You might love it, but can dogs eat hummus, humous, or however else you want to spell it? Let’s find out.

Can Dogs Eat Hummus?

If you’re a fan of hummus, it’s only natural for you to ponder over whether or not dogs can eat hummus too. Although hummus is viewed as a pretty healthy snack for people, it’s not that great for your dog at all. In fact, even just a little hummus can harm your dog because some of the ingredients are toxic to dogs.

Hummus is a delicious dip that is often made from chickpeas, olive oil (which, as discussed on our Can Cats Eat Olive Oil, is toxic for some pets), tahini, salt, garlic and lemon juice. Although foods high in salt are not great for your dog, it’s not the salt that is the big problem when it comes to hummus.

Can Hummus Make Dogs Sick?

In the case of hummus, it’s the lemon juice and garlic that are most harmful to your dog. Garlic in any amount and any form is toxic for dogs and can cause significant health issues for dogs. And lemon juice isn’t good for dogs either.

The reason garlic is so bad for dogs is that it prevents the dog’s red blood cells from carrying oxygen. This can lead to serious anemia and even organ failure. If your dog eats a lot of garlic, it can even be fatal.

As for the lemon juice in hummus, it causes issues because it is significantly acidic. The citric acid in lemon juice can cause your dog serious discomfort and stomach pain. If your dog does consume hummus accidentally, watch them closely for signs of discomfort. For a dog that consumes a large amount of hummus or for smaller dogs, you will want to seek the advice of a vet quickly for best results.

Can Dogs Eat Any Other Form of Chickpeas?

Believe it or not, the primary ingredient in hummus is not only safe for dogs, it’s nutritious for your dogs too. Chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans are the main ingredient found in hummus. The good news is dogs can not only eat chickpeas, they are also a great way to provide your dog with vitamins B, A, and C as well as potassium. Potassium and other vitamins are required for your dog’s cardiac, digestive, and kidneys to work properly.

Chickpeas also contain fiber which aids digestion for your dog. And chickpeas are a source of Lecithin, which is a nutrient that can help dogs learn and remember better.

How to Feed Dogs Chickpeas

So, if you’re wondering just how to feed dogs chickpeas, there are several ways. Dogs just can’t have the salt, lemon juice, and garlic that is normally included in a traditional hummus recipe. Some dogs will eat chickpeas whole, so feel free to toss a couple to your dog as a spontaneous treat or mix them in with their regular portion of dog food.

Small dogs or dogs that are finicky eaters may prefer to have them cooked and smashed, like you would do with potatoes. You can then dip something your dog does like into the smashed chickpeas or spread it over their food or even a raw beef bone. They should gobble it all down.