Sure they will give them gas, but can dogs eat beans? There are so many different types, and some of them are worse for your dog than others.
There is a wide variety of beans and even more ways to cook them. While you are making your own dinner, is it safe to share your beans with your pup? Read on and learn about the kind of beans that are safe or dangerous, and what to watch out for.
For ultimate pet safety, please ask your vet any questions you have regarding your dog eating any type of beans.
Can Dogs Eat Beans?
Beans, beans, the magical fruit! You know how the kid’s song goes. And you might have experienced something akin to Walter the Farting Dog when your puppy ate some.
That’s why, even though some beans are good for your dog, you should still limit how much they eat. Beans are so high in fiber that they could give your dog terrible gas. Your dog’s digestive system just isn’t built to handle a large amount of fiber all at once, and beans are full of fiber.
Let’s look really close at all the different types of beans and bean recipes to see how safe or dangerous they are.
Beans For Dogs: What You Need to Know
In general, beans are really good for your dog. They are packed with fiber, vitamins, protein, and other nutrients. In fact, they have essential vitamins and protein that will help your dog build strong muscles and can even help regulate their blood sugar.
Generally, a few beans once in a while might even be a healthy treat. You just have to pay attention to the type of bean you let them eat.
But there are still some beans that could hurt your dog.
Don’t let your dog eat the following beans, and read on in this article to find out why.
- Baked beans
- Chili beans
- Coffee beans
- Raw kidney beans
- Canned beans
- Refried beans
If you eat a vegetarian diet, then be careful with the bean type that you give your pup. As pet parents, we want to give our dogs essential nutrients – and some beans fall into the category of low-calorie treats.
Let’s look at all the different varieties of beans and how safe they are for your dog. Remember, dog owners, anytime you introduce a new food to your furry friend, you should only give them small amounts and watch for any signs of upset stomach or negative reactions.
Can Dogs Eat Black Beans?
Yes, dogs can eat black beans. These are very healthy for your dog. They contain high sources of vitamin C, vitamin K, and manganese and have lots of fiber and protein too.
Always be careful with how much salt your dog eats. For this reason, only give your dog fresh-cooked beans. Soak the raw beans overnight, then cook them. Now they are ready for your dog to eat.
Dry beans that you cook for your pet will always be a better choice than canned beans.
Can Dogs Eat Kidney Beans?
Yes, dogs can eat kidney beans. They are full of antioxidants that will help them maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
However, be very careful with raw kidney beans. You should always cook the beans before letting your dog eat them. Raw kidney beans are toxic to your dog.
Raw kidney beans contain lectin phytohemagglutinin (PHA). PHA can cause poisoning symptoms such as:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
If you notice that your dog ate raw red kidney beans, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Can Dogs Eat Pinto Beans?
Pinto beans are also really good for your dog. They actually help your dog feel full longer and help your dog’s body digest food better.
Plus, they can help fight off bacteria. They are high in magnesium which helps the body absorb vitamin C. Pinto beans can be a healthy addition to a healthy diet that is rich in meat protein.
Always avoid raw or canned pinto beans. They need to be cooked at home so you can control how many spices and salt your dog eats.
More Beans for Dogs
There are so many different types of beans out there, and they aren’t all good for your dog. Here’s a quick rundown of some other types of beans and whether they are safe for dogs or not.
- Broad Beans – These are also called Fava Beans. Avoid them! They contain PHA which is toxic to your dog.
- Butter Beans – These are also called lima beans. They are really good for your dog, especially dogs with diabetes. Always cook your beans at home.
- Chili Beans – No. Do not give your dog chili beans. They often contain garlic and onions, which are toxic to dogs. And spicy foods will hurt your dog’s stomach.
- Coffee Beans – Absolutely not. Do not let your dog eat coffee beans. Caffeine is toxic to dogs. Read more about dogs and coffee beans.
- Navy Beans – Navy beans are safe for dogs to eat.
- Red Beans – Red beans are also called kidney beans. Dogs can eat kidney beans as long as you cook them at home. Raw kidney beans are toxic to dogs.
- White Beans – There are two types of white beans, the Great Northern beans, and the cannellini. Both types are safe for your dog to eat if you cook them at home.
- Green Beans – Yes, green beans are safe for dogs to eat. Get more information about vegetables good for dogs.
Related: Can Dogs Have Garbanzo Beans
Can Dogs Eat Baked Beans?
No, do not let your dog eat baked beans. First of all, lots of homemade and cans of baked beans are really high in sugar, which could lead to blood sugar issues and weight gain.
But even more importantly, baked beans usually have garlic or onion powder, which is unsafe for dogs to eat.
You are better off to just cook your dog some fresh beans at home and serve it to them as a treat than to let them eat baked beans.
Can Dogs Eat Refried Beans?
No, do not let your dog eat refried beans. The most important reason is that refried beans come in a can and canned beans have preservatives that aren’t healthy for your dog.
But another really good reason to avoid letting your dog eat refried beans is that most of them contain canola oil, garlic, and spices like cumin, chili powder, and salt. These spices are hard on your dog’s stomach.
Should Dogs Eat Beans?
The short answer is that yes, dogs should eat beans once in a while. They are an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients. Some types have vitamins b6 and are a fantastic protein source. But as you feed your dog beans, keep these things in mind.
Always cook your beans at home. Avoid canned beans at all costs. Don’t let your dog eat raw beans. And limit how many beans they eat at one sitting to minimize how gassy it makes them.
Don’t give your dog beans instead of meat. Dogs need meat in their diet.
More Dog Food Resources
Here are more resources about different human foods that dogs can and cannot eat.
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Thank you for the Reliable Resource to refer, Concerning my Dog or pets in General!
Red beans are red beans, they’re not all kidney beans. Two different kinds of beans. One is dark to medium red and small and the other is medium red to pink and kidney shaped.
According to latest FDA findings (FDA approved safe pet foods) beans are Legumes and have shown to cause heart disease in dogs or may increase the risk. lintels are included in that report as well. please look latest FDA reports before encouraging people to feed their dogs beans or lentils .
my dogs cardiologist also advised us to stir away from those foods. since they can block certain nutrients that are necessary for pets health from absorption!!
According to the Oxford Academic Journal of Animal Science:
“it is impossible to draw any definitive conclusions, in these cases, linking specific diets or specific ingredients to DCM.”
Full information here: https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/98/6/skaa155/5857674
Hi May,
I can totally understand why you would think that, the way things were being reported concerning DCM and grain free diets was really confusing! A little background on why: The FDA has the authority to montior pet food, but no requirement to, and no department directly for it; therefore, it isn’t much done and no one knows much about it. There was a correlation between grain-free pet foods and DCM, yes. However, correlations are unreliable as they are based on two things existing simultaneously, with no link being found between the two directly. (There could be a correlation of cat lovers and nose pickers, but one does not necessarily cause the other). There were also correlations in the dog’s weight, activity level and breed. This is a direct quote from a recent report:
“Dry formulations made up the majority of dog foods involved in reports of DCM submitted the FDA. Of 524 cases, 452 involved dry dog food, distantly followed by multiple forms (24 cases), unknown (26), raw (9) and home-cooked, refrigerated, semi-moist and tubbed with one case each.
No causation was found between dog food ingredients and DCM.
While the FDA has found these correlations, they have found no causality. FDA lab analysis of grain-free versus conventional dog foods revealed little difference in levels of minerals, amino acids, taurine, protein or other nutrients. ” *See citation below
I personally do not recommend grain-free diets. Moderate, rotating, minimally processed, ancient grains are good for canines. Many legumes are as well: in moderation, rotation, and minimally processed. But grain free is not the culprit. Your vet, like many Veteranarians, are well intentioned, but are not nutritionists, and can be mislead just as you or I by misguided headlines.
If any correlation should stand out, it is that 86% of the reported DCM deaths were fed dry kibble. Fresh food and raw diets sharing 1% of cases (1 case each).
The bi products produced during the extreme over processing of kibble ingredients are known to case genetic defects, cancer, and renal disease– in amounts 1/10 of what most dogs ingest daily. And most dogs are nutrient deficient when eating ANY kibble, bc the only source of nutrition is a vitamin spray that doesn’t get fully absorbed.
May, I appreciate your concern for dogs health!! I beg you to keep researching it. It is scary how little we know, but hopefully that will change with advocates like both you and Renee on their side! Feel free to reach out of you want to talk more about dog health! in**@pu*******.com
*https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/8306-dcm-5-brands-in-58-of-fda-reports-dry-dog-food-in-86
-Dani
Thank you for putting in the effort to explain this so I didn’t have to! I include whole grains, high protein, and beans in my homemade ‘soft’ dog food that I feed in conjunction with high quality dry and supplements. Cheaper and better than quality canned, and my ridiculously energetic and healthy pooch is a big fan. Also a great use of all my suitable veggie scraps.
You must work for Dog food Company.
Thank you for this information. It’s very helpful.
I make homemade food for my dogs and always include some kind of beans in each recipe.
One thing I’d like to say is that your information about canned beans may need to be updated. As people become more health-conscious, there are many more ‘no-salt-added’ canned beans available and they are a great convenience for some people. Since I’m already on a very low-sodium diet, I buy salt-free for myself whenever possible and recently purchased 6 cases of no salt added garbanzo beans. Yep, the dogs and I are eating well.
I also make my dogs their food. The problem is that it goes bad after about 4days. Do you have a recipe that you can share and knowledge of shelf life? Thank you🐶
I only have recipes for treats. The shelf life for homemade dog food varies depending on how it is prepared, what’s in it, and how it is stored.
Freeze it in meal quantities.