Dogs can eat peas in moderation. Many dog food brands have peas in their recipe. You might see some peas in your dog’s wet food as well. Peas are nutritious and they can find a place in your dog’s meal from time to time. Why are peas good for your dog? Peas are a source of fiber, protein, vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B1 (thiamine), lutein, manganese, phosphorous, iron, and folate. How can all these help your dog?
Peas and folate. Are peas good for your dog?
Folate is good for your dog, especially when he is growing. If you have a medium-size dog or a large dog, you know how fast they grow. My Siberian huskies have grown so fast. Folate helps your dog’s body during rapid growth. This is one of the reasons why you will find peas in puppy dog foods. Other veggies that your dog can eat and contain folate are Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and bananas. Also, there is folate in eggs or beef liver.
Peas are a good source of fiber for a dog
As I said before, peas are a good source of fiber for your dog. You might say that dogs don’t consume fiber in the wild. But fiber is beneficial for your dog’s digestive tract. Good fiber such as the fiber from fruits and vegetables are transformed in your dog’s body into fatty acids. Fatty acids help the colon and prevent bacteria growth in the colon. The right amount of fiber helps your dog stool if he has diarrhea or if your dog constipation. Fibers are also added to the diet of overweight dogs. Sadly, nowadays are more and more overweight dogs. Obesity in dogs is a very serious problem. By adding a bit more fiber from safe vegetables, a dog will feel full for a longer time. If your dog is overweight talk with your vet about this problem and put him on a diet that will help him to lose all that extra weight. Exercising is a big part of losing weight and is also a fun activity for your dog. A healthy dog lives longer and happier. Other foods that are good fiber sources are carrots, broccoli, apples, kale or pumpkin.
Protein and peas for dogs
Protein is a must when it comes to a dog’s diet. Puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs need protein. The protein intake from vegetables such as peas is not enough. Our dogs need high-quality protein to be healthy and strong. Organ meat, poultry, red meat, fish, eggs and even dairy products – if your dog is not lactose intolerant, are good protein sources. But a dog can’t have a balanced diet if he only eats protein. This is why the fibers from vegetables and fruits are a necessary part of your dog’s diet. Also, to be on a complete diet, besides protein and fibers, a dog needs calcium, fat, and vitamins.
Peas contain thiamine. Why is thiamine good for your dog?
Thiamine is good for your dog’s nervous system and metabolism. We need to add foods that contain thiamine to our dog’s diet because they can’t synthesize thiamine. When you read the ingredient list of the various dog foods, you will see that the recipes contain thiamine. Rich foods in thiamine that are also safe for dogs are peas, beef, eggs, liver, or rice. It is recommended for the store-bought food to have 1 mg of thiamine on 1 kg of food for an adult dog. Still, if your dog food doesn’t meet this requirement you can supplement his diet. Feed him a small amount of food that has a high content of thiamine.
Lutein, peas, and eye health
Peas also contain lutein. Lutein is an antioxidant that supports your dog’s eye health. Still, peas should be consumed by dogs in moderation. A small amount of peas is a good addition to a dog diet.
Dogs with kidney issues shouldn’t eat peas
There are some exceptions when peas are not good. Dogs with kidney issues shouldn’t eat peas because peas contain purines. Purines are natural substances found in animal cells and plants that are good for healthy dogs. But for dogs with kidney problems or some dog breeds that have purine metabolism problems, foods with a high content of purines should be avoided.
Purines get broken down when the cells are recycled in your dog’s body. Once this happens, purines turn into uric acid. Uric acid is an antioxidant that protects blood vessels and is filtered through the kidneys. But in the cases when the dogs have kidney problems the uric acid level can be too high. Purines only will aggravate kidney problems if the dogs keep continuing to eat aliments high in purines.
Foods that are high in purines are peas, organs, meat, spinach, mackerel, sardines, venison, and duck.
What type of peas can my dog eat?
Your dog can eat cooked green peas, sugar snap peas, and snow peas without pod. Always remove the pod because it can be a choking hazard for a dog. He can bite a larger piece or an entire pea pod, and choke with it.
Can dogs eat fresh peas?
Dogs can eat fresh peas but don’t let the pod near them. The pod can be a choking hazard for them.
Can dogs eat cooked peas?
Dogs can eat cooked peas only if there are no spices, salt or butter on them. Some steamed peas from time to time are good for your dog. Always remove the pod and let the peas to cool before you feed peas to your dog.
Are frozen peas good for dogs?
Your dog can eat frozen peas, but keep your eyes on him when he eats frozen peas for the first time. Make sure that he will not choke with the peas.
Can dogs eat canned peas?
If you want to give your dog some peas from a can, you have to read the ingredients and see how much sodium it has. Most of the canned peas available out there have a lot of added salt.
Can dogs eat peas daily?
Dogs shouldn’t eat peas daily. There are so many vegetables and fruits for your dog to try, so why stick with only one? A few peas from time to time are a healthy addition to your dog’s diet but he shouldn’t eat this every day.
Can a dog eat too many peas?
Dogs shouldn’t eat too many peas. If a dog eats too many peas can experience digestive issues or gas.
Final thoughts on can my dog eat peas
Healthy dogs that don’t have kidney problems can eat peas because is a healthy addition to their diet that helps a lot with growing and developing a healthy body. If your dog is too fussy and he refuses to eat his regular kibbles or food, you can easily cook him a meal. Your dog will not refuse boiled chicken with some steamed peas and carrots and a bit of cooked rice. And remember: Don’t put any salt, oil or other spices in the food that you’re preparing for your dog.
Grilling time is here! Have you read Can dogs eat corn?
