DCM stands for dilated cardiomyopathy. If a dog is diagnosed with DCM, it means their heart muscle is enlarged and weakened, potentially causing valves to leak. Over time, this leads to congestive heart failure.

In 2018, the FDA announced that it was investigating reports of DCM in dogs that were eating certain foods, many of which were grain-free and had a high percentage of legumes in the ingredients. As a result, dog owners have been switching their dogs to a grain-inclusive diet. However, this is not a suitable option for dogs that are allergic to grain, so always speak to your vet before making any changes to your dog’s food.

If you’re considering making a switch to a new food, here are the best dog foods to avoid DCM. Browse these reviews to see if there’s one that will work well for your dog today. Once you find one that you like, ask your vet about adding it to your dog’s diet.

Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pet’s individual case.

A Glance at Our Top Picks (2024 Update)

The 10 Best Dog Foods to Avoid DCM

1. The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe Fresh Dog Food Subscription — Best Overall

The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe contains no legumes. This fresh dog food is made with healthy, nutritious ingredients to give your dog a completely balanced diet. The food is not available in stores, though. This is a delivery service that will send the food right to your door. It is then stored in your freezer until you’re ready to thaw and serve it.

Each package of food comes with your dog’s name on it, which is helpful if you’re ordering for multiple dogs. The recipes can be pre-portioned to your dog’s caloric needs. You can offer your dog fresh food from wholesome ingredients, making The Farmer’s Dog the best overall dog food to avoid DCM. The recipes are formulated by veterinary nutritionists and meet the AAFCO standards for quality¹.

Keep in mind that this is a grain-free food. Talk to your vet about whether grain-free food is right for your dog, and always speak to your vet before changing anything in your dog’s diet.

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2. Evanger’s Super Premium Dry Dog Food — Budget Buy

Made with no artificial ingredients or preservatives, Evanger’s Super Premium Dry Dog Food is the best dog food to avoid DCM for the money. You can purchase a 4.4-, 16.5-, or 33-pound bag, depending on how much you need at a time to match your dog’s size and age.

This food is complete and balanced, meeting AAFCO standards for dogs of all life stages. Real chicken is the first ingredient. Prebiotics and probiotics work to promote healthy digestion. Ingredients like carrots, cranberries, parsley, blueberries, and oatmeal provide antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

The kibble size is small, around the size of large peas. The food is meant for all breeds, but large breeds may prefer a bigger kibble.

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3. Annamaet Original Option Dry Dog Food

The Annamaet Original Option Dry Dog Food is not only a suitable option to avoid DCM, but it’s also ideal for dogs with poultry allergies. This food’s protein content is made up of salmon, lamb, and fish meal to give your dog a high-protein food that is also low in fat. Cranberries, blueberries, and apples add to the vitamin and mineral count. This food also includes prebiotics and probiotics for gut health.

This whole-grain formula is fortified with omega fatty acids for skin, coat, and brain health. The chelated chemicals in the recipe help your dog absorb minerals that are vital for immune system health. The L-carnitine in the food works to metabolize fat to promote healthy muscle mass.

The kibble size has recently changed and is much larger than it used to be. It’s too big now for some small dogs that previously ate this food.

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4. Dr. Gary’s Best Breed Holistic Dry Puppy Food

Chicken and menhaden fish make up the protein content of Dr. Gary’s Best Breed Holistic Dry Puppy Food. Antioxidant-rich ingredients blend with glucosamine and essential fatty acids for healthy puppy development and joint function. The brain and nervous system are supported by the addition of EPA and DHA.

This balanced recipe provides the proper amounts of protein, fat, and carbs to keep puppies energetic and growing strong. Oatmeal and flaxseed aid digestion, so the food is gentle on puppies’ sensitive stomachs. This food is suitable for puppies of all sizes.

Since chicken is the first ingredient in this recipe, the food is not an option for dogs with poultry allergies. If your dog is not allergic to chicken and can tolerate grain, this is a healthy option to avoid DCM.

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5. Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Mini Breed Dry Dog Food

The Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Mini Breed Dry Dog Food is perfect for small or mini breeds. This low-glycemic, limited-carb recipe may also be a suitable option for diabetic dogs. Check with your vet before making any changes to your dog’s diet.

This food is helpful in avoiding DCM in dogs because it contains no legumes but still offers premium nutrition. The breakdown of the recipe is 60% animal ingredients, 20% organic spelt and oats, and 20% fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals. The formula is GMO free. Omega fatty acids promote skin and coat health, while antioxidants from pomegranates and berries help fight off free radicals in your dog’s body.

The kibble size is tiny and not made for large dogs.

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6. Dr. Tim’s Heirloom Ancient Grains Dry Dog Food

Fish, eggs, and pork are blended to make up the high protein content in Dr. Tim’s Heirloom Ancient Grains Dry Dog Food. This wholesome recipe is crafted for sedentary to moderately active dogs, working with the metabolisms of a more casual lifestyle. Ancient, unchanged grains like spelt and millet are added for nutritional support. The recipe promotes digestive and immune system health with the addition of BC30 probiotic support. Omega fatty acids, EPA, and DHA support brain health and mental clarity while keeping coats healthy.

The recipe for this food was formulated by a Ph.D. canine nutritionist and a small animal veterinarian. There is no poultry in this food, so it’s a good option for dogs with poultry sensitivities.

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7. Nature’s Logic Dry Dog Food

The Nature’s Logic Dry Dog Food is a pricey option for those looking for a food that will help dogs avoid DCM. This grain-inclusive recipe contains probiotics and digestive enzymes that aid digestion. Lamb is the first ingredient, but those looking to avoid poultry should be aware that chicken fat is also included in the formula.

Lamb meal from grass-fed lamb helps boost this food’s impressive protein content. The recipe contains no peas, lentils, potatoes, or wheat. This food is also eco-friendly, with both the kibble and packaging produced using renewable electricity.

This food is made for dogs of all life stages and sizes, which is convenient. You don’t have to keep switching foods as your dog ages. However, the kibble size is small, so large dogs can eat and swallow this food too quickly.

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8. FirstMate Dry Dog Food

The gluten-free and low-glycemic formula in FirstMate Dry Dog Food is a great option that won’t spike blood sugar. The food has no peas, potatoes, or wheat. The recipe contains 70% protein from free-range, Australian lamb. The other 30% is made up of fruits and grains, including blueberries, cranberries, oatmeal, and brown rice. Your dog can have a low-carb meal while still getting the vitamins and minerals that they need.

While chicken fat is used in the recipe, the food contains no chicken protein. This will help reduce the risk of poultry-related allergies and sensitivities but won’t eliminate it. Some dogs with poultry allergies can eat this food without any issues.

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9. Tuscan Natural Simply Pure Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food

The hypoallergenic formula in Tuscan Natural Simply Pure Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food limits the risk of reactions in dogs with allergies. The food is also easy to digest, making it ideal for sensitive stomachs. The kibble is formulated with extra virgin olive oil for healthy coats and a boost of antioxidants.

Grass-fed lamb is the first ingredient and the food’s single protein source, making it easy for your dog to digest it and reducing allergic reactions. The food is made in the U.S.A. by Ph.D. nutritionists.

Some dog owners don’t like the odor of this food or the way that their dogs smell after they eat it.

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10. Blackwood Large Breed Dry Dog Food

Most of the protein in Blackwood Large Breed Dry Dog Food comes from whitefish to give your dog energy and promote healthy muscles. This legume-free recipe uses oatmeal along with probiotics for healthy, easy digestion. The food is cooked in small batches to lock in flavor and nutrients for overall health and wellness.

There are no artificial colors or flavors in this food. The protein content is lower than some other foods on this list, but the fat content is also low. The kibble size is made for large or giant breeds. Small or mini breeds may not be able to chew this food.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Foods to Avoid DCM

You may have heard the reports of dogs developing dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, after eating grain-free diets, and now you’re looking for a food without legumes or potatoes. The investigation between a grain-free diet and DCM began in 2018. From July 2018 through 2019, over 500 dogs have experienced issues associated with DCM. DCM is the most common cause of heart failure in dogs, for which there is no cure.

If you’re unsure of what to do, especially if you’ve been feeding your dog a grain-free diet that includes legumes, contact your vet to work with them and find the best food for your dog. If your dog has a grain allergy, grain-free may be your only option. In this case, we recommend that you consider the first pick on this list. It’s grain-free but contains no legumes.

Here are a few more tips for selecting a dog food to avoid DCM.

Taurine

Some cases of DCM were caused by a lack of taurine in the dog’s diet. Taurine is an essential amino acid that is found in animal protein. In the mid-1990s, it was discovered that adding taurine to a dog’s diet if they were taurine deficient could significantly improve heart function.

The best way to avoid a taurine deficiency in your dog is to feed them food rich in fresh meat, including organs like hearts, livers, kidneys, and lungs. Protein sources like chicken and fish are also rich in taurine. Hooved animals, like beef, lamb, and goat, contain lower amounts. Look for the taurine content on the package label, and ask your vet what the daily taurine requirement is for your dog.

No Legumes

Grain-free diets tend to use more legumes and potatoes to provide plant-based protein. This also enables manufacturers to use less whole meat in their recipes, saving money. This is why foods without legumes tend to be more expensive. The good news is that there is a food without legumes for every budget.

Things to avoid:

Grains

For a long time, a grain-free diet was pushed as being healthier than one with grain. Dogs were believed to be allergic to grain. While this is true in some cases, it’s more common for dogs to be allergic to the protein source in dog food. For example, you may think that your dog is allergic to grain when they are actually having a reaction to poultry.

Your vet may suggest a bland diet for a while and then slowly reintroduce things to the diet to pinpoint the culprit. If your dog is not allergic to grain, you can safely feed them a grain-inclusive diet and they will receive health benefits from it. Speak to your vet if you have any questions.

If you’ve been feeding your dog a grain-free diet for years, developing DCM is not a guarantee. The most important thing to do is make sure your dog is getting enough taurine.

If you’d like to switch to a grain-inclusive diet or a grain-free diet without legumes, this list has great options for you to check out.

Conclusion

For the best overall dog food to avoid DCM, we like The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe. This is a subscription dog food delivered to your door using the freshest, natural ingredients. For a value option, Evanger’s Super Premium Dry Dog Food contains probiotics and prebiotics in the recipe and has a large bag size option.

We hope that these reviews have helped you decide on the best food for your dog. Remember to consult with your vet before changing your dog’s diet.

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