Beans are a staple food for many. However, the question is if they can share this food with their dogs, whether it’s served plain or as part of a meal. So, can dogs eat beans?
With so many variations of this seemingly simple food, it’s easy to get confused about what your dog can consume when you want to make them a different meal. Green beans, for example, are foods that both you and your dog can enjoy, but they aren’t beans.
Is it possible for dogs to consume different beans? Continue reading to learn about the many types of beans that your dog can eat.
Are Beans Good for Dogs?
Dogs, like humans, are omnivores who don’t rely only on meat to survive. However, carnivorous cats do. Beans, however, aren’t recommended for your dog’s protein requirements.
Beans are beneficial to dogs since they’re high in protein and fiber. Likewise, other bean kinds are high in vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to their health. Nonetheless, when you suggest you’ll have to give up meat to make room for beans in your dog’s diet, it’s a whole different scenario.
Is it true that there are vegetarian dogs? If some dog owners turn to beans to meet their dog’s protein needs, it’s likely owing to their dog’s protein requirements, a pre-existing health problem, or a veterinarian’s expert advice. So, you won’t be able to eliminate meat from your dog’s diet without professional help.
Moreover, beans can be used as dog treats if appropriately handled. If they’re the only dog treats given at a specific time, they should only account for 10% of your dog’s overall caloric intake. This doesn’t only apply to beans but all the treats you’ll offer your dog.
If you don’t want to do the math, merely serve beans in moderation. Furthermore, you don’t have to administer them to your dog daily.
What Types of Beans Can Dogs Have?
While not all beans are suitable for your dog’s consumption, several are deemed healthy and nutritious. They’re as follows:
Green Beans, Lima Beans, and Lentils
Green beans are some of the best and safest vitamin C and K sources in the bean world. Manganese is also abundant in them. Unlike the majority of other beans and lentils, green beans are categorized as vegetables rather than legumes.
Lima beans, often known as butter beans, are another excellent dog food option. They contain plant-based protein that’s fat-free. Furthermore, lima beans are high in fiber. This promotes a healthy digestive tract and keeps your dog’s blood sugar levels under control. If your dog suffers from diabetes, this is an excellent bean type to feed them.
Lentils are beneficial not only to humans but also to dogs. Green, red, black, or yellow produce all have substantial levels of protein and fiber. However, it would be best if you didn’t feed lentil soups to your dog because they typically include high levels of salt, garlic, and onion, which are toxic to dogs.
Black Beans
Like their green siblings, black beans are high in vitamins C and K and manganese. These legumes are also high in fiber and protein, which are beneficial for controlling blood sugar levels and activating the immune system in your dog.
So, yes, your dog can eat black beans and will most likely appreciate them if eaten in moderation with other foods. However, avoid canned or raw black beans. These are prohibited because they may obstruct their airways or intestines.
Dried Beans (Kidney Beans, Black Beans, and Pinto Beans)
Dried beans are also suitable if you feed them to your dog with care. Kidney beans are abundant in antioxidants, which can help lower dogs’ cholesterol levels. It also helps with bowel movements.
Moreover, black beans, like green beans, are high in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A and K. These are fat-soluble vitamins that can assist your dog’s eyesight and prevent blood clots.
Pinto beans are also a fantastic source of high-quality protein. They make your dog feel fuller for longer and help his body digest food more efficiently. They can also aid in the battle against germs. In addition, they’re high in magnesium, which aids in the absorption of vitamin C.
Dried beans are nutritious and inexpensive, so buying them in bulk will save you money. However, while beans are an excellent protein source, you shouldn’t use them exclusively to meet your dog’s protein requirements.
Beans are generally healthy, but some varieties should be cooked since they can be harmful to your pet.
What Types of Beans Can’t Dogs Have?
Now that you know which beans are safe to feed dogs, you can focus on which ones are damaging to their health.
- Baked beans: These beans contain a lot of sugar, which might cause heart problems if consumed in excess.
- Canned beans: Canned beans are heavy in salt and other toxic substances that can cause your dog’s blood pressure to rise to dangerous levels.
- Chili beans: Too much chili might cause digestive problems, such as loose feces and flatulence.
- Refried beans: These beans are usually canned, thus including harmful preservatives.
- Coffee beans: Caffeine can be found in coffee beans, and it isn’t recommended for dogs because it might cause severe gastric problems.
Health Benefits of Beans for Dogs
If your dog is already consuming a comprehensive and balanced diet, he may not require additional nutrients. Nevertheless, beans provide a nutritious alternative to dog biscuits. This may help you feel better about removing unhealthy snacks and scraps from your dog’s diet.
What we’re trying to say is that beans provide a slew of other essential health advantages. Other health benefits of feeding beans to your dog are listed below.
Contain a Powerful Antioxidant Factor
A great incentive to add beans to your dog’s diet on occasion is the high antioxidant content. It keeps dogs from becoming constipated. Beans also include the antioxidant lutein, which is beneficial to your dog’s skin, heart, and eyes, as well as reducing the chance of arthritis.
Moreover, beans’ fiber helps diabetic dogs regulate their blood sugar levels, which is needed. It also works as an appetite suppressor, causing dogs to feel fuller more quickly.
Have a Wide Range of Nutrients
Beans are a delicious and straightforward plant-based protein source that can regularly be included in any healthy dog’s diet. Beans are high in B vitamins, fiber, iron, folate, potassium, magnesium, phytonutrients, and protein.
Help Your Dog Lose Weight
Beans may be able to assist an overweight dog in losing weight if used correctly. Commercial dog feeds are made to meet your dog’s specific nutritional requirements. And snacks and treats should account for no more than 10% of his daily calories. So, green beans should essentially replace the high-calorie snacks you’ve been giving your dog.
Tips for Serving Beans Safely
- The most important tip to remember while feeding beans to your dogs is to do it in moderation. Beans and legumes in excess can induce significant gas production and discomfort. A reasonable rule of thumb is to use a few tablespoons of beans per pound of dog chow.
- Raw beans can be harmful to dogs; therefore, always boil dry beans before serving them to your furry little friends.
- Allow dry beans and lentils to soak overnight before cooking them. Not only will it make them cook much faster, but it’ll also remove some of the undesirable ingredients and make them easier to stomach. Before you cook them, give the beans a good rinse under cold running water.
- Canned beans, in any form, should be avoided because they have too much sodium and preservatives. And they may contain onion and garlic, both of which are hazardous to dogs.
- Don’t season any of your dog’s meals, including the beans, with salt or seasoning.
Final Thoughts
All in all, many types of beans can be safely offered to dogs as a treat in small amounts. That includes green beans, lima beans, lentils, black beans, and different types of black beans.
But you shouldn’t use them to substitute high-quality, complete, and balanced dog food. That’s because beans can cause vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, and gas if consumed in large quantities. Therefore, preparation is essential, and dried beans must be thoroughly boiled before feeding them to your dog.
In addition, seasoning and hazardous substances, like onion and garlic, should never be served to dogs in baked beans, chili beans, or refried beans. Of course, before you start introducing beans to your dog’s diet, talk to your veterinarian first. Diabetic dogs and dogs with underlying ailments may be better off without them.