Dog food types
What is the link between grain free food and heart disease?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Since 2018, health authorities including the US FDA have tracked reports of dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens and enlarges the heart, in dogs eating certain grain free diets high in peas, lentils, or other legumes, though the exact cause has not been pinned down and the issue is not considered fully resolved by researchers.
What dilated cardiomyopathy is
Dilated cardiomyopathy causes the heart muscle to weaken and the chambers to enlarge, reducing the heart's ability to pump blood efficiently, and it has traditionally been linked mostly to specific breeds with a genetic predisposition, such as Doberman Pinschers and Great Danes.
Why diet entered the conversation
Reports began surfacing of the condition in breeds not typically prone to it, many of which were eating grain free diets with legumes as major ingredients, leading researchers to investigate whether something about these formulas, possibly reduced taurine availability, plays a role.
Where the science currently stands
No single mechanism has been definitively proven, and most grain free diets do not cause this problem, but the association was strong enough that many veterinary cardiologists now ask about diet when diagnosing unexplained cardiomyopathy in a dog.
Key takeaways
- Certain grain free diets high in legumes have been statistically associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in some dogs.
- The exact mechanism remains unproven, and this is an active area of ongoing research.
- Vets increasingly ask about diet history when investigating unexplained heart problems in dogs.