Can Dogs Eat Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)? When it is or isn’t an Emergency

Most dogs can eat chickpeas (garbanzo beans) as long it’s in moderation. The chickpeas, however, must be served plain. You should avoid giving your dog anything that’s cooked such as roasted chickpeas seasoned with pepper or garlic powder. Those can be unsafe for pets.

What happens if a dog eats chickpeas?

For most dogs, nothing bad should happen if they eat a small amount of plain chickpeas. You will actually come across a few commercial dog food brands that use chickpeas as part of the ingredient. Chickpeas are rich in the many different nutrients that a dog’s body requires to grow. This includes iron, vitamin B, and calcium.

This doesn’t apply to all dogs but one concern that chickpeas may introduce is bloat. Chickpeas can make dogs feel gassy and result in symptoms like excessive flatulence and loose stools. This is why it’s important to only serve chickpeas in moderation, especially for gassy dog breeds like bulldogs and boxers.

How much chickpeas can a dog have?

This will depend on a number of factors such as the dog’s breed and body weight. We would only recommend a tiny piece if this is the first time your dog is having chickpeas. This is to help check for allergies and intolerances. Dogs that don’t have such issues may have chickpeas as long as it doesn’t consist of more than 10% of their daily calorie intake. Chickpeas should be considered supplements and not replacements of their regular meals.

You can learn more about what legumes are safe or unsafe for dogs to eat by visiting our human food for dogs guide. For example, did you know it’s not considered ideal for dogs to eat green peas? Dogs shouldn’t also eat chickpea-based meals such as falafels.