Chickpeas are a staple food and have become a significant source of protein in human diets across the United States, and this has led to many wondering whether or not these balls of nutrition are safe for dogs to eat. So, can dogs eat chickpeas?
Chickpeas are definitely healthy for dogs to eat, as long as they do not contain ingredients such as salt and spices that are typically meant for human consumption and are fed to the dogs in moderate amounts.
As inferred in the opening paragraph, chickpeas come with a lot of health benefits for dogs, and this article explores what your canine buddy stands to gain from being fed with these legumes. There are times, however, when chickpeas aren’t safe for dogs to eat, and these situations are also well explained in this article. However, before we delve into all of this, let’s take a look at why it is safe for dogs to eat chickpeas.
Can Dogs Eat Chickpeas?
Yes, dogs can eat chickpeas as long as the chickpeas don’t contain additives and are fed to the dogs in moderation.
Can Dogs Eat Canned Chickpeas?
Dogs can eat canned chickpeas, but there are steps that need to be taken to ensure a pooch’s safety before feeding it with canned chickpeas.
Most canned chickpea products typically contain a high amount of salt for preservative purposes, and too much salt is dangerous to a dog’s body, causing issues such as dehydration, high blood pressure, and sodium poisoning.
Hence, before feeding a dog with canned chickpeas, you should make sure to thoroughly wash the legumes. By doing this, you’ll be getting rid of a significant amount of salt, thereby making the chickpeas safer for your canine buddy to consume.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Chickpeas?
No, it isn’t safe to feed dogs with raw chickpeas safe from the packet. Chickpeas need to be thoroughly soaked and properly cooked before they can be safe for dogs, as well as humans, to eat.
Can Dogs Have Hummus?
Hummus is a popular diet in American homes, and it is typically prepared by blending cooked chickpeas with spices such as lemon juice and garlic. And while hummus makes for a tasty meal for humans, it can be very toxic for dogs to eat.
Firstly, spices such as onions, garlic, and lemon juice which are typically contained in hummus, don’t work well with a dog’s digestive system, and your pooch is at risk of suffering from an upset stomach if fed with hummus.
Additionally, hummus contains a significant amount of fat, salts, and sugar, and when fed regularly to a dog, these ingredients will have a negative impact on your fido’s wellbeing.
Why Should You Feed Chickpeas To Your Dogs?
Benefits attached with feeding chickpeas to your dogs include a rich source of nutrition, improved excretory system, better heart functioning, relief from inflammation pains, and cancer-fighting properties.
Highly Nutritious
Chickpeas may be small in size, but these legumes certainly pack a punch when it comes to the number of nutrients available for a dog’s health benefits.
Apart from being rich in fiber and proteins, chickpeas also contain vitamins and minerals such as potassium, zinc, copper, iron, and magnesium, just to mention a few. These nutrients play various roles in a dog’s wellbeing and development, some of which are summarized below:
Regulation Of Heart Functions
The high potassium and fiber content present in chickpeas helps dogs maintain optimal blood pressure levels, while simultaneously helping to regulate the amount of cholesterol present in blood at any given time.
Improved Excretory System
As mentioned earlier, chickpeas are rich in fiber, and these typically help make bowel movements more fluid, as well as produce soft stool which reduces the chances of a dog getting constipated.
Also, apart from preventing constipation, soft stools produced with the help of the high fiber content in chickpeas make it easier to express a dog’s anal glands.
Relieves Inflammation
Another advantage of feeding dogs, especially arthritic pooches, with chickpeas is the anti-inflammatory properties present in this food substance.
Medical challenges, such as osteoarthritis that cause muscle inflammation in dogs, can be managed by feeding the affected pooch with choline-rich chickpeas.
Helps Fight Against Cancer
Chickpeas are certainly not a cure for cancer, but they contain certain nutrients and properties that are helpful in preventing the growth of cancerous cells in dogs.
Folate present in chickpeas helps prevent the formation and spread of cancerous cells, while the selenium content of chickpeas empowers the liver to eliminate cancer-causing agents, thereby reducing cancer growth.
Additionally, chickpeas contain vitamins, such as vitamin C, which are known to protect body cells from radical damage typically caused by cancer.
Are There Negative Effects Of Feeding Chickpeas To Your Dog?
Chickpeas can cause digestive tract problems for dogs with an existing medical condition and a result of displaying the following medical conditions like dehydration, diarrhea, and sodium poisoning, just to mention a few.
As nutritious as chickpeas can be for dogs, it has to be said that there are potential health risks attached to feeding pooches with this food substance. And some of these health risks of feeding chickpeas to dogs are outlined below:
- Human-grade chickpeas, especially those turned into hummus, contain ingredients such as salt and spices, which can result in medical symptoms such as sodium poisoning, dehydration, vomiting, as well as stomach issues such as diarrhea.
- Dogs with a history of gastrointestinal issues are at risk of suffering from abdominal cramps and bloat when fed with chickpeas.
To not deal with any of the issues listed above, it is recommended that you seek your vet’s opinion and medical advice before incorporating chickpeas into your canine buddy’s diet.
Also, this can’t be overemphasized, but if you’re to feed your dogs with chickpeas, you should do so with bland, cooked, and unprocessed chickpeas, which are typically devoid of seasonings and spices that can harm a pooch.
And if you must feed your pooch with canned chickpeas, you should ensure to properly wash off the salt typically present in such canned products.
