Peas for Dogs: A Complete Guide

How to feed a dog peas

Peas (including garden peas, petit pois, sugar snaps and mangetout) are an outstanding source of vitamins A, C and K for dogs, as well as iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium. They are rich in protein and dietary fibre, making them a fantastic addition to your dog’s food bowl.

Feeding your dog peas is easy-peasy if you’ll excuse the terrible pun. You can feed them raw as a treat or include boiled or steamed peas with your dog’s food.

Another excellent way to introduce peas into your dog’s diet is by including them in homemade dog treats.

Looking for an even simpler way to add peas to your dog’s diet? How about my new dog food topper. It’s a simple and cost effective way to add peas, carrots and and other vegetables to your dog’s diet. Simply pour, rehydrate with a little hot water, and serve!

Here are four creative, dog-safe ways to feed peas to your pup:

1. Pureed Pea & Mint Gravy
Raw or whole frozen peas can sometimes pass straight through a dog’s digestive tract completely intact. Blending them breaks down the tough plant cell walls, ensuring your dog absorbs all the nutrients.

• Steam a small handful of garden peas until bright green and tender. Toss them into a blender with 4 tablespoons of warm bone broth and one finely chopped fresh mint leaf to help neutralise bad breath.
• Blend until perfectly smooth. Pour this rich green gravy directly over your dog’s regular food to add instant hydration, antioxidants and an enticing aroma.

2. Frozen “Peas in a Pod” Probiotic Bites
This simple recipe combines the plant-based protein of peas with the gut-soothing probiotics of kefir to create a refreshing summer snack.

• Drop a small handful of fresh or thawed garden peas directly into the slots of a silicone mould.
• Pour plain, unsweetened goat’s milk kefir or Greek yogurt over the top to fill the mould. Freeze for 3 hours. Pop them out as a cooling summer treat that supports optimal digestive health.

3. Whole Pea “Hide-and-Seek” Ice Block
Because whole peas float, they can be frozen at different levels inside a large block of ice to create an engaging, long-lasting mental puzzle for a warm afternoon.

• Take a large plastic container or a cake tin. Throw in a handful of fresh garden peas along with a few blueberries.
• Fill the container with water mixed with a splash of savoury bone broth. Freeze solid for 4 hours. Pop the giant ice block out in the garden; your dog will have to lick away the ice to extract the crunchy green rewards.

4. Baked Salmon & Pea Training Drops
Peas combine beautifully with oily fish to create high-protein, nutrient-dense home-baked treats that support a healthy skin and coat.

• Mash 50g of well cooked, cooled peas with 50g of drained tinned salmon in water. Mix in one medium chicken egg and 120g (1 cup) of oat flour.
• Roll the dough into tiny, marble-sized balls and flatten them with a fork onto a baking sheet. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and crisp. Allow them to cool completely before using them as training treats.

A few words of warning

There are just a few words of warning relating to dogs and peas.

1. Use only fresh or frozen garden peas. Tinned peas contain too much salt and sugar which, while not toxic, are not beneficial to your dog.

2. Thawed, lightly steamed or even frozen peas as a cooling summer treat peas are fine. But avoid canned peas due to their dangerously high sodium levels.
3. Sugar snap and snow pea pods are safe to eat as they are, but tough garden pea pods must be shelled to prevent choking.
4. Never feed your dog peas if it suffers from chronic kidney disease, bladder stones (this particularly applies to Dalmatians) or any kind of kidney problems. The purine in peas produces uric acid which can lead to kidney stones and other kidney conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Can dogs eat peas?
A. Yes, dogs can eat most varieties of green peas including garden, petit pois, snow and sugar snap peas.

Q. Are peas good for dogs?
A. Yes. Peas are packed with vitamins A, B, C and K, as well as essential minerals like iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium.

Q. Can puppies eat peas?
A. Yes they can. Peas are perfectly suitable for puppies.

Q. Can dogs eat frozen peas?
A. Yes, frozen peas are a safe, crunchy snack, although defrosting or lightly cooking them makes them easier to chew and their nutrients more bioavailable.

Q. Can dogs eat tinned peas?
A. No, tinned peas are not recommended because they contain high levels of sodium and preservatives that can harm dogs.

Q. Can dogs eat raw vs. cooked peas?
A. Both are safe, but lightly steaming or boiling them plain is easier on a dog’s digestive system than raw peas.

Q. Can dogs eat pea pods or shells?
A. Dogs can eat the pods of snow peas and sugar snap peas, but the tough outer shells of garden/English peas must be removed to prevent choking.