The simple answer to “Can puppies eat beans?” is yes in moderation. Bean are an excellent source of protein and are high in fiber.
Daily meals of dogs usually come with meat, but it’s also important to include vegetables. Many people give them green and red peppers while others want to feed them beans.
Yes, dogs can eat beans in moderation.
Beans are fine in moderation. As with humans, Flatulence, is a bi-product of the digestive system not being able to process the sugars in beans.
When was the last time you ate some beans? How about your dog? I’m sure most of you – dog lovers have not put much thought into this one. Or maybe you just heard it from a friend and had to jump on Google immediately.
We agree with you that this is not the typical question when it comes to dogs. We have always been encouraged to give them a meat-based diet with a few veggies here and there. However, now for the question, “Can dogs eat beans?” Let us break it down as we go along.
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Can Puppies Eat Beans?
Beans are legumes which come in different varieties. Examples include black beans, chickpeas, pinto beans and kidney beans. Their nutritional value constitutes a lot of protein and dietary fiber.
Why beans?
Colored beans for instance, kidney beans will be high in antioxidants. The purpose of antioxidants in the body is to help reduce damage to the body cells. Dogs will a have better immune system as well as lower levels of cholesterol by consuming beans.
The available fibers in beans help in making food move quickly through the dog’s digestive system. The result is a cleaner colon and less constipation. Fiber is also a magic cure for high blood sugar and diabetes.
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Other useful nutrients found in beans include potassium, iron, magnesium and Vitamin B. All these other nutrients will ensure your dog remains healthy and maintains the ideal body weight.
Types of Beans For Your Dog
After reading that you might still be wondering, “Well, what kinds of beans are safe for my dog?”Consider these types of beans for your dogs:
1. Butter Beans, Green Beans, and Lentils
- Of the three, Green beans will provide your dog with the highest amounts of proteins, vitamins, fibers as well as essential minerals.
- Lentils, on the other hand, are alkaline. This just means it will not cause your dog the troubles of flatulence.
- Butter beans are high sources of proteins as well as iron and fiber.
- These foods are usually an affordable and healthy option for your dog’s regular diet. You should consider making a daily habit of feeding your dog with these beans on a weekly basis.
- They are low in calories but packed with many other essential nutrients.
- You should, however, be careful with the quantity you give your furry friend. Start off by making it a small addition to its regular diet as you slowly increase the portions. Also, make sure you properly rinse the beans before feeding your dogs. They can still take either cooked but dried lentils or even raw green beans.
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2. Dried beans (Black beans, Kidney beans, Pinto beans)
- As we had mentioned earlier, richly colored beans will have high amounts of antioxidants. That is the case for kidney beans. Your dogs should have some of these beans because it helps with improving the immune system as well as lower the cholesterol levels. They will also reduce constipation.
- Black beans get packed with high amounts of Vitamins A and K as well as other essential minerals. These vitamins are great for improving your dog’s eyesight in the long run. The vital minerals will help in preventing blood clots in the dog’s vessels.
- Lastly, Pinto beans are high in proteins and dietary fibers and will also prevent your dog from constipation. You can get them at supermarkets, these dried beans will often get sold in bulk packets which are cheaper in the long run. You should consider investing in at least one type of these beans for your dog. Beans will provide a healthy balance of proteins, minerals, and vitamins. However, we do not advise you to depend on them as sources of proteins entirely. Dogs require their regular feeds for a large part of their daily protein intake.
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Beans: Not Advisable For Your Dog
1. Chili Beans and Canned Beans
- This is the point where we put our red flags up. Many of the canned beans in our food stores today contain a lot of additives and preservatives which can either trigger weight gain or other health issues for your dog. These types of beans get processed a lot. Therefore, the quality gets automatically reduced.
- Canned beans will contain considerable amounts of sodium which is never a good option for your furry companion. Today there has been a lot of advertising and adaptation of chili beans in dog food, but we advise you not to take the bait on this one. These beans may lead to cases of stomach upset or even prolonged pain for your doggie. Therefore, you should watch out!
2. Other Types of Beans
Baked beans and coffee beans are different types of beans we discourage you from feeding your dog. Baked beans are typically soaked in tomato sauce which is not advisable to feed your dog. Coffee beans contain high levels of caffeine which may affect your dog’s sleeping pattern. Both beans can potentially lead to severe stomach upset.
Precautions To Observe
At this point, you should take a few precautions to make sure you do not harm your companion.
1. Too Much of Something Is Poisonous
As always, feeding your dog vast amounts of beans is dangerous as it may cause stomach upset, flatulence and even constipation.
2. Respect The Dog Diet
Beans are primarily human food. You should, therefore, feed your dog in moderation. Remember that their diet mainly consists of meat protein for healthy growth.
3. Clean Before Preparing
As with any food given to your pup or big dog, make sure you have washed it thoroughly. You can also serve beans raw and fresh.
4. Oral Hygiene Above It All
Dogs are sensitive to gum issues of any kind including cavities. Make sure you properly clean their teeth especially after having beans which might have pieces stuck on their teeth.
Conclusion
Apart from green peppers, beans have proven to be an excellent addition to the diet of our beloved doggies. Remember to always serve in moderation as well as clean your dog’s teeth properly after meals with beans. For anyone still wondering, “Can dogs eat beans?”, we hope this article has given you enough information to make better dog choices. What about giving your dog Cheetos as a treat?
I hope I’ve answered the question, “can dogs eat beans?” to your satisfaction. Please leave a comment or question below. I look forward to responding to your comments. Don’t forget to share the article with your friends and loved ones too.
