We know dogs can eat peas and carrots, especially when served as an occasional treat. But can they eat peas and carrots together? And if they can, what is the best way to combine peas and carrots in a dog’s diet? Find out in this article.
Yes, dogs can eat peas and carrots together. Adding peas and carrots to dog food creates a fantastic taste and supplies dogs with a healthy diet with protein and vitamins necessary for growth. But not all peas are safe for dogs, i.e., sweet peas. Thus, only safe green peas and carrots can be added to a dog’s food.
In this article, you’ll discover what peas are safe for dogs to eat with carrots and under what conditions dogs can eat them. You’ll also learn what foods containing peas and carrots are toxic to dogs and the ideal serving sizes of peas and carrots for dogs. Last, you’ll discover the benefits of peas and carrots for dogs and how best to prepare them. First, let’s review what peas and carrots are okay for dogs to eat.
Are Carrots And Peas OK For Dogs?
Peas and carrots are okay for dogs because they have no known toxins that affect dogs.
Additionally, because peas and carrots are low in calories, they are okay for obese doggies or doggies of any weight. Peas and carrots are also a source of healthy nutrients that can be useful to our canine buddies.
Peas that are safe to give dogs include frozen peas, snap peas, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, or split peas, together with carrots.
Can Dogs Eat Green Peas And Carrots?
Yes, the best type of peas dogs can have is green peas. So, doggies can eat green peas and carrots.
Green peas are a group of peas, and they include sugar and snap peas. Green peas, however, do not include sweet peas.
Sweet peas are unsafe for dogs to consume, particularly in large amounts. Sweet peas are mainly cultivated for their flowers or horticultural purposes. Only green peas are genuinely safe for dogs to eat.
Can I Give My Dog Peas And Carrots?
If your furry friend has no underlying health conditions like kidney disease and your doggie is not allergic to peas, you can feed your dog peas and carrots.
If it’s been a while since you added vegetables to your canine’s diet, you can feed your furry friend peas and carrots.
Also, you can give your furry friends peas and carrots if you want to prevent xerophthalmia in doggies. In particular, if you have an excellent night guard dog, you should give them peas and carrots.
In the next section, we will see how often doggies can have peas and carrots.
How Many Peas And Carrots Can A Dog Eat?
A dog can have a handful of peas and carrots. The ideal amount to feed your pooch depends on body size and the type of peas and carrots you prepare.
As peas and carrots are not a doggie’s main diet, you should give them treat-sized peas and carrots. Good-treat-sized peas and carrots should only compose 10% of a dog’s primary diet. The remaining food should consist of a complete and well-balanced doggie diet.
If you serve dogs only peas and carrots, without their usual primary diet, you should only do so occasionally and when their usual dog food isn’t available.
Serve dogs 1 to 3 cups of peas and carrots every 2 to 3 weeks. For the first time, it’s always good to start with 1 cup and then gradually work up to 3 cups.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Peas And Carrots?
Yes, dogs can eat cooked peas and carrots. Cooked peas are the best because our furry friends can more easily digest them.
In addition, cooking peas releases starch granules in the peas and makes them more enjoyable for your doggie to consume.
Can Dogs Eat Frozen Peas And Carrots?
Yes, dogs can have frozen peas and carrots. It’s okay to freeze peas if your canine friends don’t eat them for some time.
However, don’t let your furry friends eat frozen peas and carrots containing added butter, sauces, or sodium.
Can Dogs Eat Canned Peas And Carrots?
No, dogs can’t eat canned peas and carrots. Canned food items are not safe for dogs because they contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs.
Canned peas have ingredients, such as added sodium and sugar.
Are Peas And Carrots Toxic To Dogs?
No, peas and carrots are not toxic to dogs. However, giving your four-legged furry friend peas and carrots without first detaching the pods is a serious choking hazard. Always remove the pods from the peas.
Also, avoid giving little pups larger peas that are difficult to swallow.
Peas and carrots can also pose a health problem to your furry friend if they have been diagnosed with kidney problems in the past.
Peas have a high amount of purines that produce uric acid. A weak kidney can’t filter uric acid properly. Over time, this leads to kidney stones and other conditions.
Last, only give dogs the recommended amount of peas and carrots to avoid toxicity symptoms such as digestive disturbances, allergies, and even weight gain.
How To Prepare Peas And Carrots For Your Dog?
There are a few methods for preparing peas and carrots for your canine friends. One is to prepare peas and carrots soup and add it to your dog’s food, such as kibble, rice, or any other grain.
For this method, you will need the following ingredients:
- 2 cups of split peas
- 1½ cups of carrots
- 2 cups of dog food or kibble (in the absence of any dog food or kibble, use 2 cups of grain such as barley or rice)
You can also include vegetables, such as 1 cup of celery and 4 cups of spinach. However, these vegetables are optional.
Preparation Stages
For simplicity, we have broken down the preparation into four stages.
They include the following:
- Washing-and-cutting stage
- Softening stage
- Grinding stage
- Serving stage
Washing-And-Cutting Stage
Wash the carrots and peas thoroughly. Make sure to always cut the carrots into smaller pieces. Also, wash the celery and spinach before you add them to your dog’s food.
Softening Stage
Pour 4 cups of water and 2 cups of the split peas into a pot. Let them boil for 20 minutes until soft. However, do not let them get mushy.
Pour 4 cups of water into a pot and pour 2 cups of barley or rice.
Leave it to boil for 10 to 15 minutes to give the barley a soft texture. If you are using rice in place of barley, it will take about 20 to 25 minutes to attain a smooth texture suitable for your doggie.
Add ¼ cup of water into another pot or saucepan, add your carrots, and leave them until they are moist. Softening makes the carrots easier to grind in a food processor. If you include celery and spinach in your dog food, add them as well.
Grinding Stage
Once the peas, carrots, and other vegetables have attained a soft texture, add them to a food processor or blender. Grind for 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the speed of your grinder.
Serving Stage
Take 1 cup of barley, rice, or other dog food like kibble, and pour it into your doggie’s food plate or bowl.
Add 1 cup of the blended peas and carrots into the dog bowl and mix it with the kibble, rice, barley, or other dog food.
Benefits Of Peas And Carrots For Dogs
Peas and carrots provide your canine friend with fantastic nutrients and benefits, as detailed below.
Rich In Essential Nutrients
Peas and carrots are good sources of protein and vitamins, respectively.
A combination of peas and carrots provides vitamins A, B, C, and K, as well as iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, folate, thiamine, manganese, and lutein.
Vitamin A and antioxidants in carrots help to improve pups’ skin and coat health.
Provides Dietary Fiber
Both peas and carrots are rich sources of fiber. The high amount of fiber keeps dogs’ bowels and colons free, helping digestion.
Supports Eye Health
Peas and carrots are rich in vitamin A, which supports eye health and prevents night blindness in your doggie.
Alternative And Additional Food Sources
If your canine friend has an allergy to popular sources of protein or carbohydrates, peas are a better replacement food.
Peas and carrots also serve as add-ons since you can mix them into dog food too.