29 Best Dog Food without Peas

In our analysis of 4258 dog food brands available on Chewy as of October 2022, only 1729 contain peas or chickpeas. Peas-inclusive diets represent about 41% of all brands which leaves about 49% as diets without peas. Before going into details on the recipes that rely on peas and those that don’t I want to provide some background to explain the benefits, uses, and drawbacks of peas in dog diets.

What are peas/or chickpeas?

Peas and chickpeas are the same thing, just called different names depending on their color. They’re both part of the legume family, which also includes beans and lentils. Peas are a good source of vitamins A, C and K, folate, manganese and fiber. Chickpeas contain slightly more calories and fat than peas but have more protein, calcium and iron.

In the past two years, pet food products containing yellow peas (Pisum sativum) have increased by 21%, says Debbie Phillips Donaldson of Pet Food Industry.

The increase in reliance on pulses like peas may be in response to the rise in popularity of grain-free diets. Peas are a good source of protein and fiber and can help give structure and texture to grain-free foods, Donaldson says. We also have a guide on legume-free dog food.

Are peas and pulses replacing grain-free diets?

No, not entirely. Pulses are often used as a partial replacement for grains in pet foods but they are not generally considered a grain-free ingredient.

While peas have become more popular in recent years, they are still only used in about 41% of all dog food recipes. This means that there are plenty of other options for those looking for grain-free diets.

Types of peas you’ll find in dog food diets:

• Yellow peas: These are the most common type of pea used in pet food.
• Green peas: These have a higher protein content than yellow peas and are more commonly used in human foods.
• Chickpeas: These are also known as garbanzo beans and have a slightly different nutritional profile to other types of peas.
• Pea concentrate/protein: This is a more concentrated form of pea that is

What are the benefits of peas in dog food?

Low glycemic index:

Peas have a low glycemic index, which means they are slowly digested and absorbed into the bloodstream. This is beneficial for dogs because it helps keep blood sugar levels stable.

High in fiber:

Peas are high in fiber, which is important for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Fiber helps add bulk to the stool and aids in the passage of food through the intestines.

A good source of protein:

Peas are a good source of protein, which is essential for muscle development, repair and maintenance.

Blood sugar regulation and weight management:

In obese dogs, pulses may aid in blood sugar management. In obese dogs, a diet including yellow field peas resulted in a reduced insulin response following a glucose challenge, suggesting improved metabolic health.

Contain antioxidants:

Pulses, such as peas, are high in antioxidants, including flavonoids and phenolic compounds, as well as anti-inflammatory chemicals that promote blood vessel health.

Drawbacks of feeding peas to dogs:

Allergies:

While peas are not one of the most common allergens in dogs, they can still cause problems for some animals. If your dog is allergic to peas, they may experience itching, swelling, hives and difficulty breathing.

Digestive issues:

Some dogs may experience digestive upset when first introduced to peas, including diarrhea and vomiting. It’s important to introduce peas slowly to your dog’s diet to give their digestive system time to adjust.

Not all dogs need peas:

Pulses like peas can be a healthy addition to your dog’s diet but they are not essential. If your dog is not overweight and has no issues with allergies or digestion, they may do just fine on a diet that does not include peas.

Which dog food brands use peas?

ACANA:

Most of Acana’s premium and limited-ingredient diets use peas. 15 brands from the total of 1789 belong to Acana. Some brands such as ACANA Rescue Care For Adopted Dogs Red Meat Sensitive Digestion Dry Dog Food and ACANA Free-Run Poultry Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food rely on peas. Acana uses green peas in their diets.

American Journey

46 brands of American Journey’s high-protein, as well as limited-ingredient diets, use pea protein – mostly concentrate to make up for the protein content.

Blue Buffalo:

Out of the 160 brands, Blue Buffalo uses peas in almost 60 formulas including grain-free and limited-ingredient foods. For example, BLUE Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog Food, BLUE Freedom Grain Free Chicken Recipe for Small Breeds Adult Dogs.

29 Top-rated Dog Food Brands without Peas (4.8/5+)

As of this analysis in Oct 2022, 2530 brands of dog food do not use peas and to narrow down the list to only those that are rated highly, below is a table with links and rating for each pea-free diets;

George Romell

Hello! My name is George Romell and recently joined Our Pets HQ to oversee quality and provide oversight in content being published. I am originally from the North West but currently reside in Upstate New York and work as a freelance journalist with a focus on dogs and cats. Here at Ourpetshq, I will be responsible for editing and improving older content that may have missed editorial checks. You can reach me at george@ourpetshq.com