Adopting a dog can be simultaneously the most rewarding and daunting experience of your life. On the one hand, you get yourself a loyal companion who’s going to love you no matter what. On the other hand, you’ll be responsible for taking care of the dog’s physical and mental wellbeing.
Things can be particularly challenging if you are living with a dog for the first time in your life.
The Challenges of Being a Dog Parent
How are you supposed to know if your dog is in pain or hurting? Should you take them out for a short walk or engage them in rigorous physical activities? What type of food items are you supposed them? How would you know if your dog is allergic to specific foods?
These are all questions that will come to your mind whenever you think about after bringing home a new dog. Specifically, providing your dog with a nourishing and balanced diet is of the utmost importance. Also, you need to watch out for the occasional treat your offer to them.
While these treats are a way of showing your love and affection, they are extremely high in calories. Prolonged intake of pre-packaged treats could lead to obesity in your dog. So, how can you spoil your dog with such treats without jeopardizing their health?
A simple solution is to replace packaged treats with fruits and vegetables. In fact, many dogs tend to have an affinity for green beans. But are green beans safe for your dog’s consumption? If yes, then what is the best way to include them in your dog’s diet? Let us find out.
Can Dogs Eat Canned Green Beans?
Let us cut to the chase and answer this question right away. Yes. Occasional and regulated consumption of green beans for dogs is completely safe. However, you need to watch out for the quantity of green beans in your dog’s diet. Also, you should pay close attention to the type of green beans (raw, cooked, frozen, or canned) you’re feeding your dog.
Benefits of Green Beans for Dogs
While most people think of green beans as vegetables, they are formally classified as “crossover food”. Also known as string beans and snap beans, they combine the best attributes of both legumes and vegetables. It makes them an excellent source of essential nutrients, such as:
- Vitamins – Vitamins B6, C, K, and A
- Minerals – Iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium
- Proteins
- Fiber
Thus, adding green beans to your dog’s diet will ensure that they get their daily dose of vitamins and minerals. Also, since they’re rich in fibers and low in calories, they can make your dog feel full and satiated for longer periods.
They’re particularly suitable for dogs that tend to be voracious eaters. The best part about green beans is that most dogs love chewing on them. The firm texture and neutral taste makes it a great snack or treat option for all dogs.
So, how should you feed green beans to your dog? In the following sections, we will discuss four ways to add green beans to your dog’s diet.
How to Add Green Beans to Your Dog’s Diet?
Green beans are extremely versatile and fit for consumption in both raw and cooked forms. Here are a few common ways of including green beans in your dog’s diet:
Raw Green Beans
Raw green beans have a solid and firm texture that is easy to bite into. That’s why most dogs prefer to chew on raw green beans. While they’re safe for consumption, you should avoid giving them whole to your dog. It could cause choking hazards, potentially resulting in breathlessness and even fatality.
Instead, it is recommended that you chop the beans into dime-sized pieces and let your dog chew on them. Also, make sure you thoroughly wash the beans and avoid adding any seasonings to them.
Frozen Green Beans
Frozen beans have an even firmer texture and are great summertime treats for dogs. You can just take them out of the freezer and pour them into your dog’s feeding bowl. However, if your dog is old or has weak teeth, you should first thaw the frozen beans and then feed them to your dog.
Also, irrespective of whether you are giving in the frozen or thawed from, make sure the green beans don’t contain the following ingredients:
- Salt
- Spices
- Oil
- Onion
- Garlic
Make sure you carefully read the list of ingredients on the package before feeding frozen beans to your dog.
Cooked Green Beans
If your dog isn’t particularly fond of eating their greens, you could try sneaking the beans into their regular meals. Just chop up a few strings, steam them, and add them to their regular food. You could also cook them with other vegetables that your dog enjoys eating.
Blended Green Beans
If you get packaged dog food for your canine companion, it is a good idea to amp up its nutritional value with some green beans. Just blend the beans with the dog food and pour it into a bowl. This is a great way of tricking your dog into eating their veggies.
Should Your Dog Eat Canned Green Beans?
This has been a huge point of debate among dog parents and veterinarians. While canned beans are safe for human consumption, they’re often preserved in brine. This makes their sodium content exceptionally high. It is particularly crucial considering that your dog’s average sodium intake should be limited to 200 mg per day.
Are you wondering about the dangers of using canned green beans for dogs? Excessive intake of sodium from canned beans can cause serious side effects in your dog, including:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Tremors
- Fever
- Seizure
If your dog has diarrhea at night, it might have gotten its hands on some canned green beans in the evening. It will also make your dog more thirsty, resulting in sodium ion poisoning, and potentially even causing death.
Nevertheless, older dogs might prefer canned beans because of their softer and malleable texture. In such cases, it is advisable that you check the ingredient list and find out if the green beans are preserved using salt or other additives.
What is the Green Beans Dog Diet?
If you’ve ever searched the internet for advice on canine food, you have likely come across the green beans dog diet. Simply put, it is a diet plan that involves replacing most of your dog’s nutritional intake with green beans. It is supposed to help your dog with weight loss.
However, a strict green beans diet can do more harm than good. To begin with, it deprives your dog of other vital nutrients, such as:
- Amino acids
- Vitamin D
- Proteins
Moreover, excessive consumption of green beans can cause digestive disorders in dogs. They can also interfere with the absorption of minerals and other nutrients. It even changes their metabolism and might result in more weight gain.
Green Beans Alternatives for Dogs
While green beans can be a great snack or meal for your dog, they can also cause digestive issues and food allergies. In such cases, you will have to look for possible alternatives to green beans for dogs, such as:
- Popcorn
- Black beans
- Green peas
- Celery
- Olives
Using black beans for dogs provides similar nutritional benefits as green beans, minus allergies.
Conclusion
To sum things up, here are a few more common question that will come to your mind if you are considering feeding green beans to your dog:
What Beans are Safe for Dogs?
In general, any types of beans, such as green beans and black beans are safe for canine consumption. However, you need to watch out for specific food allergies and digestive issues. Also, you should ensure that your dog’s diet doesn’t include an excessive amount of beans.
Can Dogs Eat Frozen Green Beans?
Absolutely. In fact, they are great summertime snacks for dogs. However, if your dog has weak or sensitive teeth, you should thaw the beans before feeding them.
Can Green Beans Help Your Dog Lose Weight?
Green beans are a low-calorie fiber-rich source of nutrients. Using them to replace packaged dog treats and biscuits can help manage your dog’s weight. However, your dog will only lose significant weight when they get proper exercise and a moderate diet.
Have you every tried feeding fresh or frozen green beans to your dog? Share your experience in the comments section below.
