Soy is a very common ingredient in dog food, so does that mean that soybeans are safe for dogs? Can dogs eat soybeans?
Human foods are always a bit tricky. You never know what is actually safe and what is not until you do research. Dogs can’t really eat a lot of human foods including vegetables and fruits.
ALSO READ Can dogs have lima beans?
For example, grapes would kill your dog, the same goes for chocolate!
So it is natural that, as a responsible dog owner, you ask what is safe.
In this article we+re going to answer the question of are soybeans actually safe for dogs to consume.
Can dogs eat soybeans?
The answer is maybe. I know, this is not the answer you’d like to rea,d, but that’s the reality.
You see, generally speaking, soy is safe for dogs. However, not every form of soy is safe and good for dogs.
ALSO READ Can Dogs Eat Edamame Beans?
Besides this, there are also dogs that are allergic to soy and soy products. Obviously, in that case, soybeans wouldn’t be safe.
The issue about soy and dogs
Many people are actually afraid of giving their dogs any soy-based dog food. There are so many scary articles that talk about the dangers of soy.
The reason for this is because the majority of soybeans that are produced in the USA are grown from genetically modified seeds (GMOs). It’s no secret that we humans view GMOs as the devil.
Besides this, apparently, there is pesticide residue on the beans, which could affect humans and dogs.
ALSO READ Can Dogs Eat Black Beans?
However, veterinarians from all over the country claim that soybeans are safe for dogs. Even the GMO ones!
This is what the American Veterinary Medical Association has to say:
The broad scientific consensus is that approved GMO and GE crops and foods are safe for human and animal consumption. Our current safe, affordable, abundant food supply has been made possible, in part, through advances in this scientific technology.
Benefits of soybeans
As already mentioned the majority of dogs can eat soybeans. But what are the health benefits of soybeans? Are there any?
Soybeans contain a lot of vitamins and fibre. Besides this they contain:
- folate
- protein
- calcium
- iron
- magnesium
- healthy fats
Obviously, soy has a number of health benefits for our canine friends! Soy contributes to their immune system and makes their skin healthy and coat shiny!
As you can see soybeans contain many beneficial nutrients, including fibre.
ALSO READ Can Dogs Eat Beans?
Generally speaking, fibre is healthy and your dog’s body needs it. However, the issue is that soybeans are very rich in fibre. So you have to be careful how much soybean you give your dog. Don’t go overboard, otherwise, your dog will experience gas and diarrhoea.
Soybeans allergy
Many dogs are allergic to soybeans. But how do you know if your dog is allergic to them? The safest and most harmless way is to let your veterinarian test your dog for a soybean allergy.
However, if you did not have your dog tested and they ate soybeans look out for the following symptoms:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- excessive licking
- ear infections
Can dogs drink soymilk?
Another question many dog owners might have is can dogs drink soymilk. The answer is yes! Your canine can actually consume soy milk.
However, the allergy risk is still present and soymilk contains quite a few calories. So you need to take that into consideration too before you give your dog soymilk.
Also, always choose unsweetened soymilk. But please pay attention to the label as well. Sometimes the label will say “without sugar”, but the milk would contain a sweetener called xylitol. You probably already know that xylitol is highly toxic for dogs.
ALSO READ What Is Xylitol And Why Is It So Bad For Dogs?
Conclusion
In conclusion, can dogs eat soybeans? Soybeans are generally safe for dogs. However, soybeans allergies are very common in dogs.
Also, feel free do to research on dogs and GMO’s. GMO is a quite new invention and not much research has been done on its effects on dogs.
So you might want to do research and form your own opinion if you want to let your dog eat GMO products.