Can Dogs Eat Baked Beans?
Baked beans are a sweet and comforting food that we occasionally enjoy in our homes. While having the meal, you might wonder if it is okay to serve some to your furry friend. This article will tell you more about baked beans and if they are safe to share with your dog.
History of Baked Beans
Baked beans are a popular American food first made by Americans of Indian descent. Maple syrup and venison were popular ingredients in making the dish. Pilgrims added spices, salt, pork, or bacon to make the meal even more delicious. Even today, some of the original ingredients are still part of the meal recipe.
Are Baked Beans Safe for Dogs?
Baked beans are not dog-friendly; you should not consider adding them to your pet’s diet or offering it as a treat. The food contains many potentially harmful ingredients that can cause health problems for your dog. Though the meal can be homemade, it is popularly sold canned.
Do Dogs Love Baked Beans?
If your dog has a sweet tooth, there is a possibility that it will fall in love with the food. Baked beans have a soft texture and are delicious. Despite that, you should keep them out of your dog’s reach to avoid it getting health problems.
Risks of Baked Beans for Dogs
Beaked beans have no health benefits to dogs. What’s more, they come with numerous health risks. Highlighted below are some of them.
Excess Fats
Large amounts of fats are not efficiently digestible by dogs. Baked beans contain too much saturated fats, leading to stomach upset. Long-term effects include heart diseases and pancreatitis.
High in Sodium
Canned baked beans contain too much sodium. Too much salt can dehydrate a dog, leading to sodium ion poisoning or kidney problems in severe cases. Several symptoms show excessive consumption of sodium by dogs. They include:
- Loss of appetite.
- Dry gums
- Diarrhea
- Little to no urination
High in Sugars
A healthy dog’s meal should contain low sugar content. Excessive sugars and sweeteners can lead to your dog developing diabetes and obesity. The high sugar content in baked beans is harmful, and some canned brands have sweeteners that are toxic to dogs.
Might have Toxic Ingredients
A majority of baked bean recipes have ingredients and seasonings that are not safe for dogs. Some of the harmful ingredients are garlic powder, xylitol, and onion powder. Meals prepared with these ingredients should not be served to dogs.
Dense Calories
Baked beans are a high-calorie meal, and their excessive consumption can harm dogs. They can lead to long-term health issues and weight gain. Instead, your dog can eat black beans as they are a low-calorie meal.
Common Baked Beans Ingredients
While there are many ways to prepare baked beans, every recipe has standard ingredients. They include:
Navy Beans
Also known as haricot beans, they are not toxic to dogs when cooked without any additional ingredients. If not available, dogs can eat lima beans as a substitute.
Individually, navy beans are safe for dogs when served in moderation and have many nutritional benefits. Fiber is highly present and can assist in solving a dog’s digestion issues. They also contain B vitamins which are important to your pup’s overall health.
Tomatoes
It has been a popular misconception that tomatoes are harmful to dogs. It is okay for your dog to have a bite of them but only in small quantities.
Sugar
It is not a toxic ingredient; however, vets do not recommend it in a dog’s diet. Excessive sugar can have lots of side effects on your canine’s health. Weight gain is a common problem for dogs that eat sugary meals and treats due to their lower tolerance for sugar.
Dogs can also become hyperactive after ingesting the ingredient.
Xylitol
It is a sweetener commonly used to prepare a sugar-free variety of baked beans. Though humans can process the compound, it is toxic to dogs.
Xylitol poisoning in dogs can be identified through the following symptoms:
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Liver failure
Garlic and Onion Powder
These are common seasonings and flavors used in preparing baked beans. Natural onion and garlic are dangerous to dogs, and their powdered form is more potent and can cause adverse effects.
Garlic and onion powder have n-propyl disulfide, which is a toxic compound. It is known for damaging a dog’s red blood cells and reducing the amount of oxygen they carry. The compound can also cause anemia in dogs.
Early signs of anemia are pale gums, black stool, and general body weakness. If you notice your dog is suffering from those symptoms, go to the vet for a diagnosis.
Can My Dog Die From Eating Baked Beans?
If you are used to feeding your dog baked beans regularly, they can get sick in the long term. Even worse is serving baked beans as the only meal; your dog could suffer malnutrition because of a lack of essential minerals available from other meals.
Nonetheless, if your dog has only eaten a handful of baked beans, nothing will probably happen, and you won’t need to make a trip to the vet.
Are Homemade Baked Beans Safe For Dogs?
Homemade baked beans can be safe for a dog if prepared the right way. Though it is not ideal to bake the beans before serving them to your dog, it will depend on their preparation.
How to Prepare and Serve Baked Beans
Since dogs can eat beans when prepared correctly, it is vital not to use the commercially available versions. You will need to prepare plain baked beans, as they are dog-friendly.
To prepare the baked beans, you will need to:
- Soak the beans overnight
- Boil them until they are cooked
- Place boiled beans in the oven without adding any spices and seasoning
You can opt to serve the beans as boiled because baking will remove some of their nutritional benefits. Allow the baked beans to cool and offer a tablespoon to your dog. You should then observe how it reacts. If your pup loves the meal, you can increase the amount you feed it. However, do not serve the meal regularly to your dog as its nutritional value is minimal.
Alternatives to Baked Beans
Many legumes are dog-friendly when prepared correctly. If you need a protein-rich meal to supplement either a homemade or commercial dog meal, consider the following:
- Black beans
- Lima beans
- Beans
Final Remark
Baked beans are not a good addition to a dog’s diet. The numerous ingredients used in their preparation are toxic to dogs. Also, they add little to no nutritional value to your pup’s diet. Your dog will be better off eating plain boiled beans.
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