Lentil
CautionA spoonful of plain cooked lentils is generally fine as a treat. Dry lentils and lentil curries are not, and lentil-heavy grain-free food belongs in a conversation with your vet because of the FDA's DCM investigation.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Excess gas
- Loose stool
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
More about this food
Lentils are not toxic to dogs. But "a spoonful on top of dinner" and "the second ingredient in the bag" are two completely different questions, and they deserve separate answers.
As a treat first. Cook lentils all the way through — dry or undercooked lentils are hard and poorly digested. Boil them in plain water, serve them unseasoned, and keep the amount small. They are fiber-dense, so a little too much produces gas and loose stool. AKC warns that excess fiber leads to GI upset, diarrhea and vomiting and can cause bloat, and Merck's feeding guidance keeps treats under 10% of total caloric intake.
Watch the dish they arrive in. Most dogs meet lentils as dal, lentil soup or a lentil salad, and nearly all of those are built on a base of onion and garlic sweated in fat. Merck reports clinical signs in dogs from 15-30 g/kg of raw onion, states garlic is 3-5 times more toxic, and notes cooking does not remove the toxicity. Hemolysis typically follows 3-5 days later. Canned lentils carry added sodium, and AKC's guidance on canned legumes is to avoid them for that reason.
The second question matters more. Between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2019, the FDA received 524 reports of dilated cardiomyopathy involving 574 animals, including 515 dogs, with 124 deaths. Ninety-three percent of the reported diets contained peas and/or lentils; 91% were labeled grain-free; 42% contained potatoes or sweet potatoes. The critical point is that FDA has not established causation — the agency says these reports by themselves do not supply sufficient data to establish a causal relationship, calls it a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors, and urges owners to work with their veterinarians, who may consult a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, before making diet changes.
So the practical advice splits cleanly. A few cooked lentils on top of a complete food is not what the investigation is about. If your dog's grain-free food lists lentils or peas among its first ingredients, do not switch on your own — take the bag's ingredient panel to your veterinarian and decide together.
Gas, loose stool and a distended belly after a lentil treat means cut the portion. Repeated vomiting and diarrhea, or lethargy, coughing, exercise intolerance and labored breathing, mean call your veterinarian rather than waiting.
Frequently asked questions
- My dog eats a grain-free food with lentils. Should I switch?
- Do not switch on your own. FDA reported that 93% of diets in its DCM reports contained peas and/or lentils, but also states no causal relationship has been established and urges owners to work with their veterinarian before changing diets. Bring the bag or a photo of the ingredient panel to your next appointment.
- He ate some lentil curry.
- The curry is the problem, not the lentils. Dal and lentil soups are built on onion and garlic, with added salt, spices and often cream. Note how much and when, call your veterinarian, and check gum and urine color daily for the next five days.
- How many cooked lentils can I give?
- There is no published limit, but think of a spoonful over a complete meal rather than a side dish. All treats should stay under 10% of daily calories, and lentils are fiber-dense enough that going over produces gas and soft stool quickly.