Can my dog eat peas?

Yes. According to the AKC, you can give peas fresh, frozen or thawed, and PetMD also considers frozen peas straight from the freezer fine. According to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), peas contain only small amounts of lectins, unlike dried beans, chickpeas or lentils. Cooked or steamed, though, they're easier to chew and digest.

Better not. Tinned peas usually contain added salt, which is why the AKC, PetMD and Chewy advise against them. According to PetMD, a bite or two probably won't do any harm, but regular portions from a tin can cause problems in the long run. The same applies to tinned peas and carrots as soon as salt is on the ingredients list.

Mangetout, yes, in small pieces and without the tough strings. Cooked, they're easier to digest; according to the BfR, like peas, they contain only small amounts of lectins. Don't give the pods of garden peas – they're hard to digest and can get stuck in the throat. The AKC sums it up like this: if people eat the pod, your dog can too.

Yes, if they're thoroughly cooked and unseasoned – PetMD and Chewy both say so. According to the BfR, soak dried chickpeas for at least five hours, pour away the soaking water and cook them in fresh water. From a tin, only without added salt. Hummus isn't suitable, as it usually contains garlic.

No. Pea soup is often cooked with onions, bacon, sausages, stock and salt. Onions damage red blood cells, and a lot of salt can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. For your dog, cook a few peas plain in water.

Not salted or seasoned ones. A lot of salt makes dogs thirsty and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and seasoning mixes can contain onion or garlic powder, which are toxic to dogs. As a snack, a few plain cooked peas are the better choice.

The veterinary sources don't give a separate amount for puppies. PetMD advises discussing every new food with your vet first, because age, among other things, plays a role. If you do give peas, give only a few and mash them, as small dogs can choke on whole peas.

The sources don't agree. PetMD gives daily amounts of at most one teaspoon for small dogs up to three tablespoons for very large dogs. Chewy, on the other hand, advises once or twice a week and counts the portion in individual peas, because too many peas put a strain on digestion. With peas on the odd day, you're on the safe side with both.

According to the USDA, cooked peas without salt have 84 kcal per 100 g, and a teaspoon (just over 3 g) has just under 3 kcal. With peas, it's therefore digestion rather than calories that limits the amount. Chewy even gives a portion as just 1 to 2 peas for very small dogs and 10 to 15 peas for large dogs.

That hasn't been established. The US FDA is following up reports of non-hereditary dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a disease of the heart muscle in which the heart becomes enlarged. Most of the foods reported had legumes such as peas or lentils high up the ingredients list, both with and without grain. According to the FDA, legumes have been used in pet food for many years with no indication that they are inherently dangerous; it doesn't know the exact connection. If your dog eats such a food and coughs, tires quickly or breathes heavily when playing, have it examined. Discuss any change of food with your vet beforehand.

No more than other plants. According to a veterinary article, plant foods – including most legumes apart from soya – contain about 7 to 70 mg of purines per 100 g, whereas meat and fish contain about 120 to over 400 mg. For urate stones, which Dalmatians, for example, can develop, vets use a low-purine diet. If your dog is on such a prescription diet, don't give any extras without checking first.

Usually your dog will get wind, a bloated tummy, soft stools or diarrhoea, and sometimes it vomits or has tummy ache. In that case, stop giving peas and talk to your vet – that's Chewy's advice.