Are Legumes Bad for Dogs? What the Science Actually Says

If you have searched "are legumes bad for dogs" in the last few years, you are far from alone. The question has been kicking around pet parent forums since 2018, when the FDA opened an investigation into a possible link between certain grain-free, legume-rich diets and a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy. That investigation made a lot of headlines, and a lot of people came away worried about chickpeas, peas, lentils, and other plant proteins in dog food. Here is where the science stands today: no causal link between legumes and DCM has been established, the FDA paused its public updates in December 2022, and the most recent peer-reviewed feeding trials have shown legume-containing diets support normal cardiac function in healthy adult dogs. This guide covers what legumes actually are, the real nutritional benefits they offer dogs, the common myths that circulate, where the DCM concern stands today, and how Petaluma uses pulses responsibly in its recipes.

The short answer

Legumes are not bad for dogs. Chickpeas, peas, lentils, beans, soybeans, and peanuts are all part of the same plant family, and all are safely fed to dogs. They have been ingredients in commercial pet food for decades. The veterinary consensus today is that legumes are nutritious plant ingredients that contribute protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber, B vitamins, iron, and other minerals.

The reason the question shows up so often in search is the 2018 FDA investigation, which we cover later in this post. The short version: no causal link between legumes and canine heart disease has been established, the FDA paused its public updates in December 2022 pending further research, and the most recent controlled trials, including an 18-month prospective study published in the Journal of Animal Science in 2024, found legume-containing diets supported normal cardiac function in healthy adult dogs.

The real benefits of legumes for dogs

Legumes are a small ingredient category with a big nutritional footprint. Most of what shows up on a dog food label as chickpea flour, pea protein, lentil flour, or soybean meal delivers some combination of the following:

• High-quality plant protein. Pulses are among the most protein-dense plant foods, with chickpeas at roughly 20 percent protein by dry weight and pea protein isolate above 80 percent. Legumes are especially rich in lysine, an essential amino acid that grains tend to lack.
• Complex carbohydrates. The starch in legumes digests more slowly than the starch in white rice or potato, which means a steadier blood sugar response after meals. That matters for senior dogs, dogs with diabetes risk, and dogs prone to weight gain.
• Fiber, including fermentable fiber. Legumes contribute both soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble fraction feeds gut bacteria and supports a healthy microbiome.
• B vitamins. Pulses are particularly strong sources of folate, thiamin, and B6.
• Minerals. Iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and copper all appear in meaningful amounts.
• Phytonutrients. Polyphenols and other plant compounds with antioxidant activity.

Legumes also fit neatly into a complete plant-based formulation strategy. When paired with grains and seeds, the high-lysine profile of legumes complements the higher methionine content of grains, which gives a formulated diet the full essential amino acid profile dogs require. We unpack that pairing in our guide to the ten essential amino acids dogs need.

Five common myths, debunked

Myth 1: Legumes are toxic to dogs

False. Chickpeas, peas, lentils, soybeans, and peanuts are routinely fed to dogs in commercial diets and as homemade additions. They are not toxic. The one minor caveat is that raw, undercooked, or moldy beans contain antinutritional factors (lectins, trypsin inhibitors) that proper cooking inactivates. Pet food manufacturers cook legumes before incorporation, which removes this concern. Garlic and onions in the same recipe category as legumes (alliums) are a separate concern, but they are not legumes.

Myth 2: Dogs can't digest legumes

Well-cooked legumes are well digested by dogs. Apparent digestibility studies of pulse ingredients in dogs routinely report values in the 80 to 90 percent range for protein. Dogs are biologically omnivores with multiple copies of the amylase gene, which lets them break down plant starches efficiently. For more on the science of canine diet evolution, see our post on whether dogs are omnivores or carnivores.

Myth 3: Legumes always cause gas and bloating

Overstated. The starches and oligosaccharides in raw or under-cooked legumes can ferment in the lower gut and produce gas. Properly cooked and processed pulses in commercial dog food are much less gas-forming. If you suddenly add a large amount of any high-fiber food to a dog's diet, a temporary increase in flatulence is normal as the gut microbiome adjusts. A gradual transition over 7 to 10 days minimizes this.

Myth 4: Legume protein is "incomplete," so it can't sustain a dog

Technically true at the single-ingredient level for most legumes (which are lower in methionine than animal protein), but not useful as a critique of a formulated diet. A complete-and-balanced dog food combines legumes with grains, seeds, and targeted supplementation to deliver all ten essential amino acids at AAFCO-compliant levels. Soy, notably, is considered a complete protein on its own. The 2018 JAVMA review by Dr. Sarah Dodd and colleagues concluded that when a plant-based diet is appropriately formulated, "neither the total protein nor amino acid content is of concern."

Myth 5: Grain-free + legumes = heart disease

This is the myth most worth taking seriously, because it tracks the FDA's 2018 investigation. The honest answer is that the science has not supported a clean causal link, and the FDA itself paused public updates in December 2022 pending more research. Multiple controlled studies have not been able to reproduce a direct legume-to-DCM mechanism. The next section walks through the current status carefully.

Where the DCM concern stands

In 2018, the FDA opened an investigation into reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs eating diets that were high in peas, lentils, other legume seeds, and potatoes, many of them grain-free. Some of those dogs were breeds not previously known to have a genetic predisposition to DCM, which made the cluster unusual.

Since then, more than five years of follow-up research has not produced a clean causal explanation. Some studies found correlations; others did not. Proposed mechanisms (taurine deficiency, bile acid losses, oligosaccharide effects) have all been partially supported and partially contradicted. In December 2022, the FDA announced it would stop publishing public updates on the investigation until "future science allows us to make more substantive scientific recommendations."

Meanwhile, the most rigorous recent feeding trials have offered reassurance. The 2024 Journal of Animal Science 18-month prospective study followed 60 healthy adult dogs on four different diet types, including a grain-free diet with peas and potatoes, a grain-inclusive diet with peas, and grain-inclusive controls. Echocardiograms, blood and urinary taurine, and cardiac biomarkers were measured at 6, 12, and 18 months. Across all four diets, taurine remained well above the deficiency threshold, and cardiac function stayed within normal ranges. The authors concluded that different carbohydrate sources, including legume-containing diets, supported normal cardiac function in healthy adult dogs.

For pet parents of breeds that are genetically predisposed to DCM (Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Boxers, Cocker Spaniels, Newfoundlands) or for any dog with a confirmed cardiac concern, work with your veterinarian on diet selection. For broader background, we have a dedicated post on DCM in dogs with nutrition guidance, and a more technical clinical primer on pulses and canine DCM for veterinarians.

When extra attention to overall diet quality is warranted

For most healthy adult dogs eating a complete-and-balanced commercial food, legumes are not a concern. The broader principle worth keeping in mind is this: any dog that may be predisposed to a serious condition deserves extra attention to overall diet quality, complete amino acid coverage, and appropriate supplementation. This is true regardless of whether the food contains legumes or not. The food brand and formulation matter more than the presence or absence of any single ingredient category. A few situations where it is especially worth having a deliberate conversation with your veterinarian:

• Breeds with genetic predisposition to cardiac conditions. Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Boxers, Newfoundlands, and Cocker Spaniels carry higher baseline DCM risk for genetic reasons that are independent of diet. The practical priority for any dog in these breeds is a complete-and-balanced food formulated by veterinary nutritionists, with documented amino acid coverage and supportive nutrients like taurine, L-carnitine, and DHA. Periodic veterinary cardiac monitoring is reasonable regardless of food choice.
• Dogs with confirmed cardiac, metabolic, or other chronic disease. Diet selection should be a partnership with your veterinarian, with a focus on overall nutritional quality and any specific therapeutic targets your vet recommends. The right food for these dogs is a function of their full nutritional needs, not any single ingredient category.
• Known food allergy. Food allergies in dogs most often involve animal proteins (chicken, beef, dairy, egg), and a small percentage of dogs may react to specific plant proteins. If your dog has skin or gastrointestinal symptoms tied to a particular ingredient, work with your vet on an elimination diet to identify the culprit.
• Sudden, large diet change. Whether you are adding more fiber, switching to a higher-protein formula, or transitioning between brands, a gradual change over 7 to 10 days minimizes digestive upset. This is general advice for any food transition.
• Puppy growth. Puppies have higher requirements for calories, calcium, phosphorus, and certain amino acids. A puppy diet must be formulated specifically for growth and reproduction (AAFCO's stricter nutrient profile), not for adult maintenance.

How Petaluma uses legumes responsibly

Petaluma's plant-based recipes are built around legumes (primarily chickpeas and pea protein) paired with grains (oats, barley), seeds and nuts (flaxseed, peanut butter), and targeted supplementation. A few details on how we approach formulation:

• Limited pulse inclusion. Total pulse content is capped at approximately 20 percent of the formula, and pulses contribute less than 30 percent of total protein. This is well below the levels in many of the diets implicated in the FDA's 2018 investigation.
• Grain-inclusive, not grain-free. Oats and barley are part of every recipe. Grain-free was never part of Petaluma's philosophy.
• Complete amino acid profile. Recipes are formulated by veterinary nutritionists against AAFCO nutrient profiles. The full laboratory nutritional profile for each formula is posted on the product page.
• Added taurine and L-carnitine. Both recipes include added taurine and L-carnitine. Adding taurine directly is increasingly standard across the dog food industry regardless of protein source.
• Baked, not extruded. Baking preserves protein quality and amino acid availability without the high-pressure mechanical processing that can damage certain amino acids.

Frequently asked questions

Are legumes bad for dogs?

No. Legumes are safe and nutritious ingredients in commercial dog food when the diet is complete and balanced. The 2018 FDA investigation into legume-rich, grain-free diets and DCM did not establish a causal link, and the most recent controlled studies (including a 2024 18-month prospective trial) found legume-containing diets did not negatively affect cardiac function in healthy adult dogs.

Are chickpeas safe for dogs?

Yes. Plain, cooked chickpeas are safe for dogs in moderation. They provide plant protein, fiber, and minerals. Chickpeas are a primary protein source in many commercial diets, including Petaluma's. Avoid heavily seasoned chickpeas (canned chickpeas in brine, hummus, falafel) because of the salt, garlic, and other additives.

Are peas safe for dogs?

Yes. Both fresh green peas and dried peas (pulses) are safe for dogs. Pea protein is one of the most widely used plant proteins in modern dog food. The FDA's 2018 investigation flagged peas as a frequently appearing ingredient in implicated diets, but no causal link to DCM has been established, and recent controlled trials support pea-containing diets when fed as part of a complete-and-balanced formula.

Are lentils safe for dogs?

Yes, when cooked. Lentils provide plant protein, fiber, folate, iron, and complex carbohydrates. They appear in many commercial dog foods and are safe when the diet is complete and balanced.

Did the FDA confirm legumes cause DCM?

No. The FDA opened an investigation in 2018 based on reported case clusters but never established a causal link. In December 2022, the FDA announced it would stop publishing public updates until further research justifies more definitive recommendations. The FDA also stated it has not determined that any specific diet is definitively unsafe.

Should I avoid grain-free dog food?

Not necessarily, but there is no strong reason to choose grain-free over grain-inclusive for most dogs. Whole grains like oats and barley deliver fiber and nutrients without any of the concerns raised about the most legume-heavy grain-free formulations. Petaluma's recipes are grain-inclusive by design.

My dog gets gas after legume-containing food. Is that normal?

A short adjustment period of increased gas can happen with any dietary fiber change, including adding legumes. It usually settles within 1 to 2 weeks as the gut microbiome adapts. A gradual transition over 7 to 10 days helps. Persistent gas, diarrhea, or signs of discomfort warrant a vet visit.

References

1. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Investigation into Potential Link between Certain Diets and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy. fda.gov/.../canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy
2. American Veterinary Medical Association. Until more science is available, FDA will end public updates on potential link between certain diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy. December 2022. avma.org/news/until-more-science-available-fda-will-end-public-updates
3. Different carbohydrate sources in dog foods supported overall health and cardiac function: an 18-mo prospective study in healthy adult dogs. J Anim Sci. 2024. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40642821
4. Dodd SAS, Adolphe JL, Verbrugghe A. Plant-based diets for dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2018;253(11):1425-1432. avmajournals.avma.org/.../javma.253.11.1425
5. American Animal Hospital Association. 2018 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats (relevant to legume and fiber roles in glycemic control). aaha.org/.../2018-aaha-diabetes-management-guideline
6. Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Dog Food Nutrient Profiles. aafco.org

Related reading on the Petaluma blog: Legumes in dog diets: debunking myths and exploring benefits / Dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs: updated information and nutrition guidance / The 10 essential amino acids dogs need / Q&A with Dr. Blake Hawley DVM.

This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Diet decisions for any dog with a confirmed or suspected cardiac condition, allergy, or other chronic health issue should be made in partnership with your veterinarian.