I love green beans, especially when I get them when they are at their sweetest and most tender stage. I also love that they are good for me – which brings me to the question that people who love their furry friends always ask themselves – Can dogs eat green beans?
The short – and happy – answer is, yes, they can! Green beans contain essential fiber and nutrients that increase your overall health and immune system. They do the same things for your dog. They contain kaemferol, quercetin, flavonols, and other antioxidants.
Read on to find out more on how to serve green bean to your dog safely.
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Can Dogs Eat Beans?
Green beans are a good source of Vitamin C, K, A, and B6. They are also rich in iron, manganese, calcium, magnesium, iron, and other essential trace minerals.
The combination of these nutrients helps your dog in many ways:
- It regulates metabolism.
- It helps his bodily systems function effectively.
- It prevents inflammation.
- It strengthens his immune system.
- It helps in the formation of healthy blood cells, teeth, and bones.
- It helps his body fight the free radicals that try to do damage to his cells.
Dogs are highly prone to obesity, a condition that carries with it a good number of other health problems like heart issues, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, osteoarthritis, and joint and orthopedic problems.
Plain green beans without added salt, seasonings, garlic, onions or other additives are particularly good for dogs that need to lose weight. They are sweet, crunchy, and low in calories, characteristics that make them an ideal substitute for dog snacks like refined biscuits.
Moreover, the high fiber and water content of green beans helps to make your dog feel full for a longer period of time after meals.
The high amounts of insoluble fiber and water in green beans also add bulk to stool and boost the performance of your dog’s digestive system.
How Many Green Beans Can A Dog Eat?
Many individuals who worry about their dogs’ obesity think about making their dogs go on a green bean diet. What is this diet? And is it good for your dog?
The diet calls for you to substitute about 10% of what your dog usually eats with green beans. Then you go on to gradually increase the green beans serving until it makes up about half of your dog’s daily intake. Supporters of the green beans diet say that a dog that goes on this diet tends to lose weight fast.
Once your dog attains his ideal weight, you can then just as gradually decrease the amount of green beans in his diet until your pooch is eating what he normally does.
[Related Article: Can Dogs Eat Frozen Peas?Are Frozen Vegetables Safe For Them?]
Why Are Green Beans Bad For Dogs?
There are a few obvious flaws to this diet. It is highly restrictive. Green beans contain minerals and vitamins but they lack certain nutrients like essential fats and amino acids which are indispensable to a dog’s balanced diet.[Source]
If your dog eats nothing but green beans, he may indeed lose weight. However, the lack of nutrients in the diet can also result in nutritional deficiencies.
The green beans diet may not be the long-term solution you need to keep your dog’s weight in check. If you do not make sensible, healthy, and significant changes to your dog’s lifestyle – including healthier eating habits and regular exercise, your dog is highly likely to just gain back all the weight he has lost while he was on the green beans diet.
If you think that your dog is obese, it is prudent to take him to a veterinarian. Hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, or some similar health problems may be behind his obesity.
Your veterinarian will be able to prescribe the necessary medications, if needed, and make suggestions regarding diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits appropriate to your dog’s age, breed, and daily routine.
How Do I Give My Dog Green Beans?(5 Simple Ways)
Green beans should be regarded as an occasional treat for your pooch. Give it to him occasionally and in small amounts.
If you are giving green beans to your dog for the first time, look out for any adverse reactions like allergies or abdominal upset due to the beans’ high fiber content.
There are many ways to prepare green beans for your pooch.
- Make a soup out of sweet potatoes, spinach, and green beans – a dish that my dog loves, especially in cold weather.
- Blanched cut-up green beans as a tasty and crunchy topper for your pooch’s dishes.
- Let them chew on frozen green beans, especially on a hot summer day. Green beans can also be served raw, grilled, baked, boiled, or steamed.
- Make easy and quick-to-make popsicles for your pooch by adding sliced green beans to yogurt. I transfer this concoction to an ice cube tray and put the tray in the freezer. My dog simply loves this particular treat.
- If you have dogs with sensitive teeth or dogs advanced in age, use canned green beans. Dogs find it easier to chew on the softer beans. I prefer fresh green beans to canned beans. I think the former has greater nutritional value. In the few occasions that I get canned green beans for my dog, I read the label. I don’t want beans that have added salt or a lot of preservatives and additives.
Do Green Beans Cause Diarrhea In dogs?
Some dogs have adverse reactions to the lecithin proteins in raw green beans. They sometimes experience stomach pain, vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, it is better not to serve the green beans raw.
Cook them first. When you do, don’t overcook them. You don’t want them to lose their nutrients, delicate flavor, and the crunchiness that dogs love.
Can Dogs Eat Green Beans And Carrots?
Yes. you can feed your pup both green beans and carrots. Carrots are both nutritious and cheap, and can also improve your dog’s dental health.
However to prevent choking for your dog when eating carrot, chop them into bite-size pieces or cook them until they are soft enough to eat.
Can Dogs Eat Green Beans And Corn?
Yes. You can feed your dog fresh green beans and corn that are not processed and without seasonings or additives. Corn provides a lot of nutrients such as carbohydrates, fiber, and zinc, so it’s safe to say that it’s relatively healthy for your dogs. However, consuming large amounts of corn can cause problems such as digestive issues.
Also avoid feeding them corn cob to prevent choking issues.
[Related Article: Can Dogs Eat Corn? What To Do If They Swallow A Corn Cob?]
Important Tips To Consider When Feeding Green Beans
My dog loves green beans. He never turns them down. In fact, he likes them so much that he tends to gulp them down whenever I serve him some. I don’t want my dog to choke on the beans so I usually cut them up into smaller and more manageable bits. Take this step especially if you have a small dog.
I also prefer to serve the green beans plain. I do not sauté the beans or add any oil, butter, spices, or seasonings to them. I make sure not to cook the green beans with garlic or onion that can be severely harmful and even fatal to dogs.
In general, green beans make for a healthy and delightfully crunchy substitute for high-calorie, low-nutritional-value commercial dog treats. They have high fiber and high water content. They are low in sugar and calories. They are also quite handy and portable. They make for a pleasant hydrating treat for dogs.
