10 of the Best Dog Food Without Legumes, Peas, & Potatoes in 2021

Edited by: Mike Powell

Reviewed by: Abby Texas

Last Update:

If you have no idea what a legume is, you’re not alone. It’s a good idea to learn, though, if you’re a pet parent, because they are a common ingredient in dog foods and have been linked to worries about a particular heart disease.

In a nutshell (or a pod…), a legume is a type of plant that grows in a pod, such as beans, peas, and peanuts. 

They’re often found in grain-free dog foods, and although they’re generally healthy, you may choose to avoid them if your pup is predisposed to heart disease. 

Today we’ll be looking at the best legume-free dog food.

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Sources researched

18,900

Customer reviews

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Hours spent testing

10

Products tested

Product Name

Premium Option

Holistic Select Dog Food

Runner-up Option

Health Extension Original Recipe

Best Value For Money

Diamond Naturals Adult Real Meat Recipe

Rank

Ranked #1

Ranked #2

Ranked #3

Thumbail

Rating

Our Rating: 91 / 100

Our Rating: 91 / 100

Our Rating: 90 / 100

Pro 1

InNo legumes or potatoes and contains healthy, wholesome fruits and vegetablescredibly affordable and premium quality for its price

Contains superfood ingredients such as ginger, apple cider vinegar, & astragalus

Avoids all legumes & potatoes and makes use of great, healthy fruits and vegetables

Pro 2

Moderate protein and fat levels, making this great for most dogs

Moderate protein level and higher fat level to suit most dogs

Incredibly affordable and premium quality for its price

Buy Now

Check Price on Amazon

Check Price on Amazon

Check Price on Amazon

Custom Button

Check Price on Chewy.com

Check Price on Chewy.com

Check Price on Chewy.com

Premium Option

Product Name

Holistic Select Dog Food

Rank

Ranked #1

Thumbail

Rating

Our Rating: 91 / 100

Pro 1

InNo legumes or potatoes and contains healthy, wholesome fruits and vegetablescredibly affordable and premium quality for its price

Pro 2

Moderate protein and fat levels, making this great for most dogs

Buy Now

Check Price on Amazon

Custom Button

Check Price on Chewy.com

Runner-up Option

Product Name

Health Extension Original Recipe

Rank

Ranked #2

Thumbail

Rating

Our Rating: 91 / 100

Pro 1

Contains superfood ingredients such as ginger, apple cider vinegar, & astragalus

Pro 2

Moderate protein level and higher fat level to suit most dogs

Buy Now

Check Price on Amazon

Custom Button

Check Price on Chewy.com

Best Value For Money

Product Name

Diamond Naturals Adult Real Meat Recipe

Rank

Ranked #3

Thumbail

Rating

Our Rating: 90 / 100

Pro 1

Avoids all legumes & potatoes and makes use of great, healthy fruits and vegetables

Pro 2

Incredibly affordable and premium quality for its price

Buy Now

Check Price on Amazon

Custom Button

Check Price on Chewy.com

10 of the Best Dog Food Without Legumes, Peas, & Potatoes in 2021

Here are the best legume free dog foods on the market:

• Premium Option: Holistic Select Dog Food
• Runner-Up Option: Health Extension Original Recipe
• Best Value For Money: Diamond Naturals Adult Real Meat Recipe
• Best Legume-Free Dog Food For Seniors: Diamond Naturals Senior Formula
• Best Legume-Free Dog Food For Puppies: Diamond Naturals Puppy Food
• Best Raw Option: Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
• Best Limited Ingredient: Purina Simply 9 Limited Ingredient Diet
• Best Without Chicken: Holistic Select Adult Recipe
• Best For Active Dogs: Dr Tim’s Highly Athletic Momentum Formula
• Best Wet/Canned Food: Merrick Grain-Free Wet Dog Food

9. Dr Tim’s Highly Athletic Momentum Formula

Best For Active Dogs: Meat meal recipe with a high fat count for active dogs

Check Price on Chewy.com

Overall Rating84%

Carb Source Quality85%

Quality Protein85%

Helpful Supplements85%

Omega Fatty Acids90%

Affordability80%

PROS

• High protein and fat levels for active dogs 
• Very high Omegas, great for keeping skin & coats healthy 
• Contain DHA and EPA, which offer various benefits 
• High in calories for dogs who have high daily calorie needs 

CONS

• No real meat, only meat meal (which contributes to the high protein count) 
• Doesn’t contain glucosamine, which active dogs may need 

If you have a breed (or just a dog) that is highly active, he or she would benefit from higher-than-average protein and fat levels. Dr Tim’s Highly Athletic Momentum Formula delivers just that, with 35% protein and 25% fat to fuel your energetic pooch. 

Supplements added to this dog food include DHA and EPA, which are always great to see and promote great eye and brain health. It doesn’t, however, contain glucosamine, which could be a downer if your dog is a breed that needs it (although it’s simple to buy separate supplements). 

For a pup who needs a great quality food to fuel their daily activity, Dr Tim’s will give them what they need to live their best active life. 

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High-Quality Dog Food 

This dry dog food has a great mix of protein, fats, and carbs, with an emphasis on high protein and fat levels. There is no real meat in this kibble, but meat meal is far higher in protein and is just as good for your dog. 

Chicken fat and Menhaden fish oil provide a fantastic fat count for your pooch to draw upon in his day for energy. The carbs consist of just one grain – brown rice, which is easy to digest and wholesome and healthy.

What Makes Legumes Bad for Our Dogs? 

First of all, don’t get a fright and assume that any dog kibble with legumes in it is terrible for your dog’s health. Some of them are quite okay for your dog to eat. But some aren’t, like broad beans (fava beans), coffee beans, and any flavored beans. 

Let’s delve into some more info about when feeding your dog legumes is bad. 

When They Outweigh Animal Protein 

If the dog food has legumes as the first ingredient on the list, it’s a no-no! Although legumes are packed with protein, they should never be the primary protein source in your dog’s food. 

Animal protein should always make up most of the protein count. There’s nothing wrong with having some beans in there to supplement it, but they should really only be extras. 

When They’re Raw 

Most raw beans contain a substance called phytohaemagglutinin, which is considered to be a toxin to dogs. When cooked, those levels reduce drastically, although a small amount remains. It goes without saying, then, that it’s best to avoid any dog foods containing raw beans. 

In some cases, it’s hard to tell if the legumes in a dog food have been cooked. They don’t exactly mention it on the dog food formula label, although they’re not likely to be raw. If you’re worried, rather avoid them entirely! 

When They’re Processed 

Canned beans, peas, or chickpeas, baked beans, legumes that have been refried, or legumes that are otherwise processed should be avoided. These contain preservatives that can cause harm to your dog’s body. 

The Best Alternatives to Peas in Dog Food 

There’s a variety of foods you may find in a dog food formula without peas. The bonus of having so many alternatives is that there’s sure to be something your dog’s stomach can handle! 

Alternative Legumes – Lentils or Chickpeas 

Beans and pea ingredients are the biggest culprits when it comes to legumes getting a bad name. But lentils and chickpeas are also legumes, and they’re slightly healthier than peas and beans. 

They’re both high in protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Chickpeas and lentils can be a useful source of added protein to a dog food, as well as being good for dogs who need some extra fiber in their diet. 

If you’re making your dog fresh food every day, you can definitely add some lentils or chickpeas to their bowl, as long as they’re cooked. Don’t add spices when cooking them, though, not even salt or pepper 

Also, avoid feeding them legumes that come out of a can. These are usually preserved with chemical ingredients that aren’t too healthy for your pooch. 

Starches – Sweet & Traditional Potatoes and Tapioca 

Starches are a good, healthy alternative to legumes in dog food. You may need to test before you buy/make, though. Potatoes are one of the more common allergens in dog foods, so you’ll need to be sure your dog can digest them comfortably. 

Sweet potatoes are a great choice. They don’t induce allergies the same way white or russet potatoes do, and they provide long-lasting, slow-release energy throughout the day. They also tend to add a good bit of flavor to the dog, more so than traditional potatoes or tapioca. 

Tapioca is a starch that comes from the cassava root. It’s free from gluten, lectin, and it’s non-toxic. There’s some controversy over it, due to the poisonous nature of cassava root, but properly processed tapioca flour isn’t dangerous at all. 

It isn’t as vitamin-rich as the others, but it does supply a good lot of iron and calcium. It’s a good alternative to peas, legumes, and potatoes if your dog struggles with many ingredient allergies. 

Grains – Oats, Brown Rice, Or Millet 

As grains go, brown rice is a fantastic legume substitute. Others that are perfectly acceptable include oatmeal, millet, sorghum, and quinoa. The reason these grains are acceptable and corn, wheat, and soy aren’t, is because these don’t contain gluten. 

Gluten can cause digestive upset. Some dogs can deal with it quite well, but others can’t digest it well at all. It’s also not very nutrition-dense, so it’s basically a place-holder in your dog’s food. Some pet food manufacturers add it to bulk up the dog food, as it’s an affordable option for them. 

If you have to choose, go for white or brown rice. They’re high in fiber, which will help your dog’s digestive system along the way. They also contain vitamins and minerals. 

Don’t be afraid of grains in dog food. You don’t need to go “grain-free” for the kibble to be healthy! As long as they avoid corn, wheat, and soy, your dog’s stomach should be okay with it! 

Pumpkin & Squash 

Pumpkin and squash are similar to potato and sweet potato in that they’re slow-releasing vegetables that provide energy for your dog throughout the day. 

Like most vegetables, they’re packed with vitamins and minerals. They also add a good bit of texture to the dog food, as well as natural taste. 

These two vegetables are particularly good to feed dogs who have sensitive stomachs. They’re both loaded with fiber, so if your dog is suffering from diarrhea, feeding him or her some pumpkin or other squash can ease it up. 

Other squashes include acorn squash, spaghetti squash, and butternut squash. Take note that feeding your dog raw squash won’t have the same effects. Cooking releases vitamins, and of course it softens it up a little so it’s easier for your dog to digest. 

Also, if you’re going to be cooking it for your dog, remove the seeds and the skin. These can be an obstruction, but they also have little nutritional value. 

FDA Warnings 

The worry over legumes and grain-free dog foods isn’t without basis. The FDA has been investigating the link between grain-free dog foods—or more specifically, dog food containing legumes—and a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). 

There’s significant data to show that their investigation may have some merit to it. But that doesn’t mean you need to avoid legumes entirely, or choose a dog food with grains! There’s more that goes into it. 

Here’s the details and FDA warnings about grain-free food, or dog food containing legumes. 

DCM in Dogs  

Dilated cardiomyopathy refers to a condition in which the muscle in the heart degenerates and becomes thinner. When the muscular wall of the heart thins, the pressure of the blood inside it can cause it to “swell”, resulting in a larger-than-usual heart. 

The constant added pressure on the walls of the heart can lead to congestive heart failure. It can be hard to diagnose early, as it only displays signs and symptoms later. These include an increased breathing rate while asleep, finding it harder to breathe, a dry cough, weakness, decreased appetite, restlessness at night, and a swollen or distended abdomen. 

Dog breeds that are prone to the condition include Boxers, Great Danes, German Shepherds, Irish Wolfhounds, Saint Bernards, and Doberman Pinschers. On occasion, Spaniels and Portuguese Water Dogs also develop it. 

How Legumes Play a Role 

In 2018, the FDA alerted the dog world that they were investigating the link between DCM and dog foods containing peas, lentils, other legumes, and potatoes. 

This came about after a spate of DCM cases in dogs that were not predisposed to it. After initial research found that 90% of the ailing dogs had been eating a grain-free diet that contained peas or lentils, in some cases, both, the FDA put out a cursory warning to pet parents feeding their dogs grain-free diets with legumes. 

As of yet, there’s been no specific conclusion to this research. The FDA has stated that they believe the link is there, but it’s not clear as to whether the  DCM is caused by legumes and potatoes, or if it’s caused by other “exotic” ingredients in many grain-free diets, like unusual protein sources, or exotic vegetables and fruits. 

There’s no reason to worry yet. We suggest you choose common proteins over exotic ones, and make sure the ingredients are all-natural and healthy.

Things to Consider When Looking for the Best Legume-free Dog Foods

Carb Source Quality

Considering these legume ingredients are often added to grain-free dog foods, it makes sense that pet parents who are more averse to grains would be choosing these dog foods without peas. 

If your pup is sensitive to grains then we understand avoiding them completely. However, most dogs are sensitive to gluten – which means grains like rice, oats, sorghum, millet, and quinoa are totally okay for them to eat, but corn, wheat, and soy are not. 

It can happen that your pooch has a problem with all grains, in which case you will be looking for fruits and veggies. In our opinion, you should be looking for fruits and vegetables even if your dog’s food contains good grains, as they add a dose of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

We’ve made sure that despite the avoidance of legumes (peas, beans, and sneaky alfalfa) and potatoes, these dog foods without peas contain great quality carbohydrate sources that are healthy and wholesome. These may be fruits and veggies or healthy grains, or in some cases, both. 

Quality Animal Protein

Legumes often contain a good bit of protein in them, which adds to the overall protein count of the food. Protein is super important, but protein from animal sources are always preferable, even more so when there aren’t legumes included to up the protein count. 

We’ve checked these dog foods carefully to make sure they contain high-quality animal proteins. Some will have only one protein source (ie. turkey in various forms), while others may contain multiple proteins that add to the count. 

Even though legumes are more carbs than protein, the quality of the protein plays a huge part in how healthy the food is for your pooch, which is obviously the whole point of choosing a particular food. 

We’ve rated these dog foods without peas by a mixture of the quality of their protein and the protein count, depending on what breed or age it’s aimed at. 

Helpful Supplements

A dog food isn’t just … Food. Just as we humans use daily vitamins and supplements separate to our food, dogs need a couple of specific things to help them live their best life. 

Most of these supplements are included in their dog food, which is useful as you don’t need to worry about feeding them supplements separately. 

They include things like glucosamine and chondroitin for increased joint strength and stability, DHA and EPA for eye and brain health (especially for puppies and seniors), L-carnitine which boosts metabolism and helps with energy regulation, and added vitamins (common ones are vitamin A and E). 

It’s not necessary to have all of these in every dog food, but their presence definitely gives the kibble a boost and will give it a higher rating. 

Omega Fatty Acids

The fat content in your dog’s kibble is what gives them the quickest, most easily accessible energy source. Carbs are helpful for longer term, sustained energy, but fats are what really get your pup through the day. 

You’ll find a crude fat count and counts for Omega 3s and Omega 6s. These are all useful for energy, and for dogs who are prone to allergies related to dry dog food (as those who can’t tolerate legumes may be), Omegas are super for keeping your dog’s skin and coat healthy, sleek, and shiny. 

They’re great for reducing skin allergies and giving your pooch that healthy glow. Dogs whose parents are paying attention to their health and are interested in feeding them the best legume-free dog food will benefit from high levels of Omegas in many ways. 

Affordability

With new info coming to light all the time about the goodness and effectiveness of certain ingredients and diets, it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming being a dog parent. How do you make sure your pooch is getting the best while still sticking to a budget? 

Thankfully, there are options out there that are well within a decent price range. Of course, there are those that are up near the higher end – and if you can afford these, then go for it! 

If, however, you’re looking for something a little less pricey but with all the goodness and health benefits that the top of the range ones have, you’ll definitely find some options on this list to suit you. We even have the Best Value For Money option which is our top pick when it comes to paying for quality. 

Questions & Answers

What exactly are legumes? 

Not many of us actually know what legumes are. We’ll try to keep it short and sweet – we aren’t botanists, after all. 

Legumes (also known as pulses) are plants (or the fruit or seeds of said plants) of a specific family that has a long Latin name. It can be complicated when you start looking into what legumes really are, but simply put, they are plants whose fruit grows in pods. 

It’s easier to go into what plants and fruits fall under the legume umbrella (especially those that are commonly found in dog food). They include alfalfa, beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, and soybeans, which are often seen on dry dog food ingredient lists. 

Why choose a legume-free dog food?

Although legumes are not bad for your dog, they have gained a bit of a negative reputation due to the FDA’s investigation into grain-free dog foods. It was thought that they contributed to the development of a disease called Dilated Cardiomyopathy, which is a heart condition in dogs, and their reputation hasn’t recovered despite the studies coming to no definitive conclusion. 

Although research has suggested that DCM is more likely caused by “boutique” diets that contain exotic ingredients, not just grain-free dog foods, it can be a worry for pet parents whose dogs have to eat grain-free dog foods for health reasons. 

If you have a dog breed that is predisposed to DCM, it may be helpful (even if just for your peace of mind) to feed them a food that avoids these ingredients. 

Even apart from DCM, certain breeds are just more predisposed to food allergies, which can leave them feeling uncomfortable and miserable. If you have a Bulldog, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Spaniel, Pug, Yorkie, or Pitbull, you may want to consider putting them on a legume-free dog food from the start.

What is dilated cardiomyopathy and should I be worried about it? 

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart condition that is characterised by an enlarged heart that struggles to pump blood properly. 

The word “dilated” means wider or more open, and that’s exactly what happens to the chambers of the heart when a pup suffers from this disease. When these chambers widen, their blood-pumping action isn’t as effective, meaning your pup’s body doesn’t get supplied with oxygen as effectively as it usually would. It can also cause fluid to accumulate in tissues, which leads to various complications. 

Symptoms usually only show up quite late in the progression of the disease, and include weakness and lethargy, laboured breathing or panting for no apparent reason, unexplained coughing, and distension of the abdomen. 

The fact is, any dog can develop any disease at any time. It’s impossible to prevent diseases and disorders through diet, no matter how hard you try to avoid potentially problematic ingredients in their dog food. Diet isn’t the only thing that contributes to health, and sometimes things develop despite our best efforts to keep our pups eating only good stuff. 

If your dog has noticeable, debilitating signs and symptoms of a food allergy or intolerance, it’s natural to find them a dry dog food that doesn’t have the same effects. If they have a pre-diagnosed condition that can be helped by eating a certain diet (such as hypothyroidism), it may be worth it to change their diet. DCM, though, is something that may or may not happen, and it’s still up in the air as to whether diet is a deciding factor in that. 

If your pup eats grain-free and you want them to keep doing so but you’re worried about DCM, then a legume-free, grain-free food may be a good idea for you and your pooch. If, however, your fluff is doing great on their grain-free, including-legumes diet and you’re happy and they’re happy (and they’re not a breed predisposed to it) then the chances of it being something you need to worry about are small. 

What should I look for when choosing the best legume-free dog food? 

If you’ve decided to give a legume-free dog food a try, then there are still certain things you should be checking for to make sure you’re getting the great quality stuff. 

You should be looking for a premium quality ingredient list that contains wholesome, real dog food ingredients. A high quality animal protein (or more than one) should be the first ingredient on the list. 

Carbs don’t necessarily need to include grains, unless you (or your pup) prefer it that way. Good grains include rice, oats and oatmeal, barley, millet, buckwheat, sorghum, and quinoa are perfectly healthy and should be easy on your dog’s tummy. 

Whether or not there are grains, the addition of fruits and vegetables is always a good thing. Non-legume veggies (that aren’t potatoes) include sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, and spinach. Fruits are super as well and add a dash of vitamins, so look for apples, blueberries, cranberries, papaya, and oranges. 

There should be a nice level of Omega fatty acids and added supplements such as glucosamine & chondroitin, L-carnitine, and DHA and EPA. The necessity of these will depend on your pooch, but they’re great to see in a dry dog food. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a grain-free diet (whether or not it contains legumes)? 

Grain-free dog food has become more popular in recent years but is it really a good thing? 

Quality grain-free dog foods are free from grains that are considered to be indigestible to dogs, like wheat, soy, and corn. They also avoid gluten-free grains, such as barley, oats, rice, and so on. Their carbohydrates are usually made up of veggies and fruits, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and of course, legumes (peas, chickpeas, lentils). 

Some dogs just don’t react well to grains, so a grain-free diet means their tummies are happier and they get more nutrients in as they aren’t as fussy eaters as they most likely were on a grain-containing dog food. In this case, a grain-free diet can visibly improve the quality of a dog’s life. 

Grain-free diets are also widely considered to be more nutrient-dense, promote better digestion, reduce allergies, increase energy levels, and provide longer-lasting, slower-burning energy. 

Disadvantages are the obvious link to DCM that’s been mentioned throughout this article (although nothing has been conclusively proven), the fact that grain-free dog foods are a little more pricey than those containing grains, and the potential for weight gain due to the density of the food. 

Grain-free is also not automatically healthier than those with grains. It’s important to look at everything from the protein source and quality, types of carbs, fat content, and added supplements before assuming that a grain-free dog food is better than one with grains. 

If I’m looking for a potato-free dog food, can I still use one with sweet potato? 

We’ve avoided dog foods with potatoes on this list, because of their link to DCM, as well as being a common allergen for dogs. Sweet potatoes, though, are slightly nutritionally different to white potatoes, and are still appropriate for a pup who may have to avoid white potatoes due to allergies. 

White potatoes are a common ingredient in dog food as they’re cheaper than sweet potatoes. They have a higher glycemic index than sweet potatoes, which means they contain more natural sugar, so they could be a problem for pups with diabetes. 

They’re dense carbohydrates but actually offer less nutritional value than sweet potatoes. There have also been worries about certain carcinogens that are produced when white potatoes are cooked, making them a little less stable as an ingredient in dog foods without peas.

Sweet potatoes are more nutrient-dense than their white counterparts and contain less sugar but more vitamins and antioxidants. They are high in starch, so too much of them can contribute to weight gain, but that’s just as true for white potatoes!

All in all, if your pup needs to avoid white potatoes, then you should be able to go with sweet potatoes no problem. They are highly nutritious and don’t produce the same allergies as white potatoes do.