Bean sprouts are a staple in stir fries and a crunchy, healthy topping for salads. Humans enjoy eating them and whatever humans are eating, dogs want to eat too, but can dogs eat bean sprouts safely or are they toxic?
Let’s take a closer look at whether bean sprouts are good for dogs or if they’ll make Rover sick.
Are Bean Sprouts Safe for Dogs to Eat?
Yes, bean sprouts are safe for dogs to eat if they’re unseasoned and given in moderate amounts. Bean sprouts are full of nutrients and they’re very easy to grow at home, so they’re an economic treat too.
Just one quick caveat, bean sprouts are notorious for food poisoning, so it’s best to cook them rather than eat them raw.
What are Bean Sprouts?
They’re soft bean roots!
When any bean germinates and begins the process of transforming itself into a parent plant, the first thing it does is push out a root to suck up water and nutrients. It’s this brand-new tender root with the bean still attached that we call a bean sprout.
All beans sprout out little roots and many are edible, but the most common type sold in stores are mung bean sprouts. Mung bean sprouts are quite large, crisp, and tasty, but it’s possible to buy alfalfa, fava, chickpea, black bean, and lentil sprouts too.
Although they’re often viewed as a new type of vegetable because they became popular in 1970’s vegetarian cookbooks, bean sprouts have been cultivated for thousands of years and were routinely used in traditional Chinese medicine over 5,000 years ago. They were first grown in the USA in 1830 and called Chickasaw peas.
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The Health Benefits of Bean Sprouts
Bean sprouts are packed with vitamins and nutrients that can help boost canine health. Here are some of the benefits:
- Vitamin C – essential for a strong immune system and quick healing
- Vitamin K – promotes healthy blood clotting and helps build protein and bone
- All the B vitamins – help turn food into energy
- Calcium – builds strong teeth, bones and nails
- Iron – makes red blood cells and fights tiredness
- Protein – builds and repairs muscles
- Peptides – are the building blocks of protein plus they boost skin and coat condition
- Fiber – essential for healthy bowels
Bean sprouts are also low-fat, so they make an excellent addition to dog meals or a tasty little treat to help with obedience training. They’re also fun to pop inside puzzle toys that keep anxious dogs entertained when you leave the house. This trick can help minimize destructive behavior.
Low-fat snacks are important because according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention overweight and obese dogs are becoming prevalent. Their latest research shows 56% of pet dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. Being overweight reduces your dog’s quality of life and it increases their risk of cancer or hypertension.
The Risks of Bean Sprouts for Dogs
Whilst bean sprouts are good for dogs there are a few risks to be aware of. The first is food poisoning.
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Food Poisoning
Bean sprouts are associated with food poisoning if they are raw or lightly cooked. It’s because they are grown in moist, damp conditions that can breed mold and bacteria like salmonella, e-coli, staph, and listeria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend thoroughly cooking bean sprouts before eating them.
Gastric Upsets
Because bean sprouts contain a lot of fiber, they may upset your dog’s stomach if they’re given in large amounts or if your pooch is sensitive to fiber. Gastric upsets can range from excess flatulence through to diarrhea and vomiting.
If your dog develops these symptoms give them lots of fresh water and small, easily digestible meals such as rice and chicken to soothe their stomach and stop that horrible hungry feeling.
To start off, it’s best to give dogs just a few bean sprouts and see how they cope with them before moving on to include them in meals or as treats.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Bean Sprouts?
Yes, dogs can eat raw bean sprouts, but do be wary and heed the CDC advice about bean sprouts and food poisoning. It’s best to cook them first.
The freshest ones make a clear snapping sound when you break them. Discard any slimy bean sprouts or greying individuals. They spoil very quickly, so it’s best to keep them in the refrigerator. Take bean sprouts out of any plastic they they are sold in because food poisoning can occur from the liquids that rot down in the packaging.
Don’t add any seasoning to bean sprouts or cook them in oil because not all seasonings are safe for dogs, and oil, fatty food can lead to distressing pancreatitis.
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Signs of Food Poisoning In Dogs
If your dog has eaten bean sprouts and develops the following food poisoning symptoms ask a vet for advice and mention they’ve eaten bean sprouts.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Tremors
- Collapse
- Gagging and retching
Treatment varies, but it’s much easier (and cheaper) to treat food poisoning early than wait until they become dehydrated. Plus, it’ll help your four-legged friend feel better sooner and who wouldn’t want that?
How Many Bean Sprouts Can a Dog Eat?
The ASPCA recommends treat food makes up no more than 10% of a dog’s daily intake. The rest should be a complete commercial dog food or a home made meal containing the right balance of nutrients. Bean sprouts can be added to their meal or given as treats throughout the day as part of a healthy diet.
Ways to Cook Bean Sprouts for Dogs
To avoid the risk of food poisoning, bean sprouts ought to be cooked. They don’t take very long because they’re small and mostly water, but to remove all bacteria they need to be hot the whole way through the sprout.
You can steam them and boil them, but it’s best to avoid sautéing and frying because these methods require oil and oil is fatty.
If you’d like to grow your own bean sprouts it’s very easy! Just follow these instructions:
- Buy fresh dried mung beans, fava beans, or black eye beans – all types of beans are suitable
- Soak them in water
- Place them in a dark, warm place to kick start germination
- If they dry out, mist them
- In a few days small white roots will appear – these are your bean’s sprouts.
- Long bean sprouts taste woody and bitter so eat them early
- Always wash them before eating.
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What Foods Are Dangerous For Dogs
Bean sprouts are a healthy source of nutrients for dogs, but here are some foods dogs must avoid because they are toxic.
Grapes – sweet grapes, raisins, juice, and wine are indigestible and can lead to organ failure.
Chocolate – its compounds are stimulants that put so much pressure on organs it can lead to collapse and death
Xylitol – an artificial sweetener that creates a huge drop in blood sugar and can lead to hyperglycaemia.
Macadamia nuts – lead to tremors, collapse, and organ failure because their compounds are toxic to dogs. Look out for cake and biscuits containing macadamia nuts.
Garlic – Garlic causes anemia in dogs by binding to red blood cells.
Onions – plus shallot, leeks, and chives have the same effect as garlic, binding to cells and causing anemia.
Black walnuts – have toxic-to-dogs compounds and grow a deadly type of mold that dogs can’t digest.
Avocado – the pectin in avocado leaves, skin, and stones are bad news for dogs who can’t digest the compounds. There’s less in the flesh, but it’s still best avoided.
Alcohol – ethanol in alcohol is highly toxic to dogs whether it’s beer, wine, spirits, cocktails, or food with alcohol in it.
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Can I Give My Dog Bean Sprouts?
The bottom line is yes, dogs can eat bean sprouts because they’re not toxic, contain lots of nutrients, and are very low fat too.
However, bean sprouts should be served up plain with no seasoning or oil and preferably cooked to avoid the risk of food poisoning.
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