Original Article: https://www.dogster.com/dog-nutrition/can-dogs-eat-edamame-beans

Our canine companions always want some of whatever we’re eating, no matter what it is. And while it’s fine to feed your pet a bite of your food occasionally, it shouldn’t be done often, and you shouldn’t do so with all foods. Some food is simply not safe for dogs to consume. But what about edamame beans? Can dogs eat edamame beans?

Yes, dogs can eat edamame as they are non-toxic to canines. However, you shouldn’t feed your pet edamame beans in large quantities, or too often as there are a couple of minor risks involved with this food. Here’s everything you need to know before giving edamame beans to your pup.

Why Can Dogs Eat Edamame Beans?

Edamame beans are safe for most dogs to eat as they are non-toxic to canines, and we know they are packed with beneficial vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately any nutritional benefits will be negligible since dogs can’t eat edamame in large quantities or often enough. Even so, as far as snacks go, edamame beans are a healthier choice for your pup than potato chips!

Benefits of Feeding Edamame Beans to Dogs

What are the potential health benefits edamame beans can offer your dog?

Edamame beans contain lots of healthy polyunsaturated fats, including omega-6 fatty acids, which are excellent for a dog’s health. Healthy fats such as these help improve the health of your pup’s coat and skin.

Dogs need plenty of protein in their diet, and edamame packs quite the protein punch. Just a half-cup of this food has approximately 9 grams of protein. However, you want to ensure you aren’t giving your pet an overabundance of protein on a daily basis, so stick to the general rule of 1 tablespoon of edamame beans for every 10 pounds your pup weighs, no more than once or twice per week.

Finally, edamame beans are rich in fiber, which is needed in a dog’s diet to help regulate the digestive system and keep it working as it should.

So, although your dog can only eat a small amount of edamame beans, they will receive small amounts of nutritional benefits if you choose it as a snack.

Risks of Feeding Edamame Beans to Dogs

Though edamame beans are safe for dogs to consume, they aren’t entirely without risks.

The main risk of edamame beans is that they’re soy, and some canines are allergic to soy. Obviously, if you know your dog has problems with soy, you shouldn’t give them edamame beans. But if you aren’t sure if your pup is allergic to soy, you should proceed carefully and keep a close eye on your pet when you give them edamame beans for the first time. If your dog is allergic, you may see signs like diarrhea, lots of scratching, vomiting, or rashes.

Edamame also contains fiber, as mentioned above. Wait, but isn’t that good? Well, dogs do need fiber in their diet, but if they’re getting an excess of fiber, it could cause gassiness, diarrhea, vomiting, or even bloating. Just be careful that adding a few edamame beans to your pet’s diet isn’t causing them to consume excess fiber, and they should be fine.

Edamame bean pods are tough, chewy, and stringy, which causes them to be a choking hazard, particularly for smaller dogs. Their toughness can also cause them to be difficult to digest, so they could cause digestive issues. Be on the safe side and remove the beans from their pods before giving them to your dog. In small dogs, you can smash the beans before giving them to your dog to reduce the chance of choking.

Finally, only give your pet plain edamame beans! Edamame beans that have been seasoned could prove dangerous to your pup. If they are very salty and your dog consumes a lot of them, they have the potential to cause salt toxicity.  If they’ve been seasoned with something like garlic, they could be fatal, as garlic and other members of the Allium family are toxic to canines. And edamame bean snacks that have been highly processed will simply be unhealthy for your dog.

How Should I Give Edamame Beans to My Dog?

You can serve this food cooked or raw as long as you’ve removed the tough outer shell of edamame beans and smashed them before giving them to your dog. However, if you cook the edamame beans, ensure you do not season them. This means no oil, no salt, no anything! Just boil them in water or steam them and serve them plain.

Also, remember that if you aren’t sure how your dog will react to soy, you should start with only a couple of edamame beans to see how your pet handles this new food.

Conclusion

Edamame beans are safe for most dogs, though they shouldn’t have this food in large quantities. If your dog is allergic to soy (or might be), this is a food you want to avoid. If you give edamame beans to your pet, they’ll receive some nutritional benefits, though you have to be careful of a few things when feeding them this food. Always serve edamame beans plain, remove the outer shell, and don’t feed your pet too many. As long as you give this to your pet in a safe manner, though, they’ll be fine and will likely enjoy the edamame beans!

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Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

Source: Dogster