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There are a few varieties of beans that are safe for your pooch to try. These include:
Unless you are offering your dog edamame beans or green beans, you must cook beans before offering them to your dog. This is because many varieties of bean naturally contain high levels of Lectin, which can make dogs sick if consumed. Cooking not only reduces Lectin dramatically, but it also makes the beans easier for your pooch to digest.
Just remember to always feed your dog beans in moderation and only feed them plain, cooked beans. Never feed your dog any beans that have been cooked or coated with oils, seasoning, spices, or sauce, as these can be unhealthy and even harmful for your pup.
Your dog can’t eat every variety of bean that’s edible for humans. Some beans you definitely have to avoid feeding your dog include:
Broad beans are known to cause vomiting and diarrhoea if eaten by dogs, while raw kidney beans are toxic because of the high levels of Lectin. Meanwhile baked beans and refried beans are unhealthy and contain ingredients which can make your pooch sick.
No, dogs shouldn’t eat baked beans because the sauce contains a lot of salt and sugar which is unhealthy for your pooch. Sugar contributes towards bad oral health and weight gain, whereas salt can lead to dehydration and sodium poisoning. The sauce also contains herbs and spices which could cause sickness, such as garlic and onion powder, which is toxic to dogs.
It has also been reported that dogs who eat baked beans regularly can develop pancreatitis, and potentially suffer from damage to their red blood cells. Since prevention is safer and more effective than a cure in these situations, it’s best to avoid feeding your dog baked beans.
However, a small number of baked beans shouldn’t be toxic or harm your dog. So if your dog has eaten a few beans by mistake, or licked some sauce off your plate, they should be okay.
Yes, dogs can eat kidney beans as long as they are thoroughly cooked. Cooked kidney beans are quite nutritious and perfectly safe for your dog to eat. On the other hand, raw kidney beans are toxic to both dogs and humans because of the high level of Lectin found naturally in the beans. Cooking reduces the amount of Lectin and makes the beans edible for both us and our pups.
As with most vegetables and all kinds of beans, you must feed them to your pooch in moderation to prevent overfeeding and illness.
Butter beans, also called lima beans, are perfectly safe for dogs to eat provided they have been cooked thoroughly and are served plain. Butter beans have very little fat but do contain a lot of carbohydrates, so it is important to only feed your dog a few butter beans at a time to ensure it won’t contribute tounhealthy weight gain.
Canned butter beans can contain a lot of salt as well as other additives and preservatives. If you want to feed your dog a few of these beans, you can instead try feeding them fresh, frozen, or dried butter beans instead.
Butter beans are not only tasty, but they contain a good amount of plant-based protein and fibre, making them a healthy and filling snack or dinnertime extra for your pooch. Butter beans also contain a good dose of vitamin C and manganese, as well as a few other vitamins and minerals that make this a wholesome treat for your pooch to enjoy.
Green beans are a tasty treat to offer your pup as they are safe to eat when raw or cooked and offer great nutritional benefits. Although green beans aren’t really a type of bean, they are a legume like peas, we thought we best include them in this list given their name!
Yes, your pooch can eat runner beans as long as they are cooked thoroughly, served plain, and cut up into bitesize pieces.
Cooking is essential when serving runner beans for your pooch because raw runner beans contain lectin. However, cooking reduces the amount of lectin and makes the beans perfectly safe to eat. It’s also important not to feed your dog a whole runner bean as it can be a choking hazard.
Health benefits of beans for dogs
Beans are full of protein, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber. These legumes have a low glycemic index, meaning they don’t raise blood sugar quickly when you eat them. The high fiber content in beans helps slow the digestive process and stabilize blood sugar levels.
Beans are full of other nutrients, too.
With all of that said, beans aren’t essential for your dog’s diet. Your pet already gets everything they need from their regular, high quality nutirtious dog food. The high protein paired with high fiber content also comes with potential risks. Like humans, dogs can get gassy or experience diarrhea if they eat too many beans. Moderation is key for any type of food you feed your pet. Portions should only ever be treat sized and you should always start with an even smaller amount than what you think your dog might enjoy. You’ll also need to monitor your pup for signs of gastrointestinal upset. If your dog experiences no gastrointestinal upset after trying beans, they can be offered as an occasional treat in small amounts.
How should beans be prepared and fed to your dog?
Beans are highly nutritious if given to dogs correctly. They are not meant to replace a well-balanced and well-formulated meal but can be mixed into a home-cooked well-balanced recipe. They can also be given occasionally as treats during training and playtime with your dogs.
It is not recommended to mix raw beans in the diet even though most of them can be eaten raw by humans. Cooking the beans quickly through boiling or steam ensures that contaminants and pathogens on the surface of the beans are killed to prevent any infections. When cooked, avoid adding salt or any other spices as dogs have a very low tolerance for these. Excessive salt intake can cause electrolyte imbalance, kidney, and heart problems in dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Beans And Rice? | DogVela
Providing your dog with a well-balanced diet plays a huge role in keeping them fit and healthy. This includes protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals in balanced proportions to satisfy a dog’s daily nutritional needs. There have been numerous studies on dog nutrition and most commercially available dog food diets are formulated based on their findings. Beans, a common ingredient in several dishes and healthy snack treats for humans, are known for being highly nutritious. Adding beans to a dog’s diet may be beneficial and can help meet their daily nutritional needs. But are beans safe for dogs? In this article, we’ll go into detail on the health implications of giving beans to your dog.