Peas fall into the category of healthier vegetables to improve body function. If you care about your canine friend, you might have thought, Can dogs have peas?
Peas don’t have any toxic elements, but they do have loads of vitamins and minerals that are necessary for dogs. Hence, your vet won’t restrict him to eating healthy veggies like peas.
Though peas are a good addition to dogs’ diets, it is important to be aware of their benefits and side effects. Also, you have to consider the feeding method and quantity to stay on the safe side.
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All About Peas
Peas are small, spherical seeds, also known as seed pods. They belong to the species Lathyrus oleraceus, which is a flowering plant. One pod comes with several peas; they can be either green or yellow.
We mostly include peas in our diets because of their high nutritional value. For instance, it has vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin C, phosphorus, iron, protein, fibre, etc. In short, peas have all the nutrients that humans and animals need to maintain their overall health.
Can Dogs Have Peas?
Luckily, peas are great for animals too, not only humans. They are high in vitamins, minerals, protein, and fibre.
A pea contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can offer health benefits to your dog. Whether it is chickpeas, black-eyed peas, or snap peas, all of them are safe for dogs if cooked properly without any ingredients.
Just make sure your dog is not allergic to peas or other vegetables. Besides, dogs with sensitive digestive systems can’t have peas. Although your dog is healthy enough to consume them, ask your vet for reassurance.
How Many Peas Can Dogs Have?
Your dog’s 90% of meals shall include dog foods, and 10% should include other healthy treats, like fruits and vegetables. Since you are thinking of offering peas to your canine friend, make sure they are in between that 10% of his meal.
For an extra-small dog, you shall not serve more than 1 teaspoon of cooked peas. Again, for a small dog, two teaspoons of cooked peas are fine.
A medium dog can have three teaspoons of cooked peas, and a large dog can have two tablespoons of cooked peas. Lastly, an extra-large dog can eat three tablespoons of cooked peas.
How To Feed Peas To Dogs?
You can’t feed raw peas to dogs, you must make them tender. To avoid any side effects from feeding peas to your dog, you must first be aware of their quantity. Then we can step for its feeding way.
Firstly, take a small amount of peas based on your dog’s size and wash them properly. Now steam or boil them without adding any ingredients. Then take them out of the stove, and you will see the peas have become soft. You can mash them if your dog has trouble chewing or if you want to avoid his choking hazards.
Benefits Of Having Peas For Dogs
Here are some nutritional benefits that dogs can get from eating peas:
Maintains Body Function
As peas are rich in vitamins, you can get several health benefits from them. For example, they have vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin K. These can improve the vision, bone health, immune system, and overall health of your dog.
Aids In Digestion
The high fibre content in peas can regulate your dog’s bowel movement and prevent constipation. Along with improving the digestive system, the fibre in peas will also aid in weight loss.
Speeds Recovery
The protein found in peas can speed up your dog’s recovery if he is ill. If not, the protein content will keep your dog healthy by improving his muscle conditions and supporting a healthy weight.
Risks Of Having Peas For Dogs
Peas can have side effects on your dogs if you don’t serve them in a proper way and quantity. Let’s figure out what those risks can be.
Upset Stomach
Peas have high fibre content that can relieve constipation, but taking in a large quantity can lead to diarrhoea. Besides, your dog can vomit frequently from eating peas excessively.
Choking Hazard
It is important to feed small-sized peas to dogs. Large-sized peas can often cause choking hazards for them as they may eat them without chewing.
Interrupt Nutrient Absorption
The phytic acid in peas does not allow dogs to absorb certain minerals, which can cause them to lack nutrients.
When Can Dogs Have Peas?
When it comes to including healthy veggies in our dogs’ diet, peas are the one. Thanks to their immense health benefits and mutational values.
Anyway, this nutrient-dense vegetable may not be safe for all dogs. If your dog is already suffering from GI tract issues, we can’t suggest offering peas to them as they are high in fibre. Again, dogs with allergic issues can also be in the danger zone after consuming peas.
Let’s say your dog is healthy without any allergies. That doesn’t mean you can feed him peas as much as you want. Start by offering him one pea; if he doesn’t react, offer another pea. If he doesn’t react yet, you can provide him with this vegetable based on his size.
Frequently Asked Questions: Can Dogs Have Peas?
Can dogs eat canned peas?
Dogs can’t eat canned peas as they have added flavours, seasonings, and many other ingredients. Besides, they are high in sodium, which can disrupt your dog’s blood pressure level.
Can dogs eat raw peas?
Dogs should eat cooked peas, not raw peas. When you steam or boil peas, they become soft and tender, which makes them easy for dogs to digest. Raw peas are hard to chew and cause choking hazards for dogs.
When are peas toxic to dogs?
Peas can be toxic to dogs when they are high in amount. It is because too much pea can cause vomiting and upset stomachs. Again, cooked and canned peas can be harmful to dogs because of their added ingredients and hardness.
How many peas can you give to your dog?
If you don’t want any type of calculation, keep one thing in mind. For small dogs, one teaspoon of peas or less is recommended. For large dogs, one tablespoon of peas is recommended.
Final Thoughts
After learning about the numerous benefits and downsides of offering peas to dogs, you still may wonder, Can dogs have peas? The answer is yes if you serve them in moderation after cooking them properly without adding any ingredients.
If you ever see your dog eat more peas than required, he may vomit and have diarrhoea. In such cases, you will observe his symptoms. If they get worse, call your vet. Or else, just let your dog discharge everything and rest.
