Can Dogs Eat Garbanzo Beans – Yay or Nay?

Garbanzo beans, or chick peas, are incredibly healthy for people to eat and they are popular as hummus, in stews or soups, and in other recipes. These legumes are packed with protein and make a great snack, but can you share them with your dog? In short, the answer is yes, but you need to be careful to keep them plain and simple.

Feeding a dog hummus or other food with garbanzo beans included can make your dog sick because of the added ingredients. Uncooked garbanzo beans are also bad for dogs and can cause indigestion. It is important if you feed garbanzo beans to dogs that are fully cooked and not mixed with anything.

This food should be fed to dogs in moderation, like everything else. They are very filling, so as a responsible owner you should only give your dog small portions occasionally keeping in mind your dog’s size. For example, don’t feed a tiny dog a large service of chick peas every day, or they will likely become overweight pretty fast.

Overweight dogs are at the risk of several health problems like diabetes and hyperthyroidism so it is important to feed dogs these kinds of foods in moderation, especially if they are getting a complete diet from a high quality dry dog food.

Why Do They Need to be Plain?

When garbanzo beans are used to make hummus and other recipes they are usually mixed with other ingredients that could be unhealthy for your dog. These ingredients could be processed ingredients, spices, garlic, lemon juice or onions.

Beans in general are okay for dogs to eat and make a healthy snack, but they should be properly cooked and natural. If you aren’t sure the best thing to do is buy them canned or cook them yourself. This way, if you want to you can add your own ingredients for yourself and keep some of the plain stuff separate for your dog.

Keep in mind that while natural garbanzo beans are high in fiber and protein, plus low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, canned garbanzo beans are actually high in sodium. Before feeding a dog canned garbanzo beans, make sure you rinse them off to reduce the salt content.

Excess salt in a dog’s blood can cause conditions like hypernatremia. Symptoms of hypernatremia include come, seizures, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Can Garbanzo Beans Cure My Dog’s Constipation?

No, garbanzo beans are not a cure for constipation. They can, however, help treat it since they are high in protein and fibre. Feeding them to a constipated dog could help, but it needs to be done in proportion to the dog’s size and not for an extended period or along with several other methods.

This goes for just about any type of bean and other high fiber foods like mashed pumpkin. As an occasional snack, these foods can also help promote healthy digestive system. For the most part, when a dog is constipated it is important to make sure they stay hydrated and see if it will pass on its own in a day or so.

Other remedies that exist to help relieve dog constipated are laxatives specifically made for pets (to be used with caution), switching to canned food for a couple of days to increase a dog’s moisture consumption, and adding a little bit of olive oil to your dog’s food. Exercise can also play a role in keeping a dog’s bowel movements regular.

Alternatives to Raw Garbanzo Beans

Still not sure about feeding garbanzo beans to your dog?

There are high quality, grain-free dry dog food blends out there that include healthy meat protein as the first ingredient and also incorporate chick peas as a healthy source of carbohydrates for dogs. One of these is Merrick Grain Free Real Venison + Chickpeas Recipe, their Rabbit + Chickpeas Recipe, or Evolve Grain-Free Duck, Chickpea & Sweet Potato Recipe.

These dry dog food blends good way to feed a dog garbanzo beans without having to worry about extra ingredients, overdoing it, or messing up your dog’s nutritional levels accidentally.

Conclusion

If you feel your dog high quality dog food on a regular schedule and avoid giving them processed foods, their digestive systems should stay healthy, even though constipation may happen occasionally. If your dog is constipated over an extended period you should consider bringing them to the vet to rule out any potential health issues.

Garbanzo beans, or chick peas, can be used in small portions to help with your dog’s digestion if they seem to be constipated, or as a healthy snack to maintain their digestive health. The important thing is that owners make sure they are fully cooked or plain, otherwise it could backfire and make their dog even more sick.

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Do you feed your dog garbanzo beans? Share your tips and experiences in the comments below.