Can Dogs Eat Peas?

Yes, dogs can eat peas, and they are an amazing addition to your dog’s diet! Even though dogs don’t need many extra veggies in their diet, it’s good to know that peas are healthy, easy to digest, and a good source of vitamins and fiber for your dog.

Peas are so easy to prepare, simple, nutritious, and gentle on the stomach, which makes them great for my whole family! My dog loves to eat some peas, especially with cooked beef and carrots (that’s how I make it, more or less like a stew), but I try to give him some before I add salt, pepper, dill, and heavy cream (now you know my go-to recipe!).

You can share peas with your dog anytime you make them, but keep in mind that they are high in fiber and that dogs generally don’t need a lot of extra vegetables in their diets. In this article, I’ll cover the types of peas dogs can eat and explain the controversy about peas in commercial dog food that’s been rumored to cause heart problems!

Can dogs eat sugar snap peas or sweet peas?

Sugar snap peas, or just snap peas often called sweet peas, are safe for dogs and a great addition to their diet! Snap peas have a thick pod that tastes sweet and is completely edible! They’re sweet, which makes them ideal for snacking, so if you’re steaming or grilling some for lunch, feel free to share a few with your dog—just be sure to do it before you sprinkle them with sea salt and drizzle with dressings.

Sugar snap peas are low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with vitamins and minerals, making them a great snack for your dog, especially if you follow the 10% rule: make sure that all healthy snacks make up only 10% of your dog’s diet and that the rest is high-quality dog food.

When are peas bad for dogs?

As with any other veggies high in fiber—especially legumes like beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, and chickpeas—you need to be careful not to overdo the portion size and make sure your dog eats a balanced meal when they eat legumes.

Beyond balanced meals, you need to be cautious and really know your dog, as small dogs can choke on peas, especially if they don’t chew their food and eat quickly. You don’t need to worry as much about larger breeds, but for small dogs, please be careful.

Can dogs eat frozen and canned peas?

Dogs can eat frozen peas and they can be a fun snack for them! Just be careful if you have a small dog, as frozen peas are hard to chew. Also, be careful as frozen peas can be unpleasant if your dog has sensitive teeth or any dental issues. My dog doesn’t like frozen food as he has a sensitive tummy when it comes to cold stuff. He liked to lick dog popsicles but always ends up with runny poo if he eats anything frozen. That can be due to fiber or the fact that the food is frozen, I’m not sure.

And when it comes to canned peas, they can be safe for dogs if they’re low in sodium or salt-free. Most canned peas, however, have a lot of added salt, which isn’t good for dogs and can lead to excessive thirst or other health issues. Some canned peas may even come with added sauces or seasonings that are too heavy for a dog’s stomach and could cause digestive upset. Always read the label, and look for low-sodium, plain canned peas if you plan to share them with your dog. They are also healthier for you!

If your dog has kidney problems, don’t give them peas

Avoid giving peas (all kinds, including snap peas, snow peas, and garden peas) to dogs with kidney issues, as peas contain a substance called purines that can affect kidney function.

Purines are natural compounds found in organ meat and legumes, especially peas. In a dog’s body, purines are broken down into uric acid, which is usually not a problem because most dogs can further break down uric acid into a harmless, water-soluble form called allantoin.

But for dogs with the genetic condition Hyperuricosuria (HUU), this process doesn’t happen—they lack the enzymes to fully break down uric acid. This leads to higher uric acid levels that can form crystals. Over time, these crystals can clump together to form kidney or bladder stones.

You and your vet know your dog best, so you would know if your dog has kidney issues, but for all dogs with kidney issues or genetic risks like HUU, it’s best to avoid purine-rich foods, including peas. This way, you’re helping support their long-term health.

Can dogs eat pea pods?

Not all pea pods are edible. A good rule to follow is: if they are edible for people, they are edible for dogs.

For example, snap pea pods are edible, and the entire snap pea, including the pod, is tender and safe to eat, especially when cooked or steamed. Even raw snap peas are safe for dogs, but cooked ones are always better.

Dogs can also eat snow pea pods, as they are tender and easy to chew. They’re best when lightly steamed, so you can share some with your dog.

Unlike snap pea and snow pea pods, traditional English peas, or garden peas, don’t have edible pods! We don’t eat them, and our dogs shouldn’t eat them either.

Dog food that has a lot of peas is prone to mold

I mentioned that there’s a lot of concern about peas as a primary source of protein in dog food (dry food like kibble). I elaborated on kidney issues above, but there’s another concern—food that has a lot of peas is more likely to be affected by mold and toxins over time!

Now, this doesn’t mean that your grain-free kibble (which hopefully your vet prescribed for allergies and you didn’t choose on your own) is dangerous. This just means that you need to learn more about it and be careful how much you buy!

I’m referring to a study that analyzed three different types of foods:

• one with lamb as the main protein (my dog eats lamb kibble)
• one with chicken
• and another with peas.

Researchers stored these foods for eight months in controlled conditions to see if they would get moldy or have other toxins. They discovered that only the pea-based foods showed visible mold, and only the pea-based kibble had a toxin called mycotoxin.

Why did this happen with pea-based food but not with lamb and chicken? It’s because, during production, pea-based food needs more water to retain its form. Since it has extra moisture, it’s more prone to mold growth.

Mold is not only dangerous, but it also reduces nutrients like amino acids and vitamins over time.

So, all dog food with more moisture should be stored properly, and you shouldn’t buy larger quantities. If you feed your dog pea-based grain-free kibble, you’re not doing anything harmful, but you need to store the food in a cool, dry place and keep an eye on the expiration date. I’m sure there are some great moisture-free food containers out there, so do some research and talk to your vet.

A potential link between grain-free foods and heart issues in dogs

Now, this is probably the biggest concern when it comes to grain-free kibble that’s rich in peas and other legumes. In 2018, the FDA issued a report suggesting a potential link between dog foods high in pulses and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

In dog food, pulses mean legumes. Common pulses used to make dog kibble are most often peas, lentils, chickpeas, and beans. They’re usually the main ingredient in grain-free foods, as they are a great source of protein and have essential vitamins and minerals.

However, they have a bad rep because there’s a link between them and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. I’m not going to say that’s true or not, as there are dozens of studies published online, funded from multiple sources (both saying yay or nay to grain-free foods), but I’ll focus on one particular study that did a trial. For 28 days, they fed dogs regular dog food with grains (in this case, rice) and grain-free dog food (pulse-based from lentils and peas).

The study showed that the dogs on the pea-based diet showed early, although minor, signs that could potentially lead to heart issues if continued long-term. They had signs of decreased heart efficiency (such as lower cardiac output) and changes in some heart structure measurements, although no dogs showed immediate symptoms of heart disease.

The good news is that all other factors, such as amino acids in plasma like taurine, weren’t that much different between the two groups. However, one amino acid called methionine was lower in the pulse diets, which could affect taurine production indirectly over time.

So, overall, the research suggests that diets high in peas (and other pulses) may not be ideal for long-term heart health. That’s why it’s important not to get any wild ideas and put your dog on vegan or vegetarian kibble diets, or give them grain-free just because you heard somewhere that grains cause allergies (which is super rare, and your vet would know about it).

So, peas can be a healthy, tasty addition to your dog’s diet. They’re rich in fiber, vitamins like A, K, and B-complex, and essential minerals. And there’s a big difference between giving your dog fresh or cooked peas occasionally and dogs eating pea-based grain-free food all the time. Pea-based kibble may not be ideal for your dog’s heart health if it’s their main diet 100% of the time. But with anything health-related, you need to talk to your vet, as they will give you the most accurate advice. I hope this article helped you learn new things so you can ask your vet the right questions.

Love, life, and fur forever!

FAQs

Can dogs eat peas and carrots?

Yes, dogs can eat peas and carrots! Both are safe and very healthy for your dog. Carrots are one of the best veggies you can give to your dog. Make sure that when you’re making peas and carrots, you take out a small portion for your dog, before you add salt, tomato sauce cream, or any other heavy ingredients that can be bad for your dog.

Can dogs eat split peas?

These ones remind us more of lentils than peas! But split peas are actually field peas, a type of yellow or green pea grown specifically for drying. They aren’t toxic to dogs, but they’re a bit harder to digest, like many dry legumes that need to be cooked, so I would skip them. If your dog eats them by accident, don’t worry, but it’s not something you’d want to include in their diet regularly.

Can dogs eat raw sugar snap peas?

Yes, raw sugar snap peas are safe for dogs! They’re super crunchy and fun to eat. Don’t give your dog too much, as they can’t handle fiber that well, but give them some, just for fun.