Vegetable
Can cats eat chickpeas?
A plain chickpea won’t harm a cat, but they offer little benefit.
Why Garlic and salt in hummus and seasoned chickpeas
By Maya HartIf your cat ate some
- A small amount usually causes nothing worse than a mild stomach upset.
- Offer water, skip the next treat and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day or your pet seems unwell.
- If your pet ate a lot of hummus, call your vet because of the garlic.
Signs to watch for
- Wind and bloating
- Loose stools
How much, how often
One or two, if at all.
Treats of any kind should stay under 10% of the day’s calories. Work out your pet’s calories
Serving it safely
- Plain, cooked or rinsed tinned chickpeas
- Mash for small dogs
- No hummus, falafel or spiced chickpeas
Dogs and cats, side by side
Dogs In moderation
Plain cooked chickpeas are safe for dogs in small amounts. Hummus is not — it usually contains garlic and lemon juice.
How much: A few chickpeas for a small dog, a small spoonful for a large dog.
Can dogs eat chickpeas?Cats In moderation
A plain chickpea won’t harm a cat, but they offer little benefit.
How much: One or two, if at all.
The details
Chickpeas are a legume that features in many grain-free dog foods. As a treat they are fine, but introduce them slowly — they can make dogs very gassy. The US Food and Drug Administration has investigated a possible link between diets high in legumes and a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy; that concern relates to main diets, not the occasional chickpea.
A dog who has licked out a hummus pot usually just needs watching, but larger amounts of garlic can damage red blood cells.
Safer treats your cat can have instead
Questions owners ask
Can cats eat chickpeas?
A plain chickpea won’t harm a cat, but they offer little benefit.
How much chickpeas can a cat have?
One or two, if at all.
What makes chickpeas risky for cats?
Garlic and salt in hummus and seasoned chickpeas.
What are the signs to watch for in cats?
wind and bloating, loose stools.
What should I do if my cat ate chickpeas?
A small amount usually causes nothing worse than a mild stomach upset. Offer water, skip the next treat and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhoea lasts more than a day or your pet seems unwell. If your pet ate a lot of hummus, call your vet because of the garlic.
Is chickpeas safe for dogs too?
Plain cooked chickpeas are safe for dogs in small amounts. Hummus is not — it usually contains garlic and lemon juice.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts
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