Have you ever wondered if your dog can eat beans or chicken bones? Or, maybe you’re considering the best protein-rich treats for your dog. In this article, we’re talking all about protein-rich foods for dogs. Which ones can they eat, which ones should they avoid, and why?
What is the Best Protein-Rich Food For Dogs?
The best protein-rich foods for dogs are cooked, unseasoned meats such as chicken, turkey, and beef. Lean meats are best, especially if you’re planning to feed them regularly outside of your dog’s daily dog food.
Scraps of meat can make excellent treats, as most dogs find them incredibly tasty and high-value. They can motivate your dog through difficult tasks such as learning new cues or walking nicely on a leash.
That said, unlike cats, dogs are not obligate carnivores. They’re omnivores, just like humans. While meat should always be a dietary staple, dogs can also eat plant matter, including plant-sourced proteins.
Can Dogs Eat Beans?
Dogs can eat most types of beans in moderation, but too many may cause digestive issues, gas, obesity, or nutritional imbalances. No treat should ever make up more than 10% of your dog’s daily calories.
In addition, many types of raw beans are toxic to dogs, including raw kidney beans, lima beans, soybeans, and fava beans. To be safe, always feed dogs plain, cooked beans only. Don’t feed bean shells or pods, and don’t add any seasonings while cooking, as some spices are toxic to dogs.
Canned beans can also pose a problem due to their sodium content and are best avoided. Never feed any type of bean that has been seasoned with garlic or onion. Some healthy beans to feed your dog include:
- Green beans
- Black beans
- Lima beans
- Garbanzo beans
- Lentils
- Navy beans
- Pinto beans
- Soybeans
If your dog eats toxic raw beans or beans seasoned with toxic ingredients, such as garlic or onion powders, call a pet poison hotline or your nearest emergency vet clinic for help. We never want to “wait and see” when our dogs consume something toxic, as this wastes valuable time that can greatly improve their prognosis.
Can Dogs Eat Chickpeas?
Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are safe for dogs to eat in moderation. Like other beans, they should be served cooked and unseasoned. Chickpeas are high in fiber, which is generally good for the digestive system, but can cause stomach upset if your dog eats too much of them.
Avoid feeding your dog hummus, as it often contains unhealthy or toxic ingredients, such as garlic.
Can Dogs Eat Chicken Bones?
Dogs should not eat chicken bones or any other type of bone. Both raw and cooked chicken bones come with too many risks to be fed safely.
Cooked Chicken Bones
Chicken bones are hollow, and they can break easily. Cooked chicken bones become even more fragile, splintering when chewed. Splintered chicken bones can cause internal bleeding and damage to your dog’s digestive tract. In severe cases, their stomach may rupture or they may develop sepsis–a serious and often deadly infection.
Although dogs can typically digest bones well, there is also a risk of intestinal blockages, especially in puppies, whose digestive systems are narrower.
Raw Chicken Bones
Some people believe that the solution, then, is to feed chicken bones raw. However, you should never feed your dog raw meat or any bones. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) cautions that dogs can develop illnesses from bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. Coli, among others. There’s a myth that dogs can’t become seriously ill from these bacteria, but that isn’t true. They’re less likely to develop severe illness than humans, but dogs have died from eating raw meat.
The other issue, especially with bones that will come into contact with various surfaces in your home, is the danger to humans and other pets in the household. Babies and young children, immunocompromised people, and senior citizens are most at risk, but anyone can get sick from the potential pathogens in raw chicken bones.
As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) points out, even your dog licking your face after enjoying a raw bone could cause illness.
Raw bones can also get caught at the top of your dog’s mouth more easily, which can cause injuries. Both raw and cooked chicken bones pose a choking risk, especially for puppies.
Can Dogs Eat Dairy Products?
Dairy products, such as milk or cheese, are typically safe for dogs in small quantities but can cause problems if fed in large amounts. Some dogs are lactose intolerant, so you should stop feeding dairy if you notice your dog having stomach issues after eating it.
Always check the ingredients before feeding. Seasonings such as garlic and onion powders, as well as the sweetener xylitol (also known as birch sugar), are toxic to dogs.
Feed dairy in small amounts only, and keep the combined calories from dairy and other treats to under 10% of your dog’s daily diet.
Since dairy products contain high amounts of fat, they can contribute to obesity or even pancreatitis if consumed in large amounts.
Can Dogs Eat Eggs?
Dogs can eat cooked chicken, duck, or quail eggs, but they should not be fed raw. Raw eggs pose many of the same risks as raw bones or meat, which we discussed above.
When cooking eggs for your dog, they can be prepared in various ways, including baking, frying, boiling, or scrambling. The important thing is not to add additional ingredients such as oils, butter, salt, or other seasonings. Especially not toxic seasonings!
An entire egg can be a lot for a dog, especially for smaller breeds, so it may be better to cook a small piece separately from your own food so that you can keep it plain.
Scrambled eggs can be a healthy food topper to encourage your dog to eat their meals, too! Always check with your veterinarian if your dog has a lowered appetite, as this can be a sign of an illness.
