Can Dogs Have Beans

When it comes to losing weight and gaining muscle, we often include beans in our meals. Thanks to its protein and low-calorie content. Since we want to offer such health benefits to our dogs, we must know: Can dogs have beans?

Well, dogs can have beans in moderation. Just make sure you offer them this treat in moderation. Also, offer him fresh and cooked beans, because raw beans are hard to digest and cause choking hazards.

There are more safety concerns related to feeding beans to our canine friends. We will discuss them here.

Can Dogs Have Beans?

Dogs can have beans, as they don’t contain any harmful elements. In fact, they are loaded with protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Since beans are plant-based foods, you must offer them to your dog in moderation. Besides, beans are only safe for them when you provide them after cooking without adding any ingredients.

What Beans Can Dogs Have?

Here are some healthy beans that you can include in your dog’s diet.

Green Beans

Green beans or string beans are the safest option for dogs. They are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and folate. Besides, their high-fibre and low-calorie content will keep your dog healthy with good weight management.

Lima Beans

Lima beans have a good amount of protein, fibre, iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium. They can be safe for your dog and aid in digestion.

Black Beans

Black beans are also rich in fibre, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants. These nutrients will keep your dog healthy by improving his immune system.

Garbanzo Beans

Garbanzo beans or chickpeas can add fibre and protein to your dog’s diet. Just don’t add any extra ingredients to it.

Pinto Beans

Like black beans, pinto beans have fibre, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants. Your dog can have them to gain some nutrients.

What Beans Dogs Cannot Have?

Don’t feed the beans below to your dog if you don’t want him to suffer.

Refried Beans

Refried beans are high in fat, which can lead your dog to obesity or gain weight. That’s why many dogs get pancreatitis from having refried beans.

Chilli Beans

Chilli beans are high in spices and sugar, which can be toxic to your dog’s health.

Baked Beans

Baked beans often include sugar, molasses, and spices, which dogs can’t withstand.

Soybeans

Soybeans or edamame have soy sauce, salt, and spices, which are also bad for dogs.

Canned Beans

Canned beans have added salt, which can increase the blood pressure in your dog. If your dog does not have a BP issue, offering him one canned bean may not pose any health threats to him.

How To Prepare Beans For Dogs?

Choose the beans that are right for your dog. Such as green beans, black beans, or lima beans. Wash the legumes thoroughly and soak them in water for a few hours. Afterwards, take the beans out, peel out their shells, and cook them. You can either steam or boil them. Take them out after a few minutes; they are ready for your dog to eat.

How Many Beans Can Dogs Have?

How many beans you can give to your dog depends on how many he can consume. For example, you can first offer him one small bean. If he eats without any hassle, you may offer him one more bean.

Anyway, a small dog should not have more than one teaspoon of beans, and a large dog should not have more than one tablespoon.

Benefits Of Having Beans For Dogs

Beans are high in protein, vitamin B6, vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, and dietary fibre. Protein will promote healthy muscles in dogs and speed up their recovery. Vitamin B6 will improve their brain function, and vitamin C will maintain good skin. Again, iron will increase red blood cells, and calcium will promote bone health. Then potassium will regulate the sugar level, and fibre will maintain a healthy digestion.

The fat and calories in beans are lower. Hence, you won’t have to worry about obesity or weight gain for your dog when he eats beans.

Risks Of Having Beans For Dogs

Beans can be risky for dogs when they eat them too much. Again, eating the wrong type of beans can pose several health threats.

Since beans are high in dietary fibre, ingesting too many can cause diarrhoea in dogs. Also, some dogs have difficulty digesting food. In that case, eating beans can lead to bloating.

If you ever eat canned beans, chilli beans, or refried beans, the side effects could be adverse. These beans have a high amount of salt and spices, which are toxic for dogs. Eating them can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, obesity, and even pancreatitis.

When Can Dogs Have Beans?

Dogs can have beans when they need to lose some weight and gain muscle. Beans have lower fats and higher protein. So you can use this food for your dog if you want to treat his obesity. Again, dogs suffering from constipation must rely on beans sometimes. It is because beans aid in digestion with their fibre content.

Anyway, dogs can only have beans when they are not allergic to plant-based foods. So know first if your dog has any allergies to beans or not. Then you can feed him these legumes.

Frequently Asked Questions: Can Dogs Have Beans?

What beans are toxic for dogs?

Fresh fava beans or broad beans can be toxic for dogs. They contain a chemical compound called phytohemagglutinin, which is harmful to them. If you cook these beans, you can neutralise their compounds.

Are beans allergic to dogs?

Not all dogs can have allergic reactions to eating beans. Dogs that can’t have plant-based foods can show allergic symptoms after eating beans.

Can dogs have beans with rice?

Both rice and beans are safe for dogs if taken in moderation and if they are properly cooked. However, the combination of beans and rice can offer many health benefits to your canine friend.

Final Thoughts

After knowing some health risks associated with beans, we may think, Can dogs have beans? The answer is yes if your fog is not allergic to them. Besides, the beans should be cooked without any ingredients.

Try offering green beans to dogs because they contain the fewest chemical compounds that can harm them. However, cooking these beans can make them safer for dogs to eat. Some dogs may not like beans, as they prefer animal protein more. In that case, you should not offer them beans. But if they like beans, you can offer these legumes to them occasionally.