Beans, beans, the magical fruit! They are a staple in a lot of households, and for good reason. They are versatile, delicious, inexpensive, and quite nutritious.
There are so many types and colors of beans out there. One of the most popular bean types out there are black beans.
And, if you are a dog owner, it is likely that your dog is eagerly waiting under the table to eat whatever you are having. Should you give them your beans?
If you consider sharing black beans, a question emerges, can dogs eat black beans?
In this article, we will uncover whether black beans are safe for dogs or not. We will tell you if this food has health benefits or harmful effects on our dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Black Beans?
The short answer is yes; dogs can eat black beans. They are safe for dogs.
This may come as a surprise since a lot of our food is not suitable for dogs. Such food includes grapes, garlic and chocolate. But black beans are not one of them.
In fact, black beans contain a number of health benefits for our furry pups. We will go into more detail below.
Benefits of Black Beans for Dogs
Black beans are rich in a handful of minerals and vitamins.
First and foremost, black beans make an excellent source for plant-based protein. Protein is an essential nutrient that can contribute to muscle development and tissue repair. For dogs, it is arguably one of the two most important food groups.
Second, black beans are a great source of fiber. Fiber helps in solving a dog’s digestive problems. Foods rich in fiber can help against bowel movement problems.
Third, black beans contain Vitamin C. Vitamin C is great for strengthening a dog’s immune system as well as their bone density.
Next, vitamin K is great for developing blood vessels as well as regenerating skin and creative tissue.
Potassium can keep your dog’s bones strong and healthy. This makes black beans a good food for older dogs.
Black beans are a good source of manganese. Manganese is a mineral that promotes metabolic functioning and good bone health.
Last, black beans are also low in fats which can be good for dogs. This food is recommended for diabetic dogs.
Despite all of their benefits, black beans are not always healthy and suitable for dogs.
Precautions of Lima Beans for Dogs
To keep your dogs safe, we suggest that you follow this advice:
- First, do not feed uncooked or raw black beans to dogs. Dried black beans are hard and difficult to chew. Dogs may harm their teeth by biting into them.
- Do not feed your dogs canned black beans as they may contain large amounts of sugar and/or salt as well as other preservatives.
- Black beans with too many seasonings such as salt can be harmful to our furry pups. So it is best to serve black beans plain and cooked before feeding them to dogs.
It is also recommended to serve them with meat-based protein and other vegetables. Too much fiber will also make your dog gassy.
In conclusion, if you choose to feed your dogs black beans, that can be nutritionally beneficial, as long as you do so in moderation and with proper preparation.
Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy or Harmful for Dogs
This article is part of our special series of articles about “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?”
In the next article of this series, find out Can Dogs Eat Mint?
