Green peas (also known as ‘garden peas’, ‘shell peas’ or ‘English peas’) are a common ingredient in many dog foods, and may be found in particularly high levels in grain free dog food. You can also feed many varieties of peas – including green peas, sugar snap peas, snow peas and even chickpeas – to your fur baby on an occasional basis as part of a balanced, healthy diet.
Before giving your dog peas, it’s sensible to check with your vet and to rule out any underlying health issues, especially kidney disease.
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As a general rule, at least 90% of your dog’s diet should be made up from a complete, balanced dog food, and the remaining 10% can be composed of treats.
So, a few peas can certainly be fed as an occasional healthy snack, but be careful not to overdo it.
How many peas you can feed depends upon the size of your dog, but as a general rule peas should make up less than 2% of your dog’s total diet.
Introducing peas should be done slowly, and stopped if diarrhea or other forms of gastrointestinal upset occur, as this may reflect an intolerance or allergy to pea protein.
Peas are well known for having many health benefits for both humans and dogs. For starters, peas are rich in soluble fiber and can be beneficial for digestive health, even helping to relieve constipation. Feeding peas may also be helpful for your dog’s digestion due to peas containing natural probiotics.
Additionally, peas contain a number of essential nutrients in relatively high proportions; the nutritional value of this nifty little vegetable cannot be overstated!
For example, peas contain a particularly high level of vitamin C, which will help keep your dog’s skin and immune system in great shape. Peas and many other veggies can be an excellent way of providing a vitamin and mineral boost even for pets on a low fat diet, since the calorie content of garden peas, snow peas and snap peas is relatively low.
If you want to add this tasty treat to your dog’s diet, be sure to remove all pea pods if preparing garden peas from scratch.
Furthermore, because raw peas can be contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria such as Salmonella or E.coli, it’s best to feed (fresh or frozen) peas that have been briefly boiled or steamed to kill any bacteria which may be present and then allowed to cook for several minutes to a safe temperature.
There is evidence to suggest that eating too many peas may be detrimental to your dog’s health. A recent study found that diets high in peas may be linked to the development of a serious heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (‘DCM’) in dogs [1]. Dog owners should be aware of this link, which is particularly relevant given the rise in popularity of grain free diets.
Such diets typically replace grain with pulses (such as peas). And, given that grain allergies are relatively uncommon, it’s strongly recommended not to change your dog’s diet to a grain free option unless you have a really good reason for doing so.
Sugar snap peas (also sometimes simply called ‘snap peas’) are safe for dogs and can actually be a healthy addition to your dog’s diet in small amounts. They provide essential vitamins and minerals including a very impressive dose of vitamin C, as well as making a tasty snack for two and four-legged family members alike!
As always, due to the risk of food poisoning, it’s best to cook first, before feeding your pup peas of any sort.
Cooked snow peas (also known as ‘Chinese peas’) can be fed as an occasional treat. Like other varieties, snow peas are rich in vitamins and minerals and are completely safe for dogs in small amounts and when cooked.
Chickpeas are an ingredient in several brands of dog food, and can be a great source of protein and fiber for dogs when appropriately prepared and included as a component of a balanced overall diet.
Despite the name, chickpeas are actually a member of the legume family. Dogs can safely eat chickpeas so long as they have been appropriately cooked (soaked overnight and then boiled until soft, if starting with dry chickpeas), and so long as no salt is added.
Canned chickpeas (like other canned peas) tend to contain high levels of salt (sodium) and should not be fed to dogs.
Like canned chickpeas, other varieties of canned peas tend to contain high levels of sodium, which can be harmful to dogs. For this reason, you should avoid canned peas when selecting peas for your dog.
If you do decide to feed your dog canned peas, you should rinse them very thoroughly in clean drinking water for a few minutes to remove as much sodium as possible. Or, for an even better solution, simply avoid letting dogs eat canned peas!
Frozen peas can in theory be fed to dogs. Fresh or frozen peas are both non-toxic and nutrient rich. However, due to their hard, ball-bearing texture, frozen peas can be a choking hazard. They may also be uncomfortable for your furry friend to eat, simply due to how cold they are!
What’s more, frozen peas are ready to cook (rather than ready to eat), which means that they may contain bacteria. So, it’s strongly recommended not to let your pet eat frozen peas, but instead briefly boil or steam the peas for a few minutes, in the same manner as you would prepare them for your own dinner!
Be sure to hold off on adding any butter, salt, or pepper – these accompaniments are not good for your pup.
What Other Peas Can Dogs Have?Split peas and black-eyed peas can also be fed as part of a balanced diet when appropriately prepared. Like chickpeas, the nomenclature is somewhat deceptive here: black-eyed peas are actually a type of bean, and split peas are also a member of the legume family.
Both peas need to be cooked prior to being fed, and as always, hold off on any salt or other seasonings.
Kidney problems are relatively common in older dogs; in fact, up to around 7% of dogs are believed to suffer with chronic kidney disease (CKD) [2]. As a general rule, dogs with kidney problems should eat a prescription veterinary ‘renal’ or ‘kidney support’ diet, and you should avoid feeding anything else alongside this.
It’s also worth being aware that peas contain moderate levels of purines, the chemical compound often responsible for flare-ups of gout in humans. Purines are metabolized into uric acid, which eventually leaves the body in the urine.
Adding too many peas to your dog’s diet may lead to the formation of kidney stones, as a result of excessive uric acid passing through the kidneys.
So, whilst green peas might be a healthy treat for the majority of dogs, avoid feeding your dog peas altogether if there’s a chance that he or she has kidney disease (elderly pets are most likely to be affected). Your dog’s veterinarian can diagnose this condition with a simple blood test.
As the saying goes, “All good things in moderation,” and this wisdom certainly applies to treating our canine companions with peas. While green peas and their delightful relatives can indeed add a nutritious and tasty touch to your dog’s diet, remember the golden rule: the majority of their food should come from a complete, balanced dog food, with treats making up only a small portion.
When incorporating peas into their diet, portion control is essential. For most dogs, peas should comprise less than 2% of their total daily food intake. Take the time to introduce peas slowly, ensuring your furry friend’s digestive system adapts well.
Should any signs of gastrointestinal upset arise, it’s best to halt the pea experiment, as it could be a sign of intolerance or pea protein allergy. Your veterinarian is your ultimate ally in navigating the pea territory, addressing any concerns, and ensuring your dog’s well-being remains the top priority.
So, go ahead and sprinkle some peas into your pet’s diet with care, and watch as they savor each pea-licious moment!
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