My Perfect Pet does not use peas or lentils in any of its recipes. Legumes have become a common, inexpensive protein and filler in many modern dog foods, but they have also drawn scrutiny in the ongoing conversation about canine heart health — so we leave them out and build our recipes around whole-food ingredients instead.
Why legumes became so common
As grain-free diets grew popular, many manufacturers needed a substitute to replace grains and boost protein percentages cheaply. Peas, lentils, and other legumes filled that role. They are inexpensive, plentiful, and help a label show a higher protein number — which is part of why they now appear so widely across the category.
The heart-health conversation
In recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has investigated a possible association between certain grain-free diets — particularly those high in legumes like peas and lentils — and cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a serious heart condition, in dogs. The science is still developing and no simple cause-and-effect has been established. But the open question has been enough for many thoughtful owners and brands to be cautious about legume-heavy recipes.
Our approach
Rather than lean on legumes to hit a protein number, our recipes are built around human-grade, USDA-inspected meats and whole vegetables. That means the protein comes from named meats like chicken, beef, lamb, pork, turkey, and cod — not from peas or lentils standing in for meat. It keeps each recipe simple, transparent, and easy to understand at a glance.
Frequently asked questions
Are peas and lentils dangerous for dogs? The research is ongoing and not settled. The FDA has examined a possible link between legume-rich grain-free diets and DCM, but no definitive cause has been confirmed.
Are your recipes grain-free? Our focus is on whole-food ingredients and named-meat protein rather than on using legumes as substitutes. Check individual recipes for their specific ingredients.
Should I be worried about my current food? If your dog eats a legume-heavy diet and you have concerns, especially about heart health, talk with your veterinarian.
If your dog has any history of heart concerns, discuss diet choices with your veterinarian before making a change.
See our whole-food, legume-free recipes at My Perfect Pet.