Our love for bean sprouts has only grown stronger over the years, thanks to the long list of health benefits they offer. Add in salads, use in stir-fries, Asian pasta dishes, or any other recipe of your choice. We just can’t get enough of them! But do they make a favorite treat for pups? Can dogs eat bean sprouts?
Yes, dogs can eat bean sprouts. Bean sprouts make a safe and healthy occasional treat for pups and are rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E, all essential for a dog’s overall health. However, like with any other treat, sticking to precautions is the best way to evade trouble.
Could you be wondering whether it’s okay to make bean sprouts part of your dog’s diet? Not sure whether bean sprouts are healthy for your Fido? Well, out of our love for fur babies, we crafted this article just for you. Herein, expect to know everything that relates to dogs eating bean sprouts. Are they safe for dogs? How do you prepare bean sprouts for canines? How much should you give to your dog? Can bean sprouts cause your dog to fall ill? We have all this and more lined up for you. Let’s dive in straight away!
Can Puppies Eat Bean Sprouts?
Yes, puppies and mature dogs can eat bean sprouts and will benefit from them. The vitamins and other nutrients in bean sprouts help puppies grow healthy. Only be sure to offer bean sprouts in the correct quantities and only as an occasional treat.
As a dog owner, you probably know that puppies shouldn’t eat adult dog food. Sure, giving your younger canine food to older dogs won’t make them sick. However, usually, it doesn’t contain enough nutrients to help them grow healthy.
You see, puppies need food very rich in proteins, something a mature dog food won’t offer. Older furry friends need about 18% of their diet to be proteins. Puppies need a much larger number at 29%.
The little lads are growing, and protein is the nutrient to help them build muscles and develop as they advance in days. In fact, if you regularly give your puppy adult dog food in place of the food specially made for young canines, you risk stunting their growth. The food can also expose them to a series of health issues. So yes, if you can, avoid adult dog food for puppies at all costs.
However, that’s not the case for bean sprouts. They are an occasional snack and not a substitute for your dog’s regular food. And as a rule of thumb, any treat should account for at most 10% of a dog’s daily caloric intake.
Assuming that you follow this rule (which you will later discover to be too much to give to a dog), there remains a 90% for the regular food. So yes, unless given as regular food, your young furry friend can still enjoy healthy puppy food alongside bean sprouts.
Mung Bean Sprouts
Yes, dogs can eat mung bean sprouts. A little bit of mung bean sprouts added to your dog’s regular diet will go a long way to improve the eye and skin health of your adorable canine. So yes, if you are thinking of offering mung bean sprouts to your dog, go ahead.
Mung bean sprouts are readily available in most grocery stores. Just walk into the nearby grocery, and mung bean sprouts are most likely the variety that meets your eye first. They are the most common type. That’s why when we hear about bean sprouts, what comes to our mind first is the mung variety.
One surefire thing dogs love about mung sprout beans is their crunchy consistency. As such, if your dog loves to munch on vegetable treats, expect them to appreciate mung bean sprouts, too! They may even end up becoming your dog’s favorite treat with time.
Bean Sprout Leaves
Yes, dogs can eat bean sprout leaves. That leafy part is high in fiber, so it’s good for a dog’s digestive health. But keep in mind that too much fiber can cause constipation, bloating, and other gastrointestinal issues.
Dogs need foods rich in fiber, just like humans. Fiber-rich meals will soften and increase the bulk of a dog’s stool, reducing the chances of constipation and making it easier for the mass to pass through the gastrointestinal tract.
Sure, the bean sprouts alone can provide enough fiber for your dog. But for canines that need more than what those germinated seeds can offer, bean sprout leaves will come in handy.
Are Bean Sprouts Safe for Dogs?
Yes, bean sprouts are generally safe for dogs since they don’t contain anything toxic in them. They can still cause issues for canines, but that is unlikely to happen if you stick to precautions.
Firstly, bean sprouts will work best for dogs only when you offer them in tiny amounts. That’s the case for any other snack. But be warned- canines find bean sprouts tasty, and that could ignite an irresistible urge for them to ask for more. Just don’t give in. It’s all for your peace of mind and that of your canine.
Secondly, presentation matters. I mean, how you give the bean sprouts can determine whether they are going to cause harm to your pup. That’s where you have to embrace the traditional standard way of giving your canine a snack like bean sprouts.
When offering dogs bean sprouts the first time, begin with a small amount. Tiny quantities are the best to test and see if your canine will develop any adverse effects from the snack. If they don’t, slowly increase the amount to the recommended levels. That way, your dog will reap all benefits of eating bean sprouts without facing any issues.
How Are Bean Sprouts Healthy for Dogs?
Bean sprouts are healthy for dogs in that they help boost their immune system, improve vision, and promote healthy skin and coat.
With all these benefits and others not mentioned, if you want your dog healthy but aren’t willing to take the expensive route of achieving that, sprinkling bean sprouts offer a reliable and less expensive alternative.
Bean sprouts contain vitamins A, B, C, and E, just as aforesaid. We all know that Vitamin A is essential for eye health, but it also helps in cell division, immunity, and reproduction. This nutrient also contains antioxidants to prevent cell damage from free radicals. So yes, it does much for dogs!
Vitamin B helps in the assimilation of protein and fat. But again, if you just noticed that your dog seems to attract fleas and ticks more than usual, this is the nutrient to keep them at bay. Dogs can’t make vitamin B independently, so they need to get them from foods such as bean sprouts.
Vitamin C works much like vitamin A in that it contains antioxidant properties to help slow cell damage and aging. And just so you know, much like you and me, fur babies want to remain younger and energetic for many years. And yes, bean sprouts will somewhat do them that favor.
Bean sprouts also boast a rich content of amino acids, healthy fats, and calcium. Your canine needs each of these nutrients. The list of nutrients doesn’t end there. But with the little we’ve covered here, it’s clear that bean sprouts are a superfood for canines.
So yes, dogs need these tasty treats. In fact, they need them so much. But how much should you give your dog? Well, we still have that coming later on in the article. Let’s first see how to prepare this tasty treat for dogs.
How Do You Prepare Bean Sprouts for Dogs?
Preparing bean sprouts for dogs requires that you use fresh bean sprouts first. You can tell that bean sprouts are fresh by looking at them. Fresh ones are white and shiny with yellow tips. Avoid brownish bean sprouts or any that smells musty as they aren’t the best for dogs.
Another way to confirm the freshness of bean sprouts is by snapping them into two. When you break a fresh bean sprout into two, it should produce a sharp snapping sound. If that’s not what you get, know you aren’t getting the freshest of produce.
To play it safe, always go for the newly-harvested bean sprouts. One thing to keep in mind is that bean sprouts spoil faster than most dog snacks. As such, only settle for garden-fresh bean sprouts at the grocery store. Again, keep them refrigerated all the time if you want your canine to enjoy the utmost glory of the treat in every bite.
How Do I Feed Bean Sprouts To My Dog?
Feeding bean sprouts to a dog requires one to begin with the smallest amount possible and then increase it slowly with time as the dog’s digestive system gets used to the treat. And as a general rule of thumb, before introducing anything new to a dog, first consult the vet.
If it’s the first time you want to give a dog bean sprouts, begin by ensuring that they are healthy. You don’t want to give your dog any “foreign” food when its health is already in a compromised state. So yes, confirm that their health is up to par to avoid worsening any possible condition.
You can sprinkle this treat on your dog’s regular food. Actually, combining bean sprouts with your dog’s favorite food is one way to make your dog love them right from day one. It’s still the route to follow if you have a picky eater.
Alternatively, you can offer bean sprouts as an independent snack. Most dogs won’t have any issue eating the treat alone. It’s up to you to choose what seems to work best for your furry friend.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Bean Sprouts?
Yes, dogs can and should eat raw bean sprouts. Only ensure that they do not contain dirt, bacteria, or any other disease-causing elements. Again, dogs shouldn’t eat bean sprouts containing harmful chemicals like insecticides.
Raw bean sprouts are super-rich in nutrients. Cooking makes food lose some valuable nutrients, so bean sprouts are best packed with nutrients when raw. But again, heat kills bacteria in the food. So, for your dog to enjoy raw bean sprouts, ensure that they are bacteria-free.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Bean Sprouts?
Yes, dogs can eat cooked bean sprouts. They may not contain as many nutrients as the raw variety, but they still pack a punch. Only keep them plain and unsalted so that they don’t cause more harm than good for your adorable pup.
Boiling bean sprouts won’t rob them of lots of nutrients, as one may think. In fact, as aforesaid, cooking helps kill bacteria and other potentially harmful elements. As such, cooked bean sprouts are the safest for dogs to eat.
And when you opt for the cooked variety, be careful with what you add to the sprouts. Salt, garlic, spicy sauces, onions, and other harmful ingredients are all a no-no. Without any of these, your dog will reap maximum benefit from bean sprouts without developing issues from them.
How Much Bean Sprouts Are Too Much For Dogs?
At the time of writing, there is no standard amount of bean sprouts that your dog should safely eat, nor a known amount that can cause issues for your dog. You have to monitor your dog closely to see what quantity works best.
While super-rich in nutrients, bean sprouts don’t contain a lot of calories. A cup of this treat packs about ten calories. That’s too low to cause obesity. And with that said, you can’t use the 10% rule for treats to determine how much bean sprouts your dog should eat.
You see, why you have to get the quantity right all the time isn’t all about obesity. Dogs can develop gastrointestinal complications when they take plenty of anything. Even a seemingly small amount of bean sprouts can cause serious digestive issues.
So yes, always offer this treat in minimal quantities that won’t cause your canine gastrointestinal problems.
Are Bean Sprouts Bad for Dogs?
Usually, bean sprouts aren’t bad for dogs if given in moderate amounts. They are healthy and low in calories, and that makes them a perfect snack for pups. However, like anything else, they will stir up trouble when offered in large quantities.
True, the benefits of feeding your dog bean sprouts outweigh the risks. But again, it’s worth acknowledging that the very healthy treat can turn harmful to dogs, especially when we take the feeding precautions lightly.
Bacteria is the other potential danger of feeding dogs bean sprouts. And as said, you are more likely to find it in the raw variety. If you have to give your pup uncooked bean sprouts, clean them thoroughly with clean water.
Will My Dog Get Sick If He Eats Bean Sprouts?
It’s unlikely that your dog will get sick after eating bean sprouts. There are still possible dangers of dogs eating bean sprouts, but no single meal will work safely for all dogs all the time.
Dogs may develop an upset stomach, loose stool, and other gastrointestinal issues from bean sprouts, but the chances of that happening are very minimal.
And just in case the unexpected happens, cease giving the dog bean sprouts at once and monitor them closely. Visit the vet if things don’t seem to get any better. The doctor will perform a few tests before adopting the most appropriate treatment strategy.
Can Sick Dogs Eat Bean Sprouts?
Yes, it is okay for sick dogs to eat bean sprouts. Dogs that have kidney, liver, or heart complications will benefit from bean sprouts. If your canine has inflammatory or allergy problems, incorporating bean sprouts into their diet will, in a great way, improve their overall health.
But again, it neither comes without a caveat – bean sprouts don’t work best for every sickness. Sometimes you will need to keep them as far as possible from your pup. A case in point is when dealing with sick canines having super-sensitive digestive systems.
Also, before you sprinkle this treat on your dog’s regular food, remember that it is high in fiber. And as aforesaid, fiber is good, but it can cause digestive issues. As such, just be sure that your pup doesn’t end up with a lot of it in their body systems. If you feed your pup any other fiber-rich food, it’s best to opt for another snack.
