09/17/2026
Our Feeding Recommendation: Grain-Free Diets & Heart Health
The long-term health of our Weimaraners is extremely important to us, and nutrition is one area where we believe prevention and informed choices matter.
For this reason, we strongly recommend that our families do not feed grain-free diets or diets containing high concentrations of peas, lentils, chickpeas, beans, pea protein, or other pulses.
The FDA began investigating an association between certain diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) after veterinarians reported cases occurring in dogs, including breeds without a typical genetic predisposition to the disease. Many of the diets reported were marketed as grain-free and contained peas, lentils, other pulses, and/or potatoes high on their ingredient lists.
Research has continued since the FDA's original investigation. Current evidence suggests the concern may not simply be the absence of grain itself, but rather the high amounts of pulses commonly used to replace grains in certain formulations. Importantly, this means that a food does not automatically become a good choice simply because it contains grain. Some grain-inclusive foods can also contain large quantities of peas, lentils, chickpeas, or related ingredients.
DCM is a serious disease of the heart muscle in which the heart becomes enlarged and its ability to pump blood effectively is impaired. Diet-associated DCM is particularly concerning because dogs may have significant cardiac changes before an owner realizes something is wrong.
While researchers are still working to determine the exact biological mechanism responsible for diet-associated DCM, enough evidence exists for us to take a precautionary approach with the dogs we produce.
For our puppies and adult dogs, we recommend a nutritionally complete, grain-inclusive diet from a well-established manufacturer with strong veterinary nutritional expertise and quality-control standards. We also encourage our families to discuss their dog's individual nutritional needs with their veterinarian.
We put tremendous thought into the health, genetics, development, and care of every puppy we produce. Once they leave our home, nutrition becomes an important part of protecting that foundation for the years ahead.
*Old picture reposted for attention*
