Can Dogs Have Snap Peas

For a fat-free, cholesterol-free, and sodium-free diet, snap peas are always in our meals. They are full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. We may want our dogs to reap these benefits. But can dogs have snap peas?

The good news is snap peas are a safe legume for canines. So yeah, dogs can eat them. However, you must follow some regulations while offering these peas to your dog. Such as washing them, cooking them, avoiding extra ingredients, and so on.

Unfortunately, snap peas can bring side effects to dogs’ health when the quantity is not right. Let’s discover more about how these can be boons and banes for our paw friends.

All About Snap Peas

Snap peas are edible pod peas, also known as butter peas and sugar snap peas. They come with rounded pods and thick walls. Snap peas belong to the spices, Pisum sativum and the legume family. They are mostly cultivated in spring.

Most people confuse snow peas and snap peas. Meanwhile, snap peas are a mixture of snow peas and garden peas. They are crunchy and sweet in flavour. Besides, these peas are available in varieties, like with strings and stringless.

Can Dogs Have Snap Peas?

Snap peas fall into the category of safe foods that dogs can have. They offer no toxins, but several nutrients. Such as B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, iron, zinc, magnesium, etc.

For better results, don’t offer raw or canned snap peas to dogs. They find raw legumes hard to digest. And canned snap peas contain salt and spices that are high in sodium. These can disrupt a dog’s digestive system. This means you have to offer plain and cooked peas to your canine friend in moderation.

What Are The Benefits Of Having Snap Peas For Dogs?

Snap peas can be a boon for dogs since they offer several nutrients. Such as vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin K, and vitamin C. Vitamin A can improve your dog’s vision, growth, and immune system. Vitamin C will protect him from all damage, skin issues, colds, and scurvy. Also, it will promote bone density, brain function, and the immune system. The antioxidant properties found in vitamin C will protect dogs from free radicals and cancer risk.

With B vitamins, snap peas can boost energy, increase red blood cells, boost skin health, coat health, and brain health. They are also good for the cardiovascular system, nervous system, and metabolism system.

The vitamin K in these peas will promote protein absorption and improve muscle health. This will also improve bone health and prevent blood clotting.

Dogs shouldn’t eat sugar, meanwhile, snap peas have healthy sugar that will only do good for dogs’ health. Other nutrients in snap peas include zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium, and beta-carotene.

Zinc can be a booster for your dog’s metabolism function, immune system, and wound healing. Iron present in these legumes will increase the haemoglobin level. Magnesium will take care of his bone health, nerve health, and blood sugar levels. Potassium will regulate muscular function and skeletal health. Fibre is another nutrient in snap peas that can allow a smooth bowel movement among dogs.

What Are The Risks Of Having Snap Peas For Dogs?

Snap peas can be a threat to dogs’ health, especially when they consume them too much. As said earlier, snap peas contain natural sugar that is good for health. This sugar content can be risky for your dog if he eats the peas in high quantities. Taking too much sugar means taking too much fat. This can result in tooth decay, pancreatitis, and weight gain.

Another essential nutrient in snap peas is fibre. Ingesting too many peas means ingesting too much fibre. This can upset a dog’s stomach, resulting in gas, diarrhoea, and bloating.

Sugar snap peas have a compound called purine. It can be unsafe for dogs who have kidney problems. A dog with kidney stones, kidney pain, or any kidney issues can develop symptoms from having snap peas. Such as infrequent urination, ulcers, pale gums, hydration, and so on.

The pods of snap peas are edible, but they can pose health risks too. For example, dogs with small oesophagus, i.e. small breeds can have a choking hazard from eating the pod. The situation can be the same when any dog eats raw snap peas.

How To Offer Snap Peas To Dogs?

Make sure the snap peas that you are offering to your paw friend are fresh and organic. Then take one or two pods, based on your breed’s requirements. Now cook the seed pods, you can boil them or steam them. Before that, don’t forget to wash the kids thoroughly.

Keep the dish as plain as possible. Add no ingredients to it, like salt, onion, garlic, seasonings, etc.

After cooking the seed pods, take the seed from the pod. Let your dog eat that one seed. If he is comfortable eating it and looking for some more, offer him another seed. In this way, you can make snap peas his best friends.

The seed pod is edible, you can let your pet eat it. To avoid any choking hazard, make small pieces of the pod. Then let him enjoy the pod along with the peas.

How Many Snap Peas Can Dogs Have?

The amount of snap peas should be moderate, especially when dogs will eat them. Moreover, it is important to consider their size and health condition before deciding the amount.

Extra-small dogs, like Pomeranians, can eat one teaspoon of cooked snap peas. Small dogs, like Scottish Terriers, can have two teaspoons of it. Border Collies and other medium breeds can have three teaspoons of the peas. Australian Shepherds and other large breeds can eat two tablespoons of them. Extra-large dogs, like Great Pyrenees, can have up to three tablespoons of snap peas.

When Can Dogs Have Snap Peas?

Unfortunately, snap peas may not be best friends if all dogs. For example, the purine in these legumes is unsafe for dogs with kidney issues. So know first if your dog is dealing with such problems or not.

Surprisingly, diabetic dogs can have snap peas even if they have sugars. But if their diet includes sugar, snap peas aren’t for them.

The high fibre content in snap peas can be an enemy for dogs with an upset stomach. In such cases, avoid offering them legumes or any high-fibre foods, like snap peas.

Frequently Asked Questions: Can Dogs Have Snap Peas?

Do snap peas have a high glycemic index?

The glycemic index in snap peas is five, which is not high in number. This means snap peas won’t increase the blood sugar levels which can be safe for a diabetic patient.

Are any peas bad for dogs?

Dogs can have almost all kinds of peas as long as they are cooked and plain. This means raw and canned peas of any variety are bad for dogs.

Can dogs be allergic to snap peas?

No wonder, some dogs can be allergic to snap peas. The reason can be an allergy to plant-based foods or any peas.

Final Thoughts

Since snap peas offer both benefits and side effects, we may think, Can dogs have snap peas? The answer is yes in moderation, if they are plain and cooked.