Quick answer – yes. A dog can eat a meal of black beans as the legumes are relatively healthy for the dog. Black beans are a great source of vitamins C and K, manganese, protein, and fiber. Do not feed dogs salted black beans; only give the ones which are freshly-cooked and unsalted. Before you cook the beans, soak them overnight. When they’re ready, present them to your dog.

Dogs, Beans, And Viability

There are many types of beans, and black beans are just one of them. The one thing you may be knowing is that beans will give anyone gas. Also, some types of beans may have adverse reactions towards your dog.

This article gives particular focus to beans. You will get to know the safe types and the dangerous ones. You will also understand what to be on the lookout for when you bring dogs and beans together. In the end, you will be opened up to some info about proteins.

Can Dogs Eat Them?

While some types of beans may be great for the dog, you need to put a limit on the number of legumes to be eaten. Because of their high fiber content, dogs can get terrible gas just by consuming them. 

Beans For Our Canine Friends: All You Should Know

Generally speaking, beans are one of the best foods that your dog can take. Because of their protein content, they will help dogs have stronger muscles. Also, they contribute to blood sugar regulation. However, not all types of beans are suitable. Here are some of the beans that your dog should never eat (keep reading to find out why they are a NO-NO for your dogs).

Make These Beans Adversaries Of Your Dogs
Baked	Chili
Coffee	Raw Kidney
Canned	Refried

Kidney Beans: Can Dogs Eat Them?

These are okay for the dog because their antioxidant content helps the canines maintain high levels of healthy cholesterol. However, and as captured on the table, you should not feed them raw kidney beans. Before the beans come near the dog’s muzzle, they should first be cooked.

The beans contain PHA or phytohemagglutinin, a lectin (carbohydrate-binding proteins) that can trigger some poisonous symptoms like lethargy, vomiting, drooling, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. If any of the mentioned symptoms and signs start showing as soon as your dog eats raw kidney beans, you should get the canine to the nearest available vet.

Pinto Beans: Can Dogs Eat Them?

Like kidney beans, you can feed your dog with pinto beans. They can help your dog feel full for a long time and assist in digestion. Also, they help in dealing with bacteria, not to mention their high magnesium content that helps in the absorption of vitamin C.

Avoid canned or raw pinto beans – always cook them at home. This is because you control the amount of salt and spices to which your dog will be opened up.

Beans For Dog: More Of Them

Out there, you will find so many different bean types, and most of them won’t be good for your dog. Here follows a quick rundown that talks about some bean types and their safety status:

More Beans (Safety Or Unsafety Details)
Type	Details
Broad beans	In the pet food market, you will also find them being called fava beans. They should be avoided because they have PHA, which can poison the dog.
Butter beans	They also go by the name lima beans and are particularly good for the dog, especially when dealing with diabetes. Always get the beans cooked before serving them.
Chili beans	These should never make it anywhere near the dog’s muzzle. Many times, they contain onions and garlic, which are quite toxic. Giving out any spicy foods will trigger GI problems.
Coffee beans	Like chili beans, coffee beans should not be given to dogs. This is because of the caffeine contained.
Navy beans	It is perfectly okay to feed dogs with navy beans
Red beans	These are the ones that go by the name kidney beans and are only safe if cooked. As already mentioned, the red ones are toxic.
White beans	If you didn’t know, there are two different types of white beans, the cannellini and the Great Northern ones. Both are safe, but they need to be cooked at home under your supervision.
Green beans	These are safe for dogs.

Baked Beans: Can Dogs Eat Them?

Baked beans should never be served to your dog. Firstly, many cans of baked beans and even homemade ones are quite sugary. This means the dog can develop both weight gain and blood sugar issues.

Some baked beans have onion and garlic, which will wreak a lot of havoc once they are in the dog’s system. So, the best (or better) thing to do is just to get some fresh beans and serve them as a treat.

Refried Beans: Can Dogs Eat Them?

Do not let the dog eat any meals that have any refried beans. This is because refried beans are usually canned, meaning that they come with so many preservatives that may not be healthy for the dogs.

Also, another reason to keep the refried beans away from the dog is that many of them have garlic, canola oil, and spices like salt, cumin, and chili powder. Read here to know how hard the species can be on the stomach of your dog.

Best Proteins For Dogs (A Scientific Touch)

Beans are mostly classified as proteins, and so we’re about to go protein all the way. Although arguable, protein is the most crucial part of a dog’s diet, and more so than that of a cat.

If you make rounds in pet food stores, you will realize that there are many available options in terms of protein sources for your dog. In that case, the more important question is – which is the best protein type? This article will present to you the different types of protein that dogs can have. It will also place them, in terms of ranking, according to the nutritional value they provide.

Since up to 70% of what your dog eats is protein, it must be obtained from a quality, healthy source. Let’s see what’s in store!

The Important Amino Acids

To put it most simply, proteins are made of amino acids, you know, the material building up to the nutrient. All the amino acids are 20, but dogs only need 10 (vital amino acids). By essential, we mean that bodies of mammals (like dogs) need those to produce proteins, and if they are not present, one may need supplements or diet. The following table shows the important amino acids – the ten – that dogs need:

Amino Acids That Dogs Need
Valine Tryptophane Threonine Phenylalanine Methionine	Lysine LeucineIsoleucine Histidine Arginine

Although some of the acids do get more attention and recognition than the other ones, they are essential for the dog to remain fit and healthy. Imagine amino acids as being part of a chain, and so, when any one is absent, the ‘chain’ cannot operate efficiently and correctly. In the scientific world, such amino acids are called the limiting types of amino acids. 

Amino Acids: The Roles They Play

Although amino acids operate together like a chain, each of them has a specialized function. For example, histidine helps the body to make the crucial element, histamine. If you know about allergies, you know that histamine forms an immunity-related response that protects the body from non-body, foreign items like bacteria and allergens. Without histamine, the body lacks its first defense line, meaning that the dog will be left exposed to infections and illnesses. Also, histidine is involved in the making of hemoglobin, the item that carries oxygen in the red blood cells throughout the entire bloodstream.

Another common amino acid is known as Lysine, and it helps in the production of collagen. As a form of material, collagen makes up cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. Also, it helps in promoting healthy nails, skin, and hair. The amino acid helps in carnitine production, which takes care of regulating metabolic processes and allows the dog’s body to build muscle and burn fat.

All the other needed amino acids help in functional maintenance – from taking care of hormonal releases, cognitive functioning, and digestive health to healing little skin abrasions.

Amino Acids: Their Dietary Sources

The dietary (or in-diet) sources of all the needed amino acids within the group of foods we know as proteins. The highest concentration of amino acids is present in animal proteins and the lowest in grain, vegetable, and legume (beans) proteins. Something noteworthy is that proteins from different eggs and meats have full-profile amino acids in impressively favorable ratios. This implies that they have all the crucial amino acids in adequate proportions. At the same time, the plant-based sources are limited – they need combination with animal proteins to provide all the essentials. This should tell you that it is essential to give high-quality food to your dog.

Foods like wheat, soy, and corn have fewer needed amino acids, more so if they have undergone processing. When grain is milled, all its amino acids are removed because they are usually found in the hull or skin.

Pet food, which is low in quality, has animal proteins, but the nature of meat and its processing affects the nutrient content, including the amino acids. Rendered meats (like chicken and other meals) and by-products do not have the needed amino acids needed for the pet to thrive. When you go for high-quality food, your pet will enjoy the richness in terms of proteins.

Protein And Its Metabolism

As already mentioned, amino acids are the parts of the whole protein. They play a significant role in the internal functions of the pet’s system. If some protein remains unused, it will either be used as energy or broken down, packaged and stored – the metabolism will depend on the calories that the dog takes in. The amino acids which remain unused are passed to the urine.

So, if your pet – cat or dog – is enjoying a diet with high protein content, you must provide water in high quantities. Protein metabolism needs a lot of water, so it is imperative that the pets remain hydrated. Apart from water, you can also provide high-water veggies and fruits.

Protein And Bioavailability

There’s more to the protein numbers and percentages you see labeled on your pet’s food. What is given there is only a rough idea about the raw, crude protein contained. Commercial food manufacturers don’t tell you that the labeled details do not indicate the much protein in the food that the dog can metabolize and utilize. Although the labels of dog, cat, and many pet foods may show something like 20% in terms of raw protein, some of that won’t be used by the pet. Whatever is going to be digested brings us to the attention of the word bioavailability. Simply put, it is the actual biological value of the constituent proteins.

Some foods whose protein is animal-based are more biologically valuable than, say, cooked food. When the meat is subjected to cooking, the extreme temperatures reduce the protein amount that the dog will use.

If food is either frozen, free-dried, raw, or dehydrated, it retains most of its biological values. Those groups of foods are followed swiftly by -baked foods. Then, the foods with the least bioavailability are the ones that undergo high-temp processing. Drier kibble goes through the high-temp extrusion process, which causes the sensitive-to-heat amino acid chains to lose form, reform, and get connected to carbohydrates. They then become unusable or less usable for some crucial internal body processes.

Protein In Dog Food: Some Of The Best Sources

The sources listed and explained in this section have a high bioavailability. Each has the ten amino acids needed for a canine to have the best health. If you get any commercial dog foods have these protein source in their top 5 – 6 components or ingredient, those are likely to be the high-quality kind of dog foods. Let’s get rolling.

1. Whole Eggs – Bioavailability: 100

With such a high biological value, eggs take first place in terms of protein quality. Being one of the best, most reliable sources of amino acids for dogs, eggs are effortless to digest. For all that biological value, it is quite impressive that whole eggs are easily accessible (because of their cheapness). So, it is an ingredient that you will never miss in both cat and dog foods.

2. Turkey/Chicken – Bioavailability: 79

Of all the fresh types of meat, fowl meat – specifically, turkey and chicken – is the most biologically valuable. The only issue that chicken has is the allergies it triggers in many dogs.

To mitigate your dog’s chances of getting any allergies, you should change the primary source of protein in the food your pet eats every couple of months. Although it is less common fowl meat, duck is also rich in proteins. If yours is a puppy, you can reduce the risk of allergy development by introducing it to several sources of proteins before its first birthday.

3. Fish: Oceanfish, Salmon – Bioavailability: 70

This is yet another healthy protein source for dogs. On top of that, they have benefits to offer for dogs that have dry or sensitive skin. The fish also has omega-3 fatty acids and oils that moisturize and nourish the skin to help prevent shedding and flaking.

Since some types of fish contain high toxic levels, it is good that you rotate the primary sources of protein that your pet enjoys.

4. Beef – Bioavailability: 69

Beef – meat from a cow – is one of the healthy, most available protein sources that can easily be broken down. Other ruminant meats like lamb, mutton, bison, and venison are also excellent protein sources. The only catch is that because of their rareness in the market; they may be expensive.

Dog Food Details: Adequate Protein Sources

The sources mentioned in this section have most of the needed amino acids. Their digestibility is moderate, lower than the best sources. Some grain-free and grain plant-based sources of protein like oatmeal and brown rice will increase the bioavailability of the food your pet eats when they are paired with the high-quality kind of meats. Let’s look at each of them:

1. By-Products of Meat

If you’re not aware of meat by-products, they are the animal carcasses that have been ground up, excluding underdeveloped eggs, bones, meat, and offal. They may include healthy meat from organs, but often, they have the low-quality kind of proteins. So, you should not rely on the by-products as the only primary protein source for your dear pet.

2. Soy – Bioavailability: Between 67 and 74

For a legume, soy is relatively high in terms of bioavailability, but reasons exist for its low-quality rating. Although soy may be a cheap-to-get legume with all the important amino acids, it is inappropriate for cats and dogs. Also, wild cats and dogs wouldn’t encounter soy out in the wild, meaning that it is not the to-go protein source.

Additionally, some pets are quite sensitive to soy. They experience hard times breaking it down. Dogs, for example, are sensitive to soy because of their shortened digestive tracts. While it may not be the worst of the worst in terms of protein sources, its presence in your pet’s food means that the manufacturers are just cutting corners in terms of nutrition.

Other legumes like chickpeas and lentils are likely to be in the same rating bracket. But these legumes also have value in terms of fiber content and will help dogs in losing weight.

3. Proteins From Plants

Some plant-based protein sources include peas, barley, oatmeal, rice, flaxseed, and potatoes. Many commercial foods like Hill’s Science Diet are likely to have them in their top 6 ingredients.

The one beneficial thing about these vegetables and grain-source proteins is they complement the proteins given by meat. This implies that food that has meat and plant-based proteins has a higher biological value.

Questions Asked About Dog And Proteins

Can A Dog Feed On A Vegan Or A Vegetarian Diet?

Quick answer – yes. Out there, you will find both vegan and vegetarian foods. Like us, dogs have adaptive food-processing systems, but there is a catch: their tracts are short. With short guts, it is difficult for a dog to handle proteins from plants. So, a dog should stick to meat and other animal-based amino acids. You should have in mind that the dog should get all the nutrients that it needs in the best way possible.

That said, a vegan or a vegetarian diet will not provide the dog optimal nutrition. Legumes like lentils and soy are quite hard to break down and don’t even give the best biological value like meat proteins. To meet its nutritional needs, a dog would need to eat high quantities of plant-based proteins.

The only reason you can take a dog through a vegan or vegetarian diet is if its experiences severe allergies.

Should I Feed My Dog A Single Protein Diet (Or LID, Limited Ingredient Diet) Or Go For A Standard Diet With Different Protein Sources?

Using the phrase limited ingredient is really a wrong thing because many LID diets have far ingredient amounts. As compared to the standard diet, the LID ones have one primary source of both carbohydrates and proteins. Their creation was inspired by dogs that suffered and are suffering from allergies.

Generally speaking, LIDs have a fresh protein (a rare one that a dog is unlikely even to have come across, like turkey). The carbohydrate is usually something like rice and oats. Since most protein allergy sources are beef and chicken, these single-protein foods stay away from them.

The LID foods accommodate dogs that have formed allergies to some of the more common proteins. So, unless your pup is allergic to meat, you are not supposed to be feeding them the diet. If you wish to do so, you should mix the foods frequently with the standard diet eaten by the dog.

The mixing may be beneficial because giving a few or even one protein source encourages allergies. Studies have discovered that pups who are fed various foods during their early years are unlikely or unlikely to develop allergies later in their senior lives. Also, the more varied proteins a dog has in its food, the better the food gets biologically available. So, if any of your puppies had not developed any allergies, you should try feeding them various proteins regularly.