DCM “Safe”: Approved for Goldens

Make sure your Golden is on a “Safe” Food

Updated 10/30/24

This is our current “Safe/Approved Foods” list. We will do our best to keep this page up to date. Due to the fact that Golden Retrievers are one of the breeds that are associated with diet-related DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy), it is important that you are extremely careful about what you feed your dog/puppy. This is the main reason I have created a “Safe” Foods list in the first place.

For the health of my puppies, I require that you ONLY feed one of the brands/formulas noted below for the Health Guarantee that I provide to stay valid. The only caveat to this requirement is if your veterinarian prescribes a veterinary diet food such as Purina, Royal Canin, or Science Diet. Any prescribed food can only be purchased through a veterinarian or with a written prescription.

Ultimately, Your Choice

I cannot MAKE you feed specific foods. Nonetheless, please understand that I do the research and keep up to date on those foods that are correlating with DCM cases. REMEMBER – Just as I state in my Feeding Goldens article, Cost DOES NOT equal QUALITY when it comes to dog foods. I do not want you to go broke trying to feed your puppy/dog. Still, I want to make sure you are feeding a “safe” food to limit the risk of DCM.

I have used many of the puppy foods on the list below, previously, all Purina products were my “go-to” and these are still safe concerning DCM (according to the studies). However, there are formulas that I will no longer feed due to the new recipe. On the other hand, there are people who SWEAR BY Royal Canin. There are also those that prefer Science Diet, since it was the only Veterinary brand for many years. Additionally, there are vets that push only those foods that are “supported” by the WAVSA.

If you have a puppy from me, you can choose to feed any of the foods listed below based on what you feel is best for your dog. However, if you want to learn more about what I have chosen to feed my dogs, and why, you should check out the “Feeding Your Golden” article.

All of the foods I have listed below are currently in the “safe” list for food associated DCM. The foods associated with DCM are growing exponentially as more tests are done and more cases are found. PLEASE be careful when you decide what to feed your puppy! Current studies have pinpointed pea products and lentils as the primary issue. Secondary, that they have not yet confirmed whether or not sweet potatoes are an issue.

Standing Suggestions

We raise our puppies on Purina Pro Plan High Protein DHA Lamb & Rice Formula Puppy, Diamond Naturals Puppy, and Bil Jac Large Breed puppy. If you get a puppy from us, you need to keep your puppy on two of these three foods until he/she is 12 weeks old. After that point, if you want to change foods, make sure that you change them to two of the approved foods below. **We still suggest you choose two of the foods mentioned below and mix them to help make sure your puppy gets the optimal nutrition. Make sure each food is a different manufacturer (Ex: Royal Canin and Bil-Jac)**

Additionally, do not feed your puppy/dog on a schedule if you do not have to. Dogs know how much they need no matter what the back of the bag states. If you start your puppy off with free feeding, you should never have issues with overeating. If you want to start feeding an adult this way, it is a MUCH longer process, but it is possible. Finally, if your dog is getting a little too heavy, you change the food, not the feeding process.

CAVEAT:

If you are a puppy owner and have been feeding one of the foods we recommend and we find out that it needs to be taken off the list, your pup’s guarantee WILL NOT be in danger. We will still happily support our health guarantee. We understand that this information is changing every couple of months. Additionally, it has been shown that dogs with food associated DCM often “recover” when put on a “safe” food.

When I started this page, I only went off those foods that were approved by the WSAVA. However, I have done a great deal of research on this topic. Since the suspected food ingredients are peas, lentils, sweet potatoes, and “designer” additives, then those foods “supported” by the WSAVA are not the only safe foods. Additionally, there are some recipes made by the WSAVA manufactures that contain some sort of pea, lentil, or sweet potato as an ingredient. Finally, through consistent research, I find out which company plants are being investigated for FDA non-compliance, and which companies change their recipes without “notifying” the public.

I am constantly adding and removing foods from this list only due to their ingredients. As a result, this list may never be 100% complete. However, if the food you have chosen for your dog is not on this list – MAKE SURE to look at the ingredients of the food you purchase. If the food you use is not on this list, you can contact me directly if you would like me to look into it and explain why it is not on the list. If I find that thed food you have me check out is beneficial and follows the specific parameters I look for, I can add it to the list.

“Approved” Puppy Foods

Bil-Jac

  • Bil-Jac Puppy Select Chicken Recipe (Chewy)
  • Bil-Jac Large Breed Puppy Chicken Recipe (Chewy)

Nutro Ultra

  • Nutro Ultra Puppy Three Protein (Chewy)

Country Vet

  • Country Vet Naturals Growing Puppies (Chewy)

NutriSource

  • Large Breed Puppy Chicken & Rice (gotpet)

Merrick

  • Classic Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food Puppy (Chewy)

Purina

  • Purina One Plus – Healthy Puppy Formula Premium Dog Food (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan High Protein DHA Lamb & Rice Formula Puppy (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Sport Development Large Breed High-Protein 30/18 Chicken & Rice Formula Puppy (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Sport Development High-Protein 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula Puppy (Chewy)

Diamond Naturals

  • Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy (Chewy)

Iams/Eukanuba

  • Iams Proactive Health® Smart Puppy Large Breed (Chewy)
  • Iams Smart Puppy Original (Chewy)
  • Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy Food (Chewy)
  • Eukanuba Lamb 1st Ingredient Dry Puppy Food (Chewy)

Royal Canin

  • Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy Food (Chewy)
  • Royal Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food (Chewy)

Victor

  • Victor Purpose Nutra Pro (Chewy)

Nulo

4Health

  • Wholesome Grains Puppy Lamb and Rice (TS)
  • Wholesome Grains Large Breed Puppy Chicken Formula (TS)

Approved All Life Stages Foods

  • Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog Food (Chewy)
  • Dr. Tim’s All Life Stages Kinesis Formula Dry Dog Food (Chewy)
  • Blackwood Salmon Meal & Brown Rice Recipe Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula  (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Sport Small Bites All Life Stages High-Protein Lamb & Rice Formula (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance All Life Stages High-Protein 30/20 Salmon & Rice Formula (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance All Life Stages High-Protein 30/20 Salmon & Cod Formula (Chewy)

Approved Adult and Senior Foods

Bil-Jac

  • Picky No More Medium & Large Breed Chicken Liver Recipe (Chewy)
  • Adult Select Chicken Recipe (Chewy)
  • Large Breed Adult Chicken Recipe (Chewy)
  • Senior Select Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe (Chewy)
  • Reduced Fat Chicken Recipe (Chewy)
  • Sensitive Solutions Whitefish Recipe (Chewy)

Nutro Ultra

  • Nutro Ultra Large Breed High Protein Adult 

Country Vet

  • Country Vet Naturals 24-10 Senior (Chewy)
  • Country Vet Naturals 24/14 Healthy Diet (Chewy)

Purina

  • Purina One Plus Small Bites Beef & Rice Formula Adult Premium Dog Food (Chewy)
  • Purina One Smartblend Chicken & Rice Formula Natural Adult Dog Food (Chewy)
  • Purina One Lamb & Rice Formula Natural Adult Dog Food (Chewy)
  • Purina One Small Breed Lamb & Rice Formula (Chewy)
  • Purina One Vibrant Maturity 7+ Chicken Formula Adult Premium Dry Dog Food (Chewy)
  • Purina One Adult High-Protein Healthy Weight Formula Turkey Formula (Chewy)
  • Purina One Adult Joint Health Formula (Chewy)
  • Purina One Adult Skin & Coat Formula Dry Dog Food (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon Adult Large Breed Formula (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan High Protein Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula with Probiotics (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Beef & Rice Formula (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Salmon & Rice Formula (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Adult with Probiotics Lamb & Oat Meal Formula High Protein (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Adult with Probiotics Turkey & Oat Meal formula High Protein (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Shredded Blend Turkey & Rice Formula High Protein (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Lamb & Rice Formula (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula (Chewy)
  • Purina Pro Plan Calm & Balanced Chicken & Rice Calming (Chewy)

NutriSource

Iams™ and Eukanuba™ 

  • Iams Chicken and Whole Grain – Minichunks (Chewy)
  • Iams Lamb and Rice Minichunks (Chewy)
  • Iams Chicken and Whole Grain – Large Breed (Chewy)
  • Iams Lamb and Rice – Large Breed (Chewy)
  • Eukanuba Adult Small Bites (Chewy)
  • Eukanuba Adult Large Breed Lamb 1st Ingredient  (Chewy)
  • Eukanuba Adult Lamb 1st Ingredient (Chewy)
  • Iams Proactive Health Active Chicken & Turkey Recipe High Protein Adult (Chewy)
  • Iams Advanced Health Adult Healthy Digestion  (Chewy)
  • Iams Advanced Health Skin & Coat Chicken & Salmon Recipe Adult (Chewy)
  • Iams Mature Adult ProActive Health Original (Chewy)
  • Iams Mature Adult Large Breed – ProActive Health (Chewy)
  • Eukanuba Senior Large Breed Dry Dog Food (Chewy)
  • Eukanuba Senior Lamb 1st Ingredient (Chewy)
  • Iams Proactive Health Healthy Large Breed Adult Weight Control (Chewy)

Royal Canin®

  • Golden Retriever Adult Dry Dog Food (Chewy)
  • Large Adult Dry Dog Food (Chewy)

Merrick

  • Classic Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains Adult (Chewy)
  • Classic Healthy Grains Real Beef + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains (Chewy)
  • Classic Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food Real Lamb + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains (Chewy)
  • Backcountry Chicken-Free Raw Infused Pacific Catch Recipe with Healthy Grains (Chewy)
  • Healthy Grains Raw-Coated Kibble Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe Freeze-Dried (Chewy)

Hill’s Science Diet®

  • Chicken & Barley Recipe dog food (Chewy)
  • Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Recipe dog food – Large Breed (Chewy)
  • Chicken & Barley Recipe dog food – Large Breed (Chewy)
  • Hill’s Science Diet Senior Adult 7+ Perfect Digestion Small Bites Chicken (Chewy)
  • Hill’s Science Diet Senior Adult 7+ Perfect Digestion Chicken (Chewy)
  • Adult Perfect Digestion Salmon (Chewy)
  • Adult Perfect Digestion Small Bites Chicken  (Chewy)
  • Adult Perfect Digestion Large Breed Chicken (Chewy)

Victor

  • Select Beef Meal & Brown Rice (Chewy)
  • Purpose Performance Formula (Chewy)
  • *Realtree MAX-5 PRO (Chewy)

4Health

  • Wholesome Grains Adult Lamb and Rice Formula (TS)
  • Wholesome Grains Adult Beef and Rice Formula (TS)
  • Strive Endurance 90 Formula (TS)
  • Strive Hi-Energy 83 Formula (TS)
  • Strive Endurance Performance 87 Formula (TS)

Diamond Naturals

  • Large Breed Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula (TS)
  • Senior Formula (Chewy)
  • Extreme Athlete Formula (Chewy)
  • Light Formula (Chewy)
  • Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Adult (Chewy)
  • Large Breed Adult Chicken & Rice (Chewy)
  • Beef Meal & Rice Formula Adult (Chewy)

You Should NEVER feed the following:

  • RAW or BARF diets
  • Fromm
  • Blue Wilderness
  • Blue Buffalo
  • Taste of the Wild
  • Any Grain Free Foods (unless medically necessary – which is uncommon).
  • Food that include peas, lentils, or sweet potatoes in the first 9 ingredients.
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