Regarding veggies, you might think of offering your doggo bean sprouts because they are rich in nutrients, including minerals, vitamins, and much more. But can dogs eat bean sprouts? Are bean sprouts safe for dogs?
Growing up, we have all heard that dogs are a man’s best friend. It is certainly true, and dogs are loyal and loving pets. But, with a man’s best friend comes the huge responsibility of feeding your furry dog the right foods, including vegetables and fruits.
Also Read: Can dogs Eat Green Beans?
Just like us, dogs, too, need a balanced diet filled with nutrients that support their overall health. But to balance out its diet and meet your dog’s dietary requirements, you need to offer your dog a fair share of fruits and veggies and meat-based products.
Can Dogs Eat Bean Sprouts? To answer this question, let’s first look at what bean sprouts are and whether or not they are a good option for your dog.
What Are Bean Sprouts?
Bean sprouts are essentially tender and crisp roots that grow from beans. These contain a lot of water and have a crunchy texture. Bean sprouts are used as an ingredient in many foods, including salads and noodle soups.
Not only are bean sprouts low in calories, but they have a fresh flavor and add a crispy texture to your meals, making them a popular additive for many dishes. These can be made from a number of bean varieties, but the most commonly used include mung beans and soybeans.
Mung beans are native to the Asian parts of the world and have been made for hundreds of thousands of years. Later on, people started making bean sprouts in other parts of the world due to cultural diffusion.
Also Read: Can Dogs Eat Red Beans?
Interestingly, bean sprouts can be consumed in both cooked and uncooked forms. Ideally, when consuming raw bean sprouts, you need to ensure that they are fresh.
Cooked bean sprouts can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 months! This is surprising and makes bean sprouts ideal for your salads and soups, amongst other meals.
Now that you know what bean sprouts are let’s move toward our original question. Here is a detailed insight into everything you need to know about feeding bean sprouts to your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Bean Sprouts?
Can Dogs Eat Bean Sprouts? Absolutely yes! They are not poisonous or toxic to dogs in any way. Bean sprouts are made from mung bean and soybeans, both of which are safe for your dog to eat. Bean sprouts are extremely healthy for your furry friend.
Bean sprouts have over 800% more nutrition than other vegetables -thus making them an excellent source of nutrition. They contain a good amount of vitamins A, B, C, E and plenty of other essential minerals that improve your dog’s overall health.
However, you should know that bean sprouts are not supposed to be fed as a regular meal. They are only meant to be served as occasional treats, cooked or raw!
You shouldn’t worry about anything if you’re feeding bean sprouts to your dog as a treat only. Before you go ahead and offer your dog some, there are some key factors you need to consider.
These include:
- Bean sprouts are fiber-based foods. Due to this, dogs that have missing teeth may have a hard time chewing bean sprouts.
- In case of offering your furry friend large servings, he or she may consume large amounts without properly chewing them. Ultimately, this poses a choking risk for your pet so you shouldn’t offer large servings to your dog and make sure to keep an eye on it.
- Certain dogs are allergic to soybeans and sprouts made from soybeans. Before you go ahead and offer your bet soybean-based sprouts, make sure to rule out any allergies your dog might have.
Do Dogs Like Bean Sprouts?
Dogs can have bean sprouts, but do they even like eating bean sprouts? Well, for starters, it depends on your dog’s personal preference. Not all dogs are alike; some may like eating bean sprouts, whereas others may simply run away when they see them.
Now, generally speaking, we can assume that dogs may not be fond of eating bean sprouts. This is because dogs tend to like saltish and meaty flavors. Both of which are lacking in bean sprouts.
Since dogs tend to explore foods with their nose, it may be hard to push them toward trying bean sprouts.
However, your pet friend may like to eat the crunchy texture of bean sprouts. The crunchiness of bean sprouts is way different compared to other foods that dogs have – thus, bean sprouts may be tempting for your dog, and he or she may even end up liking it.
Also Read: Can Dogs Eat Black Beans?
Summing up, it all comes down to your dog’s personal preference. If your dog likes eating bean sprouts, you can add it to your pet’s diet. However, if your dog does not like eating bean sprouts, it is wise to go for alternatives rather than forcing it to eat them.
Are Bean Sprouts Bad For Dogs?
Fortunately, no! Bean sprouts are not bad for your dog and are generally considered a healthy snack. You may have noticed that we used the term snack here. This is because bean sprouts are an occasional treat and not a staple in your dog’s diet.
Your dog needs meat-based products along with other foods in its diet plan.
When offering your pet bean sprouts, you should remember that your dog’s diet can only comprise of 10% of treats. 90% of your pet’s diet should be from meat and other dog foods.
If you stick to the 10% rule, you should not worry about anything. Another important factor you need to consider when ensuring your dog’s safety with bean sprouts is to wash the sprouts carefully.
Raw bean sprouts may have harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli. It is crucial to wash them thoroughly to ensure no bacteria on the bean sprouts you are offering your doggo.
Moreover, if you’re still unsure, you can offer your dog cooked bean sprouts rather than raw ones. Cooking foods usually kills all of the bacteria from the foods thus making them absolutely safe.
On the other hand, when it comes to cooking bean sprouts, the ingredients you use while cooking determine whether bean sprouts are bad for your dog.
If you add toxic ingredients like onion and garlic or add too much salt, in that case, bean sprouts will be bad for your dog. Onion and garlic are toxic for dogs, whereas too much salt in your dog’s food leads to sodium poisoning.
Here are some symptoms of sodium poisoning to watch out for if you doubt that your dog is exposed to too much salt:
If your dog has any of these symptoms and you suspect sodium poisoning, you should get in touch with your vet as soon as possible. Sodium poisoning is potentially life-threatening and requires medical attention.
As a first aid measure, make sure to provide your doggo with plenty of water.
Are Bean Sprouts Good For Dogs?
Yes! Bean sprouts are good for your dog. They are considered a healthy snack for dogs, considering the fact that bean sprouts are rich in fiber.
Consuming fiber-based foods leads to an improvement in the gut health of your furry friend, which aids in healthy bowel movements.
Furthermore, bean sprouts have a very little amount of carbs and fats! This means that bean sprouts have a very minimal caloric count, so it will not affect your dog’s weight, and more importantly, it can be a good food option for overweight dogs.
Not only that, bean sprouts are also a rich source of antioxidants and vitamin C. Both of these help fight off free radicals and improve your pet’s immune system, which keeps your pet healthy and active. Apart from this, there are plenty of vitamins in bean sprouts as well.
So, as you can tell, bean sprouts are extremely good for dogs. In fact, even if you feed them as treats only, your dog will significantly benefit from the nutritional composition of bean sprouts.
Talking of the nutritional composition of bean sprouts, here is a detailed insight into the nutritional elements of bean sprouts.
Bean Sprouts – What Are The Nutritional Elements?
A 100-gram serving of bean sprouts has the following nutritional values:
| Nutrients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 116 Cal |
| Total fat | 6.9 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.4 g |
| Cholesterol | 2 mg |
| Total carbohydrates | 6.1 g |
| Dietary fiber | 3.3 g |
| Sugar | 2.8 g |
| Protein | 9.8 g |
| Calcium | 56 mg |
| Iron | 2.8 mg |
| Potassium | 299 mg |
| Vitamin A | 11 mcg |
| Vitamin B1 | 0.099 mg |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.188 mg |
| Vitamin B3 | 0.589 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.156 mg |
| Vitamin C | 6.3 mg |
| Vitamin E | 0.50 mg |
| Vitamin K | 22.6 mcg |
| Vitamin K1 | 22.6 mcg |
| Choline | 28.0 mcg |
| Magnesium | 48.0 mg |
| Phosphorus | 132 mg |
| Sodium | 127 mg |
| Zinc | 0.78 mg |
| Selenium | 3.80 mcg |
| Vitamin B9 – Folate | 40 mcg |
As you can see from the list, your dog can benefit from plenty of minerals and vitamins. To understand how these vitamins and minerals from bean sprouts can help your dog, let’s look at the health benefits in the next section.
Bean Sprouts Health Benefits For Dogs
Here’s how your dog can benefit from simply eating bean sprouts as part of a regular balanced diet:
1. Helps Improve The Immune System In Dogs:
The vitamin C and A content in bean sprouts essentially strengthens and improves your dog’s immune system. Ideally, the vitamin A content in bean sprouts supports your dog’s immune system by creating a layer of protection in the form of mucus around the lungs.
Since the lungs are protected, your dog will be less susceptible to lung-based diseases. Furthermore, the vitamin A content also ensures healthy organ function of your doggo. It also helps your dog improve its skin and eye health, both of which are crucial for dogs.
2. Rich Source Of B Vitamins:
As you can tell from the nutritional profile of bean sprouts, there are a wide number of B vitamins. Here is an insight into B vitamins from bean sprouts and how they can benefit your dog.
Vitamin B9 – Folate:
Vitamin B9 or folate leads toward the production of healthy red blood cells in your dog’s body. With increased red blood cell production, it also supports better cell growth and cell function. Furthermore, it also supports good eye health:
Vitamin B6:
Vitamin B6 is crucial for maintaining a balance of hormonal values and supporting your dog’s nervous system. Here is an insight into what benefits your dog can receive from vitamin B6:
3. Rich Source Of Vitamin C:
Vitamin C is crucial for dogs just like us. It is an essential antioxidant that provides your dog with a number of benefits including:
Although dogs have the capability of producing vitamin C in their liver, but it is best to offer them vitamin C based foods to aid with the vitamin C content in their body.
4. Helps Against Oxidative Damage:
Bean sprouts are a good source of vitamin E. Like C and B vitamins, vitamin E is crucial as it helps fight oxidative damage and alleviate its symptoms. Moreover, it also helps with the metabolism of fat and improves cell function as well.
Here is a detailed insight into what parts of your dog’s body can benefit from the vitamin E content:
5. Lowers The Risk Of Coronary Heart Disease:
Bean sprouts also serves as a source of vitamin K for your furry friend. Vitamin K is known to help lower the risks of coronary heart diseases by supporting the blood clotting capability in your dog.
Furthermore, topped with Iron, it aids the cells in your dog’s body in terms of producing energy. Iron essentially allows the cells in your dog’s body to carry oxygen efficiently, which aids in producing energy.
6. Strengthens Your Dog’s Bones And Teeth:
Bean sprouts are a rich source of certain minerals, including calcium and manganese. When your dog eats bean sprouts in a balanced amount, it will benefit from the calcium and manganese content which aids in strengthening the bones and teeth of your furry friend.
Furthermore, calcium helps improve your pet friend’s nails and hair. In the same way, manganese too plays an important role in terms of supporting joint cartilage and bones.
Ultimately, as your dog grows old, you will not have to worry about him/her getting weak.
How Can I Safely Give Bean Sprouts To My Dog?
Bean sprouts are perfect for dogs, specifically due to their nutrient profile. However, before tossing some bean sprouts in your dog’s food bowl, follow the instructions below to ensure your pet’s safety while serving bean sprouts.
Serve raw or cooked
Just like us, dogs, too, can eat bean sprouts in both cooked and uncooked forms. However, if you tend to feed your dog raw bean sprouts, wash them thoroughly to remove any bacteria or pesticide residue.
Alternatively, you can simply dice the bean sprouts and add them as an additive in dog foods. Avoid adding seasonings like salt or harmful additives like onion and garlic if serving cooked. Otherwise, it will make your pet’s digestive system suffer.
Make sure you keep the serving size minimum – Even though bean sprouts are extremely nutritious, you still need to keep the portions limited. Eating too many bean sprouts will make your furry friend gassy, specifically if you serve them cooked.
Offer them as a treat only
Bean sprouts can be incorporated in your pet’s balanced diet as long as you offer them as a treat only and never as a substitute of your dog’s primary meals.
Types Of Dog Safe Bean Sprouts
Wondering if your dog can eat all types or varieties of bean sprouts? Here’s everything you need to know regarding the types of dog safe bean sprouts:
Can Dogs Eat Mung Bean Sprouts?
Yes! Dogs can safely eat mung bean sprouts. Mung bean sprouts are super nutritious, and even in small servings as part of a regular diet, it will substantially improve your furry friend’s overall health.
Mung bean sprouts can be easily found in most superstores considering their popularity. Fortunately, mung beans are absolutely safe and will do no harm to your doggo as long as you offer them as a treat only.
On a side note, your dog may even love eating mung bean sprouts since they have a very crunchy texture.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Bean Sprouts?
Yes, absolutely! Dogs can eat raw bean sprouts with one condition you keep the serving sizes minimum. As mentioned earlier, feeding too much of raw bean sprouts to your furry friend will make it gassy and suffer from a general digestive upset.
Although it is nothing to be worried about and will be fixed in a couple of hours, but it is certainly not worth putting your doggo through the pains of gassiness. So, make sure you offer them in small amounts only.
Moreover, when serving raw bean sprouts, wash them thoroughly to remove harmful bacteria from them.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Bean Sprouts?
Yes, dogs can eat cooked bean sprouts. However, you should know that cooked bean sprouts will have a rather smaller amount of nutrients compared to raw bean sprouts.
On the other hand, cooked bean sprouts may be significantly safer than raw bean sprouts in terms of being free from bacteria and pesticides. So, you do not have to worry about bean sprouts making them sick.
Remember, when cooking bean sprouts for your furry friend, make sure to serve them plain, unsalted, and free from harmful additives. This is because adding salt and additives will expose your pet to sodium poisoning, amongst other types of poisonings.
Can Dogs Eat Bean Sprouts Leaves?
Yes! Dogs can eat bean sprout leaves. In fact, the leafy part of the bean sprouts is also filled with fibers, which can essentially support your doggo’s digestive system and gut health.
Although you might be tempted to offer high amounts of bean sprout leaves to your furry friend, considering how good they are for your dog’s digestive health, but you shouldn’t.
Stick to small serving sizes or the same fiber will harm your doggo. This is because consuming too many fibers will have a negative impact on your pet’s digestive system and lead to the following issues:
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Gastrointestinal complications
So, ensure to avoid feeding your furry friend too many bean sprout leaves.
Can Dogs Eat Alfalfa Sprouts?
Yes, dogs can eat alfalfa sprouts in small amounts. But is it recommended for dogs to eat alfalfa sprouts? Certainly not. This is because alfalfa contains phytoestrogens. These are essentially endocrine disruptors and may lead to thyroid complications.
Due to this, it is best to leave alfalfa sprouts alone. Alternatively, you can offer your dog mung bean sprouts that are not only safe for your doggo but also absolutely nutritious and healthy!
Can Dogs Eat Barley Sprouts?
Yes, barley sprouts are safe and dogs can eat them in small amounts. However, you should know that if your dog cannot take gluten or has celiac, it is best to avoid offering them barley sprouts as it contains a good amount of gluten.
But, if there are no allergic reactions to gluten, you can offer your dog small amounts of barley sprouts to bring variation in its diet!
Other Safe Alternatives Of Bean Sprouts To Dogs:
Bean sprouts are a good source of nutrition, but it is only meant to be served as an occasional
treat, and that, too, should not comprise more than 10% of your dog’s diet. Luckily, there are
plenty of other safe food options for dogs.
These include:
Final Thoughts | Can Dogs Eat Bean Sprouts?
Can dogs eat bean sprouts? Yes, they most certainly can! Dogs can enjoy bean sprouts both in raw and cooked form and enjoy the fiber content from bean sprouts. The only thing you need to consider is the serving portions, and make sure to keep them minimum and not too frequent.
When served in the right portions, your dog will benefit from the vitamins and mineral content of bean sprouts -thus supporting its overall health and protecting your doggo from diseases.
