Fresh peas straight from the garden are a fantastic, vitamin-packed addition to so many dishes. They can also be a great treat for your furry friends! However, you’ve got to prepare them the right way first—otherwise, they can actually be toxic to dogs.
Harvesting Your Peas
If you’re planning on sharing your harvest with your pup, make sure your peas are free from pests and diseases. This is super important: if your plants are struggling with something like powdery mildew, those peas aren’t fit for you or your dog. Always toss any peas that look sickly or infested.
Not only do diseased peas taste pretty bad, but they can also cause some nasty digestive issues for your dog. Better safe than sorry!
Wash and Cook
The golden rule for feeding peas to dogs is that they must be cooked. Raw peas contain certain compounds that are toxic to dogs, especially in larger amounts. Cooking breaks these down and makes the peas safe to eat.
Start by shelling the peas, then pop them into boiling water for a few minutes. You can also use frozen peas if you have them on hand. Even though frozen peas are usually blanched before freezing, you still need to give them a full boil to be safe.
Once they’re nice and soft, give them a quick rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. As soon as they’ve cooled down, you can mix them right into your dog’s regular food.
Keep Portions Small
Even though peas are a healthy addition, variety is the spice of life (and a balanced diet) for our pets. Mixing some peas into their meals once or twice a week is plenty. It’s a wonderful way to brighten up their menu, especially during pea season when you can go from garden to bowl in minutes.
Just a reminder: never feed your dog raw peas. Because of those toxic compounds, raw peas can be genuinely dangerous. If you grow peas in your backyard, keep an eye on your pup to make sure they aren’t “self-harvesting” or snacking on the vines and pods. Avoid giving them raw pods to chew on, too—this can become a health issue very quickly, especially for smaller breeds.