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Are Chickpeas Good for Dogs? 6 Health Benefits

Are Chickpeas Good for Dogs? 6 Health Benefits

Posted by Russell Gibbons on 17th Jun 2026

By The Huds and Toke TeamUpdated 22 July 2026Reading time about 8 minutes

The short answer

Yes, chickpeas are good for dogs in moderation. Plain, cooked chickpeas are a safe and genuinely nutritious occasional treat for most healthy dogs, offering plant protein, fibre, folate and minerals, as long as they are served plain: no salt, no spices, and never as hummus.

That is the short answer. Chickpeas are also a legume, though, and there is one piece of context every dog owner should understand before making them a regular thing. We cover it honestly further down. First, the whole article in five points:

  • Safe and nutritious, fed sensibly. Plain, cooked chickpeas suit most healthy dogs as an occasional treat or food topper.
  • Nutrient dense. Cooked chickpeas deliver roughly 8.9g of protein and 7.6g of fibre per 100g, plus folate, other B vitamins and a spread of minerals.
  • The important nuance. Chickpeas are a pulse. Vets and regulators have been studying pulse heavy diets as a possible factor in a canine heart condition called DCM. That question is about staple diets, not the odd chickpea snack.
  • How much. Keep all treats, chickpeas included, to about 10 per cent of your dog's daily calories. A spoonful or two, a couple of times a week, is plenty.
  • Always plain. No salt, no seasoning, never hummus (garlic and onion are toxic to dogs) and never raw, hard chickpeas.

What is actually in a chickpea?

Chickpeas, also sold as garbanzo beans, are one of the most nutritious legumes you can keep in the pantry. The figures below come from FoodData Central, the public food nutrition database run by the US Department of Agriculture. It is an overseas source, but it is the reference database most nutrition research leans on, so it is the honest place to pull numbers from.

Per 100g of plain cooked (boiled) chickpeas you get roughly:

  • Energy: 164 calories
  • Protein: 8.9g of plant protein
  • Fibre: 7.6g
  • Folate: 172 micrograms, alongside smaller amounts of other B vitamins, including thiamine (B1) and vitamin B6
  • Minerals: 291mg of potassium, 48mg of magnesium, 2.9mg of iron and about 1mg of manganese
  • Sugars: under 5g of naturally occurring sugar

Worth knowing: canned, drained chickpeas measure a little lower on protein and fibre (about 7.1g and 6.4g per 100g) and much higher on sodium until they are rinsed, which is why the rinse matters so much later in this article. Either way, that overall profile explains why pulses like chickpeas appear in plenty of commercial dog foods, and why a spoonful now and then can be a worthwhile wholefood extra in your dog's bowl.

6 health benefits of chickpeas for dogs

Fed plain, cooked and in sensible amounts, here is what chickpeas genuinely bring to the table for most healthy adult dogs. Remember these are treat level benefits. Chickpeas top up a good diet, they never replace one.

1. A plant protein top-up

At roughly 8.9g of protein per 100g, chickpeas offer a decent hit of plant protein alongside, never instead of, the animal protein in your dog's main diet. Protein supplies the amino acid building blocks a dog's body uses to maintain muscle and everyday tissue, so a protein bearing treat is a more useful snack than an empty carb one.

2. Fibre for a happy digestive system

With 7.6g of fibre per 100g, chickpeas are a legitimately high fibre food. In modest amounts, that fibre can help keep your dog's toilet habits regular, and it provides food for the beneficial bacteria that live in the gut. In large amounts it tips the other way, into wind and loose stools, which is exactly why portion size matters. More on that below.

3. Filling without being fatty

Protein and fibre together make chickpeas surprisingly filling for their 164 calories per 100g, and they are naturally low in fat. For food obsessed dogs on a weight watch, a little mashed chickpea can help stretch a meal or load a lick mat without blowing the calorie budget. If your dog is on a formal weight loss plan, check with your vet before adding anything new.

4. Slow, steady energy

Chickpeas contain less than 5g of natural sugar per 100g, with most of their carbohydrate arriving as starch and fibre that digest slowly. That makes them a gentler choice than sweet or highly processed human snacks that have no place in a dog's bowl anyway.

5. Folate and other B vitamins

Cooked chickpeas carry a generous 172 micrograms of folate per 100g, plus smaller amounts of thiamine (B1) and vitamin B6. B vitamins play everyday roles in normal cell function and in turning food into usable energy. Your dog's complete diet should already supply them, so treat this as a bonus rather than a reason to feed chickpeas.

6. A quiet mineral boost

Potassium, magnesium, iron and manganese all feature in the chickpea's mineral column, each with an everyday job in a healthy body. Again, a balanced main diet covers these already. The point is simply that when your dog does get a chickpea treat, it is contributing real nutrition rather than empty filler.

The heart health context most articles skip

Here is the part an honest article owes you. Chickpeas belong to the pulse family, alongside peas and lentils, and pulse heavy dog diets have sat under a genuine scientific question mark for several years.

In Australia, the Australian Veterinary Association covers this topic through its Vet Voice service, which discusses a potential link between certain diets and a serious heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Australian vets can also flag suspected food related health problems through PetFAST, a reporting system run with the local pet food industry. Importantly, the AVA notes it is not yet known how these ingredients might be linked to the reported cases.

The question first gained worldwide attention through an investigation by the US Food and Drug Administration, an overseas regulator. From 2018, the FDA looked into reports of DCM in dogs eating certain foods, many labelled grain free, that contained a high proportion of peas, lentils, other legume seeds (pulses) or potatoes as main ingredients. In the reported cases, more than 90 per cent of the diets were grain free and 93 per cent contained peas or lentils. Some affected breeds had no known genetic predisposition to DCM. The FDA is clear that the data do not establish a causal relationship, and it describes the issue as complex, possibly involving multiple factors.

A 2025 peer reviewed review in the journal Veterinary Sciences, by overseas researchers, lands in a similar place: diet may play a role, some affected dogs improved after changing diets, and the exact mechanism is still not confirmed. Research is ongoing.

So what does this mean for the chickpeas in your pantry? The concern centres on diets where pulses are a main ingredient, eaten day in, day out, replacing a large share of animal protein. An occasional spoonful of chickpeas as a treat is a very different thing. If pulses sit high on the ingredient list of your dog's everyday food, that is worth a conversation with your Australian vet.

How to serve chickpeas safely

The safe way to feed chickpeas comes down to three words: plain, soft and small.

  • Cook them properly. Soak dried chickpeas, then boil them in plain water until they are soft enough to mash with a fork. No stock cubes, no salt, and absolutely no onion or garlic in the pot.
  • Rinse canned chickpeas well. Canned, drained chickpeas carry around 246mg of sodium per 100g. Choose a no added salt variety where you can, and rinse thoroughly under running water either way.
  • Serve them plain. Whole for bigger dogs, lightly mashed or squashed for small dogs, puppies and enthusiastic gulpers.
  • Keep portions small. As a rough guide, the vet reviewed US site PetMD suggests about one tablespoon for very small dogs, scaling up to around five tablespoons for giant breeds, no more than two to three times a week.
  • Respect the treat budget. Standard veterinary guidance, including from the overseas VCA animal hospital group, is that treats of all kinds should stay within about 10 per cent of your dog's daily calories. The other 90 per cent belongs to a complete and balanced main diet.
  • Introduce them slowly. Legumes are famous for a reason. Too much too soon can mean wind or a loose tummy, especially in small or sensitive dogs. Start with a teaspoon and watch how your dog goes over the next day or two.

When chickpeas are a bad idea

Chickpeas only earn their good for dogs tag when they are served the right way, to the right dog. Skip them, or check with your vet first, in these situations:

  • Hummus, always. Hummus is not dog safe. It almost always contains garlic and often onion, plus salt, oil and lemon. RSPCA Australia lists onions and garlic, including products containing onion or garlic powder and the wider Allium family, among foods that are toxic to pets and should never be fed.
  • Raw or dried chickpeas. Hard, uncooked chickpeas are a choking hazard and difficult for dogs to digest. Cooked until soft, or not at all.
  • Seasoned or flavoured roasted chickpeas. Shop bought roasted chickpea snacks are usually salted, and seasoning blends can include onion or garlic powder. Not worth the risk.
  • Dogs already eating a pulse heavy or grain free diet. If peas, lentils or chickpeas already feature high on your dog's main food ingredient list, piling more pulses on top as treats makes little sense while the DCM research is unresolved. Raise it with your Australian vet at the next visit.
  • Dogs with a heart condition or on a veterinary diet. Any dog under treatment, or eating a prescription diet, should only get new foods with the vet's okay.
  • Dogs with sensitive stomachs. If your dog is prone to wind or a delicate tummy, there are gentler treats to reach for. If you do try chickpeas, start tiny and go slow.

None of this makes chickpeas dangerous for the average healthy dog. It simply makes them a sometimes food that deserves the same common sense as any other extra.

Where chickpeas fit in your treat rotation

Think of chickpeas as an occasional wholefood extra, the kind of thing you mash into a lick mat or stir through dinner once or twice a week. For everyday rewards, most owners want something purpose made: shelf stable, portion friendly and with an ingredient list you can read out loud.

That is exactly how we bake at Huds and Toke, a family owned Australian pet treat business. If you are building a sensible treat rotation, start with our natural meat dog treats for single protein simplicity, keep a bag of small dog training treats on hand for rewards that stay inside the 10 per cent budget, and browse the full dog treats range for variety. Plant loving pups can explore our vegetable based treats too.

References

Every claim in this article was checked against the sources below in July 2026. This is general information, not veterinary advice. For anything about your own dog's diet or health, please speak with your Australian vet.

  1. RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase. What are common household dangers for pets? kb.rspca.org.au
  2. Australian Veterinary Association, Vet Voice. Potential link between diet and canine dilated cardiomyopathy. vetvoice.com.au
  3. US Food and Drug Administration (overseas regulator). FDA investigation into potential link between certain diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy. fda.gov
  4. US Food and Drug Administration. Questions and answers: FDA's work on potential causes of non-hereditary DCM in dogs. fda.gov
  5. Mornard L, Massara Brasileiro AC, Marcondes-Santos M. Role of diet as a predisposing factor for dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs: a narrative review. Veterinary Sciences, 2025. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  6. US Department of Agriculture, FoodData Central. Chickpeas (garbanzo beans), mature seeds, cooked, boiled (FDC ID 173799) and canned, drained solids (FDC ID 173800). fdc.nal.usda.gov
  7. PetMD (US veterinary site, reviewed by Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP). Can dogs eat chickpeas? petmd.com
  8. VCA Animal Hospitals (overseas veterinary group). Dog treats. vcahospitals.com

Frequently asked questions

Can dogs eat canned chickpeas?

Yes, as long as you rinse them very well and serve them plain. Canned, drained chickpeas carry roughly 246mg of sodium per 100g, so pick a no added salt variety where possible and give them a thorough rinse under running water. Skip anything canned with brine flavourings or seasonings.

Can dogs eat raw chickpeas?

No. Raw and dried chickpeas are hard little stones as far as your dog's digestion is concerned. They are a choking hazard, especially for small dogs, and they are difficult to digest even if they go down. Always cook chickpeas until they are soft enough to mash with a fork.

Can dogs eat hummus?

No. Hummus almost always contains garlic and often onion, and RSPCA Australia lists both, including their powdered forms, among foods that are toxic to dogs. Add the salt, oil and lemon and hummus is firmly off the menu. If your dog polishes off a decent amount, contact your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline.

Can dogs eat roasted chickpeas?

Plain, home roasted chickpeas made without oil, salt or seasoning are fine for most dogs in small amounts, though they are firmer than boiled ones, so mind small dogs and gulpers. Shop bought roasted chickpea snacks are best avoided altogether, as they are usually salted and their seasonings can include onion or garlic powder.

How many chickpeas can a dog eat?

Keep all treats, chickpeas included, to about 10 per cent of your dog's daily calories. As a rough serving guide, the vet reviewed US site PetMD suggests about one tablespoon for very small dogs up to around five tablespoons for giant breeds, two to three times a week at most. When in doubt, feed less.

Are chickpeas linked to heart disease in dogs?

Chickpeas are a pulse, and vets and regulators, including the Australian Veterinary Association and the US FDA, have been examining diets high in pulses as a possible factor in a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). No cause has been proven, and the question concerns pulse heavy main diets rather than occasional treats. If pulses are a major ingredient in your dog's everyday food, talk to your Australian vet.

The Huds and Toke Editorial Team

Sunshine Coast, Australia · Pet treats brand since 2014

Researched and written by the Huds and Toke editorial team, the same people who bake the treats. We are bakers, not veterinarians: safety claims are drawn from the cited authorities, and for anything about your own pet, talk to your vet. Read our Editorial Standards.

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