Chickpeas for Dogs: A Complete Guide

How to feed a dog chickpeas

Dried chickpeas — cheaper and safer for your dog than tinned chickpeas — should be soaked overnight to reduce cooking time and boiled until they are soft and mushy to improve nutrient absorption. Tinned chickpeas are packed with sodium and preservatives that can lead to salt toxicity.

Here are four creative, dog-safe ways to incorporate chickpeas into your dog’s diet:

1. Chickpea & Turkey Savoury Mash
Chickpeas have a firm outer skin which means they can sometimes pass through a dog’s digestive tract undigested with their nutrients still locked inside. Blending them into a smooth paste ensures maximum nutrient absorption.

• Boil 50g of soaked chickpeas until soft. In a separate pan, cook 50g of lean minced turkey or chicken breast.
• Toss the cooked chickpeas, meat and 4 tablespoons of warm water or bone broth into a blender. Puree until silky smooth, let it cool and ladle a spoonful over your dog’s food.

2. Frozen Chickpea & Bone Broth Gut-Health Bites
The prebiotic fibre in chickpeas actively feeds the beneficial bacteria in your dog’s gut. Freezing them into small bites creates a refreshing, low-fat snack that promotes solid stool quality.

• Stir 2 tablespoons of cooked and cooled chickpeas into 100ml of homemade bone broth.
• Pour the mixture into silicone moulds and freeze for 3 hours. Pop them out as a cooling treat after outdoor play or a long walk.

3. Sticky Chickpea Boredom Buster
When cooked and mashed, chickpeas take on a thick, paste-like consistency that spreads easily across textured rubber enrichment toys, extending your dog’s licking time.

• Mash a small handful of warm, cooked chickpeas with a fork. Mix the paste with one tablespoon of cooked and mashed pumpkin or a smear of xylitol-free peanut butter.
• Scrape the mixture firmly into the crevices of a rubber lick mat or inside a puzzle toy. Freeze flat for 45 minutes before serving to keep your dog calm and occupied during stressful events like grooming or storms.

4. Baked Chickpea Flour Training Drops
You can purchase pure chickpea flour (also called gram flour) to bake a batch of highly rewarding, grain-free training treats that are excellent for dogs with wheat sensitivities.

• Mash one ripe banana with a fork. In a mixing bowl, combine the banana with one medium chicken egg and 120g (1 cup) of chickpea flour.
• Roll the dough into tiny, marble-sized balls and flatten them slightly with a fork onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and crisp. Allow them to cool completely before using.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Are chickpeas toxic to dogs?
A. No. Chickpeas are non-toxic to dogs.

Q. What are the health benefits of chickpeas for dogs?
A. Chickpeas are highly nutritious. They offer:

• Plant-based protein which supports muscle maintenance and repair.
• High fibre which promotes healthy digestion, regular bowel movements and firm stools.
• Weight control because they are low in fat and high in fibre which helps dogs feel full without extra calories.
• Vitamins and minerals because chickpeas are rich in potassium, magnesium, folate, iron and B vitamins.

Q. Can chickpeas replace meat in a dog’s diet?
A. Only in a wholly plant-based diet that is supplemented with other amino acids like methionine and cysteine that are absent in anything other than meat proteins.

Q. Can dogs eat tinned chickpeas?
A. Only if they are low-sodium or no-salt-added, and rinsed thoroughly under running water. Regular tinned varieties sit in heavy brine that contains dangerous levels of sodium for dogs. Nothing beats dried chickpeas for dogs.

Q. Can dogs eat raw or dried chickpeas?
A. No. Uncooked dried chickpeas are hard and could present a choking hazard to dogs.

Q. Can dogs eat hummus?
A. A dog could eat homemade hummus but not shop-bought hummus. While chickpeas are safe, shop-bought hummus may contain onion which is highly toxic to dogs.

Q. Is chickpea flour safe for dogs?
A. Yes. Chickpea flour is an excellent, gluten-free alternative to wheat flour and is frequently used to bake homemade dog treats.

Q. Do chickpeas increase wind in dogs.
A. They can but generally only if a dog is not used to eating fresh food.

Q. How many chickpeas can my dog have?
A. Chickpeas should adhere to the 10 percent rule, meaning that no single plant ingredient should make up more than 10 percent of your dog’s daily caloric intake.