Can dogs eat beans?

Beans or beans are legumes widely used in the gastronomy of many countries around the world, such as Spain and Mexico, not only for their flavor, but also for their great nutritional value. But do you know what happens if a dog eats beans? Are beans bad for dogs? We’ll tell you then.

The truth is that the beans They are on the list of foods suitable for dogs., since they provide numerous nutritional benefits and do not contain any substance that is toxic to your body. However, to guarantee that the bean intake is healthy and safe for dogs, it is necessary to take into account a series of considerations, which we will explain in detail in the following sections.

As we have mentioned, dogs can eat beans (beans or beans) since they have great nutritional value. Next, we mention the main benefits of including this legume in the diet of dogs:

• It is a great source of protein. In addition, despite being a protein of plant origin, it provides a good amount of essential amino acids (which are those amino acids that the body is not capable of synthesizing and need to be ingested through the diet).
• Contains a high percentage of carbohydrates with a low glycemic index. These carbohydrates take longer to digest, so they lead to a more gradual increase in blood glucose levels and allow better control of postprandial insulin release.
• hardly contain fatwhich makes it possible to include them in the diet of dogs without greatly increasing the energy value of the ration.
• They provide fiber. Although it is a nutrient that dogs cannot digest, it is essential in their diet, since it regulates intake, improves intestinal transit and contributes to the maintenance of the intestinal microbiota.
• They are a source of mineralssuch as calcium, selenium, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium and phosphorus.
• They provide B vitaminssuch as vitamin B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin) and B6 (pyridoxine).
• They contain phenolic compoundssome bioactive compounds with antioxidant power.

Now that we know that dogs can eat beans, we need to explain how we should offer them so that their contribution is safe and beneficial. First of all, we will talk about the ways in which this food can be included in the diet of dogs:

• If your dog regularly consumes a commercial feed, you can choose to introduce beans into his diet offering them as a prize or reward. If you are looking for an alternative to typical commercial treats, dog beans may be a good option. Of course, never mix them with their feed, as we explained in this post: “Is it good to combine feed with homemade food?”.
• On the contrary, if your dog usually consumes a homemade ration, you can opt for include beans as one more ingredient in your daily ration. In this case, you must combine the beans or beans with other ingredients that are a source of animal protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, in order to achieve a balanced ration according to the needs of your dog. We talk about it in this article: “What do dogs eat?”.

Secondly, we must talk about the preparation and cooking of the beans. Are you wondering if dogs can eat cooked ground beans? We’ll tell you then.

How to prepare beans for dogs?

The protein and carbohydrates present in legumes are better digested and assimilated when cooked, since the cooking process increases the digestibility of the food. Thus, beans should always be offered cooked. To prepare them, the best option is to soak the beans yourself (about 8-12 hours) and then cook them until they have a soft texture. If you prefer, you can choose to use canned beans, as long as they do not contain any ingredients that are harmful to dogs (such as salt, garlic, onion, spices, additives, etc.). In case of using canned beans, remember to remove the governing liquid and rinse the beans with plenty of water before offering them.

As for variety, dogs can eat bay, white, pinto, black, etc. beans. In general, all varieties are suitable for dogs.

In case you decide to offer the beans as a prize, you can contribute them once a week or every two weeks. The amount will depend on the size of your dog and the variety of the beans, although for reference, you can offer 3-5 beans for small dogs, 5-8 for medium dogs and 8-10 for large dogs.

In case you choose to include beans in the daily ration, the amount will depend on the nutritional and energy needs of your dog, which will vary fundamentally depending on your age and your daily activity. To ensure that the ration is balanced and that the proportion of the different foods you provide is optimal, we recommend that you request the help of a veterinarian specializing in animal nutrition.

The main negative effect associated with the consumption of beans is the production of flatulence or excess gas in the intestine. For the rest, the contribution of beans does not have to cause any harm to the health of dogs, as long as they are offered in the appropriate way.

Although beans are a suitable food for dogs, there are certain situations in which their contribution can be counterproductive:

• Dogs with allergies or food intolerances.
• Dogs with a particularly sensitive digestive system to diet changes.

Now that you know how and in which cases dogs can eat beans, don’t miss this video in which we talk about the fruits and vegetables that they should NOT eat:

If you want to read more articles similar to Can dogs eat beans?we recommend that you enter our Home Diets section.