to stay away from anything made in China.
Thank you for a very informative web page. I should have known anyone using a German Shepherd as a dog profile would have information that is understandable and now I can make an informed decision for my dogs.