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Ingredient file // Legume

Green Lentils

Useful starch and protein with an open heart question

Green lentils are dried seeds used whole or milled in dog food. They supply starch, fiber and plant protein that counts toward the label's protein figure. Their role in diet-associated heart disease remains unresolved.

Role in the food Supporting nutrient
What it is
Dried seeds of green lentil varieties, used whole or milled as a dog food ingredient.
Made from
Mature green lentil seeds
Main job
Starch and plant protein
Typical amount
Not published
Watch for
Several pulse ingredients high on one list
Not the same as
Red lentils

Straight answer

Is Green Lentils safe for dogs?

Count the pulses and judge the food

Read green lentils alongside the ingredients around them. If green lentils, red lentils and other pulses cluster high on the list, their combined share could exceed the named meat, and their protein counts in the analysis. One green lentil line cannot settle the heart question.

Why it is in the food
Starch and plant protein

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 80 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

1%

40 of the 3,204 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 6 brands. All dry dog food.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 8.5. In the top five of 13 foods, so it is usually a supporting ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

100%

Almost always listed before the salt, so there is more of it than a pinch.

Price per lb

Foods with it $3.83
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 39 priced foods, 18% above the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

30%

of the foods that list it are from NutriSource. 6 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Lentils are grown for their edible seeds, which are harvested when the pods mature. Suppliers clean and grade the dry crop. Pet food suppliers may mill green lentils so they mix into a dry food recipe.4,8,9

  1. 01 // Source Mature lentil pods Green lentil seeds are harvested after the pods turn yellow and the crop begins to dry.
  2. 02 // Process Cleaned and graded Cleaning removes material outside the seed crop before representative samples are graded.
  3. 03 // Process Milled if needed Some pet food suppliers mill green lentils and blend them with other pulse ingredients.
  4. 04 // Output Dry green lentils Cleaned seeds or milled green lentils arrive as a starch and protein ingredient.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

44

% starch

About 44% of the dry seed is starch in tested Canadian green lentils. It supplies energy in a recipe.

Starch 43.2-44.4%7
Protein 24.2-32.3%7
Total dietary fiber 15-15.4%7

The protein range covers individual harvest samples; the starch and fiber ranges compare small and large seed composites. Seed size and growing region change the mix, so these figures are guides, not a fixed recipe.7

Why it is in the bag

Adds real starch and protein, not just bulk

  1. Main nutrition
  2. Supporting nutrient
  3. Does a job
  4. Mostly filler

Green lentils give a grain-free recipe starch for energy, with plant protein and fiber coming along. Labels list ingredients by weight, so near the top of the list, often next to other pulses, they are one of the food's main energy sources. Further down, past the tenth spot, they are likely too small a share to carry the recipe, though they still add some starch and protein. They are not filler.4,6,7

  1. 01

    Supplies kibble starch

    Green lentils provide starch for energy in recipes that use pulses instead of grain. Their fiber and protein come along with it.4,7

  2. 02

    Raises measured protein

    Lentil protein counts toward the guaranteed crude protein figure. That figure does not separate plant protein from animal protein or show their different amino acid profiles.4,6,7

  3. 03

    Offers a cost option

    One pet food ingredient supplier sells blends containing milled green lentils and says they lower production costs. It provides no price comparison to verify that sales claim.9

How much A 28-day dog trial fed 42% red lentil flour; that tested amount does not describe green lentils.2

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Green lentils add starch and plant protein

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    Canadian green lentil samples contained 43.2 to 44.4% starch in seed composites and 24.2 to 32.3% protein across individual samples. Both count in a recipe, but the protein figure alone does not show amino acid balance.4,7

  2. Brands say

    Green lentils keep a dog's blood sugar steady

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A 6-dog pilot fed cooked green lentils and found no significant glucose difference versus rice, P = 0.569. The authors note 10 g of available carbohydrate was too small a dose and that the glycemic index method itself is not validated in dogs.1

  3. Owners say

    Green lentils cause canine heart disease

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    FDA sees pulses high on many foods named in heart disease reports but has not identified a cause. In an 8-dog, 28-day trial, stroke volume was lower after a red lentil diet than a commercial diet, but no DCM-associated changes appeared. Green lentils were untested.2,3,5

  4. Brands say

    Lentil protein can replace meat completely

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    Lentils run short on sulfur amino acids. In the 8-dog red lentil trial, protein and methionine digestibility were lower than with the rice diet, which also contained more animal protein. That trial cannot validate complete replacement.2,4

  5. Critics say

    Green lentils are just filler

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    Green lentils supply starch, fiber and protein: tested seed composites contained about 44% starch and 15% dietary fiber. The useful concern is how much of the food's protein comes from pulses.6,7

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    Green lentils contribute starch, protein and fiber. Check whether several pulse ingredients together sit high on the list, because the guaranteed protein figure includes their protein as well as the meat's.6,7

  2. Q02

    Are green lentils better than red?

    No proof

    Canadian crop tests found similar protein and starch in green and red lentils. The dog trials do not compare the colors in matching recipes, so color alone gives you no feeding advantage to rely on.1,2,7

  3. Q03

    Should I avoid them for DCM?

    Not automatically

    FDA sees a pattern involving foods with pulses high on the ingredient list but has not identified the cause. If your dog has DCM, work with your veterinarian, who may consult a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, before changing the diet.5

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. NutriSource 12 / 91
  2. Orijen 11 / 25
  3. Acana 10 / 23
  4. Nulo 4 / 117
  5. Evanger's 2 / 30
  6. Simply Nourish 1 / 44

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #53 Orijen Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Rank on Amazon's dog food best seller list, checked October 2026.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Red Lentils 55%
  2. Turkey 50%
  3. Chicken 43%
  4. Sunflower Oil 33%
  5. Turkey Meal 33%
  6. Garbanzo Beans 30%
  7. Chickpeas 23%
  8. Salmon 23%
  9. Whole Herring 23%
  10. Chicken Liver 18%
  11. Chicken Fat 18%
  12. Chicken Meal 15%

On the shelf

Foods that list Green Lentils

40 foods in our catalog list it, highest on the label first.

Nulo MedalSeries Limited+ MedalSeries Limited Ingredient Diet Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Limited+ MedalSeries Limited Ingredient Diet Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Limited+ MedalSeries Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Limited+ MedalSeries Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Prairie Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Prairie Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Senior Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Senior Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelEvanger’s Super Premium New! Gamebird Recipe with Coconut Oil for Dogs - Dry Dog FoodEvanger'sEvanger’s Super Premium New! Gamebird Recipe with Coconut Oil for Dogs - Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelEvanger’s Super Premium Game Bird Recipe with Coconut Oil Dry Dog FoodEvanger'sEvanger’s Super Premium Game Bird Recipe with Coconut Oil Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelSimply Nourish Source Adult - Salmon, High-Protein, Grain Free Dry Dog FoodSimply NourishSimply Nourish Source Adult - Salmon, High-Protein, Grain Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelAcana Freshwater Fish Blend Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodAcanaAcana Freshwater Fish Blend Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelAcana Red Meat Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodAcanaAcana Red Meat Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 9 on the labelOrijen Wild Reserve, Wild-Caught Fish Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Wild Reserve, Wild-Caught Fish Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 13 on the labelOrijen Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 13 on the label
Show 29 more
NutriSource Grain-Free Small and Medium Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Small and Medium Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 3 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Grain-Free Beef & Red Lentils Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Grain-Free Beef & Red Lentils Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Grain-Free Venison & Red Lentils Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Grain-Free Venison & Red Lentils Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNutriSource PureVita Grain-Free Duck & Green Lentils Entree Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource PureVita Grain-Free Duck & Green Lentils Entree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites Woodlands Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites Woodlands Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Woodlands Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Woodlands Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Limited Ingredient Diet Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Limited Ingredient Diet Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelNulo MedalSeries Small Breed Turkey & Chickpeas Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodNuloNulo MedalSeries Small Breed Turkey & Chickpeas Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free High Plains Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free High Plains Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites High Plains Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Small Bites High Plains Select Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelNutriSource Grain-Free Weight Management Dry Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Grain-Free Weight Management Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelAcana Highest Protein Appalachian Ranch Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodAcanaAcana Highest Protein Appalachian Ranch Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 11 on the labelAcana Highest Protein Meadowland Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodAcanaAcana Highest Protein Meadowland Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 11 on the labelAcana Free-Run Poultry Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodAcanaAcana Free-Run Poultry Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 11 on the labelAcana Light & Fit Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodAcanaAcana Light & Fit Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 12 on the labelAcana Butcher’s Favorites, Wild-Caught Salmon Recipe Dry Dog FoodAcanaAcana Butcher’s Favorites, Wild-Caught Salmon Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 13 on the labelAcana Highest Protein Wild Atlantic Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodAcanaAcana Highest Protein Wild Atlantic Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 13 on the labelAcana Butcher’s Favorites, Free-Run Poultry & Liver Recipe Dry Dog FoodAcanaAcana Butcher’s Favorites, Free-Run Poultry & Liver Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelOrijen Regional Red Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Regional Red Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 14 on the labelOrijen Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Small Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelOrijen Puppy Large Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Puppy Large Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelAcana Puppy Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodAcanaAcana Puppy Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 15 on the labelOrijen Six Fish Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Six Fish Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelOrijen Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 16 on the labelOrijen Original Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Original Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelOrijen Original Small Breed Puppy With WholePrey Nutrition Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Original Small Breed Puppy With WholePrey Nutrition Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 17 on the labelOrijen Fit & Trim Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Fit & Trim Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the labelOrijen Tundra Dry Dog FoodOrijenOrijen Tundra Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 22 on the label

Leaving it out

Foods without lentils

For owners who skip lentils: popular dry foods priced like the ones that list it ($2.68 to $5.37 per lb), with no lentils on the label.

Hill’s Science Diet Light Small & Mini Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Light Small & Mini Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // $3.93 per lbBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Adult Small Breed Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // $2.93 per lbHill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodHill'sHill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // $2.92 per lbPurina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Small Breed Formula Dry Dog FoodPurinaPurina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Small Breed Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // $3.41 per lbRoyal Canin Small Adult Dry Dog FoodRoyal CaninRoyal Canin Small Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // $3.33 per lbOpen Farm Wild Caught Salmon with Ancient Grains Dry Dog FoodOpen FarmOpen Farm Wild Caught Salmon with Ancient Grains Dry Dog FoodDry // $4.05 per lbNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog FoodDry // $3.04 per lbBlue Life Protection Formula Small Breed Senior Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlueBlue Life Protection Formula Small Breed Senior Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // $2.90 per lb

Checked against the ingredient list we store for each food. Labels change, so read the bag before you buy.

On labels as

Whole green lentils: what changes

One page covers every name. Here is what each label word adds, and whether it changes anything for your dog.

Whole green lentils

Matters for your dog A little

Whole Green Lentils

What it means We found no regulatory definition of "whole" for lentils. AAFCO requires each ingredient to go by its defined name or its common or usual name, so here the word describes the seed form: intact lentils, not split or dehulled. It promises nothing about grade or quality.

For your dog A whole seed keeps its hull, and the hull is high in fiber: Feedipedia lists lentil hulls at about 50% NDF on a dry basis. That means a little more fiber than dehulled lentils would give, not a different food. The plain name "green lentils" does not say either way, and no dog study compares them.4,10

  1. Strong
  2. Some
  3. Thin
  4. None

Sources

What we read

Checked October 1, 2026.

  1. 1 Glycemic response in nonracing sled dogs fed single starch ingredients and commercial extruded dog foods with different carbohydrate sources Journal of Animal Science, 2020 // Journal
  2. 2 Effects of a 28-day feeding trial of grain-containing versus pulse-based diets on cardiac function, taurine levels and digestibility in domestic dogs PLOS ONE, 2023 // Journal
  3. 3 Correction: Effects of a 28-day feeding trial of grain-containing versus pulse-based diets on cardiac function, taurine levels and digestibility in domestic dogs PLOS ONE, 2024 // Journal
  4. 4 Lentil (Lens culinaris) Feedipedia (INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ, FAO), 2013 // Database
  5. 5 Questions & Answers: FDA's Work on Potential Causes of Non-Hereditary DCM in Dogs U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d. // Government
  6. 6 Reading Labels AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  7. 7 Quality of western Canadian lentils 2024 Canadian Grain Commission, 2024 // Government
  8. 8 Lentils: Grading Canadian Grain Commission, n.d. // Government
  9. 9 GFI Announces Launch of a Plant-Based Pet Food Ingredients Business Unit Through the Acquisition of a Pet Food Ingredients Production Facility Global Food and Ingredients, 2021 // Industry
  10. 10 Ingredients - Making Pet Food AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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