Sometimes dog owners are not sure whether a certain food is good for their dogs or not. Before owning a dog, it is important to be well informed about the foods that your dog can eat, but you should also know which foods are toxic to dogs. This way you will avoid any health problems with your dog because it is known that many foods may be very dangerous.
This article will be about chickpeas. Have you ever fed your dog chickpeas? Has your dog experienced any side effects? As we all know, chickpeas are considered a healthy food. They are rich in protein and other nutrients. Many people use chickpeas as a part of their diet, but is it okay to feed our dogs chickpeas? If you are a dog owner this article will be interesting and also very useful for you.
Just continue reading and you will find out more about chickpeas and their impact on your dog’s health. We will discuss situations in which chickpeas are appropriate for your dog and others when chickpeas are not recommended. Alternatively, you can also read about dogs and eating pasta.
More about Chickpeas
A chickpea is a legume that belongs to the family Fabaceae. It is also known as garbanzo bean or Egyptian pea. Chickpeas are one of the earliest cultivated legumes in the world and there are various types of these beans.
As we have already said, chickpeas are an excellent source of protein and they are used for making hummus, but they are also used as an ingredient in many salads and stews. Chickpeas are usually boiled for 5-10 minutes and then they are simmered for a longer period of time. Dried chickpeas need a long cooking time, about an hour or two.
Apart from protein, chickpeas contain also large amounts of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, so they are considered as a healthy human food. But, can we share these beans with our canine friends? Are chickpeas toxic to dogs or they may be beneficial? Just continue reading this article and you will get the answers.
Are Chickpeas Safe for Dogs?
Well, generally chickpeas are considered safe for dogs, so you don’t have to worry if your dog has eaten a couple of chickpeas. As long as you feed your dog cooked chickpeas, you don’t have to worry. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t feed your dog chickpeas. These beans are not on the list of foods that are toxic to dogs, so you don’t have to worry. You should feed your dog chickpeas as an occasional treat.
They should not be a substantial part of your dog’s diet. When used in moderation, chickpeas can improve your dog’s digestion. They are rich in fiber and protein and they have positive effects on your dog’s gastrointestinal tract. If you feed your dog chickpeas as a snack, your dog will not have problems with constipation any more.
It is recommended to purchase canned or dried variety of chickpeas and it is necessary to cook thoroughly these beans for your dog. But, you should know that a canned variety of chickpeas is usually too salty, so you need to rinse the chickpeas off before you serve them to your dog.
Also, it is very important to feed your dog chickpeas in a pure form, without adding other ingredients to them. Plain chickpeas may not be tasty for you but your dog will certainly enjoy them.
As we have already said, it is important to feed your dog only small amounts of chickpeas. If your dog eats too many chickpeas, he may experience gas, bloating and other gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea. This is one more reason why we recommend you to feed your dog chickpeas in moderation. You can serve chickpeas as a treat once or two times a week. This is more than enough for your dog.
Remember that your dog’s diet should be based primarily on proteins that come from animal sources. Plant based proteins, such as chickpeas, should be used only occasionally.
Summary
You have seen in this article that chickpeas should be served to your dog occasionally. As most human foods, chickpeas should also be served to dogs in moderation. As long as your dog eats a small amount of chickpeas, nothing bad will happen and your dog will stay healthy. Large amounts of these beans may cause many gastrointestinal and other health problems to your dog, so it is best to use them moderately.
Remember that moderation is always the key of a good health and that you are the only responsible for your dog’s health. To avoid any health risks, use chickpeas as an occasional treat and your dog will stay healthy, which is most important.
As we have already said, chickpeas can be a great supplement to your dog’s diet when they are served in moderation. You can also read about lemons and dogs.
