Before you toss your dog a handful of peas, read this! Peas are a healthy veggie for humans, but what about your furry buddies? Can dogs eat peas?
Good news for you – Yes! Dogs can eat peas, but there are risks attached to it! Explore the benefits of different peas, risks, and supercool ways to serve delicious peas.
Are Peas Good For Dogs?
Here are the benefits of peas to dogs:
- Peas are fiber-rich, meaning your dog will have great poop hours!
- If your dog suffers from obesity, peas are an excellent low-fat treat.
- They are packed with vitamins A, C, and K. According to studies, Vitamin A helps with better vision, Vitamin C helps fight bacteria, and Vitamin K helps properly clot the blood (1,2,3).
- If your dog is a picky eater, they’ll surely pick these crunchy and juicy peas.
Can Dogs Eat All Types of Peas?
There are several types of peas available in the market, can dogs eat all of them? Let’s figure that out:
1. Green peas
Dogs can eat green peas safely! They are rich in nutrients and can benefit your dog’s health in several ways. Even though you should add green peas to all of your dog’s meals, serving them as a treat would not be harmful.
With low calories and an abundance of flavor, green peas can be an excellent training treat for you and your dog. However, you should not serve your dog seasoned or fried commercial peas as they are neither nutritious nor safe.
2. Chickpeas
Why not serve chickpeas if your dog is bored of green peas? They are high in fiber and protein. These treats can do wonders for your dog’s health. BUT you must boil them before serving. It can be challenging for dogs to chew on the hard surfaces of chickpeas. Such a thing can also lead to crooked teeth or choking hazards.
Our favorite way of serving chickpeas to dogs is to boil and mash them into a thick paste. You can apply this paste on their chew toys to give them extra flavor out of their toys. Or you can mix or serve on the sides of their kibbles.
3. Frozen green peas
Dogs will love to chew on frozen green peas. They might not be suitable for dogs with no teeth. The reason is that toothless dogs can enjoy the cold sensation on gums, but they cannot chew on hard green peas. Swallowing raw green peas can lead to abdominal pain. However, dogs who have teeth can enjoy this frozen delight.
It serves the same benefits as regular peas would. Just a little extra crunch!
4. Canned peas
Before you give your dog canned peas, you must know these things about them-
- Canned products are usually soaked in vinegar to enhance the taste of humans. Dogs can develop vinegar allergies, and so it causes them harm.
- Seasonings are used in canned products. Herbs or spices like garlic, onions, or high salts can lead to severe allergic reactions and even death.
- As the peas are canned, there must be preservatives and chemicals for their long storage period. This, again, can be dangerous for dogs.
Canned items or canned peas are not made for dog consumption. They can have ingredients that may work for humans, not their furry friends. As a responsible pet owner, you must always check the ingredients before feeding your dog any store-bought food item.
Things to Keep in Mind When Feeding Your Dog Peas
Yes, peas are excellent for dogs! But everything comes with risks. Especially when feeding your dog human foods, there are are “not to-do’s.” So here are the things you should remember when feeding your dog peas:
1. Kidney problems
Peas have a chemical compound called purines. As you know, the kidneys purify the uric acids through urine, and this compound affects that. Purines can lead to a condition of Hyperuricemia, where it produces an excess amount of uric acid. This can accumulate in the kidneys and cause stones or health problems (article).
A study states that kidney problems in dogs usually have high levels of purines in their urine (study). Hence, you must not feed your dog peas if your dog has underlying Chronic Kidney Disease or CKD.
2. Avoid seasonings
It would be best to never feed your dog seasoned peas. Seasonings are toxic to dogs and can cause severe allergic reactions. It can include- itchiness, vomiting, or burning sensations. Please only serve your dog plain and unsalted peas. Dogs do not need toxic elements to enhance the taste of their treats.
Safe and Fun Ways to Serve Peas
Peas don’t always have to be bland. In fact, there are many fun and safe ways to prepare peas for your lovable friends:
1. Mashed peas bites
Does your dog enjoy gooey treats? If yes, they’ll love mash pea bites. All you have to do is:
Step 1: Take/ peel the peas and boil them till they are fully cooked
Step 2: Strain the boiled peas and mash them with a spoon or a masher
Lastly,
Step 3: Add finely chopped carrots to the thick mixture and make balls.
That is all you have to do! You can also add veggies of your dog’s choice to enhance these treat’s flavor and nutritional value. Please do not add any seasonings or salt. This will be a great source of fiber and other nutrients. Also, as they are already cooked, do not fry them as it will defeat the purpose of pea bites healthy.
2. Sun-dried crispies
Another fun way to make peas part of your dog’s daily diet is sun-dried crispy peas (green). You can do it at home or use store-bought packets. They are low in calories and are a perfect evening treat for you and your pooch. The only catch is not to feed seasoned crispies.
Also, you can air-fry the peas occasionally. We do not recommend this treat as a regular one, as air drying takes away the good vitamins and minerals from the peas. But if your dog craves a crunchy, yummy treat on a Friday night, go ahead with crispy peas!
3. Mixed with kibbles
If your dog is bored with daily kibbles, why not make them more attractive? Adding flavor treats to kibbles will never harm your dog. You can blend a fantastic paste from peas and other veggies. When you serve your dog kibbles, you can drizzle some green pea paste or mix it with their kibbles. This will add more nutrients to the kibbles and regular meals without harming the nutritional balance.
It is essential to know that peas are rich in nutrients but cannot substitute for the primary source of proteins and nutrients. Serving peas as a treat or an optional meal addition would be best.
4. Salad!
Last but not least, you can make amazing salads for your dog WITHOUT the dressings!
Here are all the options for you-
- Peas, crabs, carrots, celery, and corn
- Rice, peas, tilapia, chicken broth (unseasoned)
- Peas, apples, melon/ watermelon, corn, avocado
- Avocado, peas, corn, applesauce (homemade)
These are some basic examples of what you can do with the salad. When it comes to salads, the sky is the limit! You can mix veggies and fruits of your dog’s choice. The only catch is to ensure you cook the food that cannot be fed raw, like fish or chicken.
Conclusion
Our final thoughts on “can dogs eat peas?” are a BIG YES. Peas work as an amazing treat for dogs and humans. It is a delight that comes with several benefits. However, you must keep the risks in mind before you feed your dog a handful of peas.
So next time you sit down to peel peas- don’t shy away from tossing some before your pooch!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can serve your dog green pea soup or split pea soup in moderation. It can be a great source of fiber and nutrients. The only catch is not to add any additional seasonings like garlic, onion, salt, or pepper. These ingredients can make the pea soup toxic and inedible. Also, you should serve the soup in moderation.
It depends on the size of the dog. If you have a small-sized dog or a puppy, you should stick to feeding them about one teaspoon or half a handful of peas. For medium to large dogs, you can serve them one tablespoon or a handful of peas. Peas are not harmful to dogs unless you feed them in massive amounts.
Absolutely, yes! Dogs can eat boiled green peas safely. Boiled peas are also an excellent human food for dogs with no teeth. It is easier to digest and chew. You can mash them and mix the paste in their kibbles to make it enjoyable. Boiled or not, peas bring your dog a lot of health benefits.
You can feed your dog green peas in any way, whether cooked or raw. But, chickpeas needs to be cooked before being fed. Green peas on the other hand are easy to digest and chew. There is very little chance that raw green peas can cause choking hazards. If your dog prefers boiled peas, there will still be no harm. The only catch is to not add any seasonings to it.
You can feed your dog green pea snack crisps in moderation as an occasional treat. As they might not be fried but are processed. Also, there are a lot of preservatives and possible seasonings. Hence, before you purchase commercial green pea snack crisps, please read the ingredient list. High sodium or allergic ingredients will not do any good to your dog.
