Diet Related DCM in a real issue within retrieving (and some herding) breeds. However, there is an easy way to prevent this, not feeding the wrong dog foods. Below is a list of dog foods (through photos of the bags) that have been researched and do not contain ingredients that are currently associated with diet related DCM.
Make sure your Golden is on a “Safe” Food
Updated 04/02/26
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.
Please note: Just because one recipe in a brand of dog food is “safe,” this does not mean all of the recipes are. Please make sure that you pay attention to the way the bag looks and the ingredients.
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 recipes. 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. DO NOT FEED A GOLDEN RETREIVER FOODS THAT HAVE PEAS OR LENTILS IN THE FIRST 8 INGREDIENTS!!
Standing Suggestions
We raise our puppies on Eukanuba 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.
As stated in my puppy information. I strongly suggest you mix at least two different foods throughout your dog’s life.
Safe Foods: Puppy
Bil Jac
Iams
Nutri/Pure
Eukanuba
Nutro
Dr. Tim’s
Royal Canin
4 Health
Nulo
Victor
Merrick
Safe Foods: Adult
Bil Jac
Iams
Nutri Source
Eukanuba
Nutro Ultra
Dr Tim’s
Royal Canin
Science Diet
4 Health
Nulo
Victor
Merrick
Safe Foods: Senior
Not all dogs need to be put on a senior formula unless they are having health or teeth issues. If your dog is on some sort of specialty food, they should be kept on what works for as long as their systems can handle it.
Bil Jac
Iams
Nutri Source
Eukanuba
Dr. Tim’s
Royal Canin
Science Diet
Victor
Merrick
Safe Specialty Dog Foods – Sensitive, Mobility, Weight
Bil Jac
Iams
Nutri Source Pure Vita
Nutro
Royal Canin
Science Diet
4 Health
H.E.B. Heritage Ranch
This is the only “Safe” dry food I found in their recipes.
Victor
Merrick
You Should NEVER feed the following:
- Home 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 potatoes in the first 9 ingredients.