Are dogs allowed to eat beans?

Can dogs eat beans? It depends on the bean! Many, in small portions, are nutritious for your dog, but not all are safe to feed.

Although beans can be a great source of fiber and protein, and some varieties contain beneficial vitamins and minerals, they should not be substituted for animal protein. They shouldn't be served in large quantities either (they're not just us who make us gassy). Most importantly, you know which beans are safe for your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Beans?

Most beans are safe to eat by dogs, albeit under a few conditions. They should be cooked without additives and not canned or served raw. However, there are some beans such as green beans that are completely safe for our dogs when cooked and some others that are harmful and can be fatal to your dog. For this reason, it is important that you do your research on the specific type of beans that you want to feed your dog.

In general, you should not overdo it with the amount of beans. It should not become the main meal, but merely an accompaniment to the usual meal. You should also always serve the beans cooked. If your dog eats too many beans, it can cause severe flatulence.

Healthy beans for dogs

With more than 19,000 varieties of legumes, there is a wide range of beans suitable for dogs. Here are the most well-known beans that are safe for dogs:

• Black beans
• butter beans or lima beans
• Chickpeas
• Green beans or runner beans
• pinto beans
• bean sprouts
• Kidneybohnen

Black beans

They are safe as long as they are cooked without seasoning and are not canned. Avoid feeding your dog raw beans as they are virtually indigestible. Instead, soak them overnight and cook them plain.

Lima beans / butter beans

As long as you buy dried beans, soak them, and then cook them without seasoning, lima beans are a healthy treat to share with your dog.

Chickpeas

Like many other types of beans, chickpeas are safe for dogs! But you shouldn't feed them raw or out of a can either. Also, make sure you don't add any extra ingredients. 

Runner Beans / Green Beans

Can Dogs Eat Green Beans? Green beans are high in nutrients, such as calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin K. Just make sure the green beans are cooked, ripe, and don't contain any additional ingredients.

pinto beans

As with many other types of beans, you need to make sure they are properly prepared. Don't feed your dog raw or canned pinto beans. Instead, buy dried beans, soak them overnight, and then cook them up the next day without any additional ingredients for a delicious and healthy treat!

bean sprouts

Bean sprouts can be fed to your dog in moderation! They are good for preventing liver and kidney disease. They should be served cooked. As always, you should make sure that no additional ingredients are included.

Kidneybohnen

Be careful, raw kidney beans are toxic to dogs and should be avoided at all costs. However, if you cook the kidney beans without any additional spices or ingredients, they are not only safe for your dog, but also healthy! Avoid canned beans that contain preservatives and other unsafe ingredients.

You should be careful with these beans

• broad beans
• Baked beans
• Fried beans
• coffee beans
• chili beans
• Canned beans

broad beans

Broad beans are unhealthy for dogs. This is because of a compound called PHA, which is toxic to our furry friends. Unlike other beans, which are harmful raw but harmless when cooked, broad beans are poisonous both cooked and raw!

Baked beans

Baked beans are made up of fat and sugar, making them unhealthy for dogs. They can also include tomato paste, onions and garlic, all of which are unhealthy and really harmful to dogs.

Fried beans

Dogs should not eat fried beans for two reasons. First, they are canned, which means they contain preservatives that are not healthy for our four-legged friends. More importantly, fried beans often contain onions, garlic, and other potentially toxic spices.

coffee beans

Caution! Coffee beans contain caffeine, which is extremely toxic to dogs. Consuming coffee beans can be very dangerous and easily life threatening. If your dog eats coffee beans, contact your vet immediately!

Chilibohnen

No, you should not feed your dog chili beans. In most cases, chili beans are very hot, which dogs do not tolerate well. Your dog will likely get an upset stomach. Depending on the dish's ingredient list, things can get a lot worse, as chili beans are often prepared with garlic and onions, which even in powdered form are harmful and dangerous to dogs. 

What Are the Health Benefits of Beans?

In addition to helping dogs regulate blood sugar levels, beans are packed with nutrients, including these essential ingredients:

• Protein - an important part of a healthy diet
• Vitamin A - Good for the heart and eyes
• Vitamin C - Supports the immune system
• Vitamin K - Helps the body regenerate after injury
• Potassium - Supports muscle and bone health
• Iron - formation of red blood cells
• Magnesium - Helps the body absorb other nutrients better
• Antioxidants - Lower cholesterol levels

What are the dangers of beans?

An overdose of beans can have similar effects in dogs as it does in humans. If your pet is wolfing down beans, look out for:

• Excessive flatulence
• Loose bowel movements
• stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomit

While most beans are not overly dangerous to pets, some can cause gastrointestinal distress. Oftentimes, the side effects are caused by ingesting many of the ingredients commonly mixed with beans, such as garlic, onions, salt, tomatoes, and chemical preservatives. To avoid these dangers, stick to pet-safe beans, cook them properly, and skip salt and spices. You should avoid raw beans, they contain the highly toxic substance lectin.