As a good dog owner, you always want what’s best for your dog. One of the most important pillars of proper care for your dog is the diet. Many factors play a role in the dog’s health. One of the most important is a high-quality and balanced diet. Food that your dog eats can either improve his health or compromise it. Therefore, it is crucial to know what your dog can and can’t eat. Many dog owners are unsure whether their furry friends can eat vegetables. For example, one of the most common questions on forums is can dogs eat beans?
Let’s dive deeper into this subject and answer this question. Because the answer will depend on many factors. But mostly on what beans we are talking about. However, we would like to add that even if your dog can eat a portion of human food, that does not mean that you HAVE to feed it to your pup. Our dogs should get all of the nutrients they need from their regular dog kibble. So rather than investing in some magic beans to feed to your dog, buy him high-quality dog food that isn’t full of fillers such as corn, but rather protein-based (Unless your dog is a Dalmatian, of course).
So, Can Dogs Eat Beans?
Yes, dogs can eat beans, in fact eating beans can be highly beneficial to your dog. However, not all beans are safe for dogs to eat and there are some you should definitely avoid. We will talk later a bit more about all of the different types of beans that you may can or cannot feed to your furry companion.
Not all beans are made equal, and not all dogs are made equal as well. Before giving your dog any new food, check with your veterinarian if it is safe. Some fruits and veggies that we humans adore, could actually be highly toxic for our pups. So before you put your dog’s health at risk, rather do your necessary research.
Some dogs could even have an allergy to beans, which is why you should always slowly introduce new food. Don’t give your dog a full plate of beans right away. Rather start slow and see how it goes.
Benefits Of Beans In The Dog’s Diet
Beans are packed with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are crucial for the proper functioning of the dog’s body. Therefore, there are many benefits of feeding your dog beans. But that does not mean in any way that your dog can’t get these benefits elsewhere. Dog food should always be the main source of all of their nutritional needs.
Some of the most notable nutrients in beans are:
- Promotes the health of heart and eyes (Vitamin A)
- Supports and strengthens the immune system (Vitamin C)
- Helps body recovery process (Vitamin K)
- Promotes bone and muscle health (Potassium)
- Fights cancer and lower cholesterol (Antioxidants)
- Creates red blood cells (Iron)
- Building blocks of organs (Proteins)
What are the dangers of beans?
You should give your dog beans as treats only, and the golden rule is that treats should not compose more than 10% of a dog’s daily diet. Stick to this rule and your dog will be perfectly fine.
Nothing is good in excessive quantities, and beans are no exception. Feeding too many beans to your dog can cause gastrointestinal issues such as:
- Abdominal pain
- Excessive gas
- Loose stool
Too much fiber could easily sensitize your dog’s digestive system. This is especially common if your dog isn’t used to eating beans or other fiber-rich food. He could get diarrhea, which won’t be a pleasurable experience for either one of you.
How to serve beans to your dog?
Make sure to thoroughly cook beans before serving them to your dog. Avoid seasonings like salt, pepper, and garlic. Garlic is toxic and dangerous for your dog to eat, and even too much sodium could put your dog’s well-being at risk. Plain, well-cooked beans are the safest option. However, you could also additionally chop up the beans in half. Large pieces of food could become a choking hazard, especially to small dogs. So just to be extra safe, rather cut the beans before giving them to your pooch.
Which Beans Are Safe For Your Dog To Eat?
As we have already said, not all beans are safe for the dog. If you plan to feed your dog beans, stick to these pet-safe beans:
- Green beans
- Soybeans
- Lima beans
- Black beans
- Lentils
- Pinto beans
- Kidney beans
- Garbanzo beans
- Butter beans
- Chickpeas
Don’t Give Your Dog These Beans
Just because you can eat certain food that doesn’t mean it’s safe for your dog. Dog’s digestive process differs from ours and some foods and ingredients that are completely safe for us can cause serious health issues and even result in the death of our dogs.
These are the beans you should avoid:
- Canned beans . These contain too much sodium and preservatives that are harmful to your dog. The nutritional benefits are overshadowed by all of the toxic ingredients in the preservatives.
- Coffee beans. These can cause serious harm and even death. While you maybe can’t live without your morning coffee, your dog could not live with it.
- Fava beans. These cause vomiting and diarrhea. So nothing that you in any way want your dog to experience, right?
- Chili beans. Never give chili to your dog. Not even if it’s Kevin Malone’s famous chili that he spilled all over the carpet in ‘The Office’. These contain onions, spices, and garlic, all harmful to your dog.
- Refried beans. These contain cumin, garlic, salt, chili powder, all harmful to your dog. These are not the types of beans that you want anywhere near your dog.
- Baked beans. These contain garlic, onions and are also high in sugar. They add nothing beneficial to your dog’s diet and could even seriously harm his healthy.
- Potter Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans. Only muggles will say that these aren’t real. However, my fellow Potterheads, you should not feed these beans to your dog as well.
Conclusion
Dogs can eat beans. However, some beans are safe for them and some cause them harm. But no matter how many health benefits of beans there is your dog does not HAVE to eat beans. Human foods should just be an additional snack, and never fed in large quantities. And before giving your dog any new food, check with your veterinarian if he thinks it’s a good idea.
Some human foods could trigger an allergic reaction in our pups, and they also often contain too much sodium which can lead to serious damage to your pet’s health.
If your pooch can or cannot eat beans will mostly depend on the types of beans, and how you are serving them: raw beans, baked beans, cooked beans, or dry beans. If you insist on giving your dog small amounts of beans, the best way would be to cook them thoroughly and make sure that they are not chili beans with any added ingredients.