Chickpeas, garbanzo beans, little creamy round balls of goodness – whatever you want to call them, you want to know if dogs can eat them, and I’m here to tell you that yes, we can.
As with all things, however, they’re best consumed in moderation. I’ve heard the human saying, “Beans, beans, good for the heart…” and I know I can clear a room quicker than a greyhound on a racecourse when I have a bad case of gas, a common side-effect of beans.
The general rule is that beans shouldn’t make up more than ten percent of your dog’s total caloric intake.
You should always try to feed your dog a nutritionally balanced diet using high-quality food, as this helps to keep us strong so we can play fetch for years to come!
What Type of Beans Can Dogs Eat?
Garbanzo beans are just one among many types of beans that are safe for dogs, joining the likes of the following:
- Pinto beans.
- Black beans.
- Kidney beans.
- Green beans.
- Butter beans.
- Lima beans.
- … all the beans.
There are a few conditionals though. Beans that have been cooked in certain seasonings or spices may be unsuitable for dogs. Theses include the following ingredients:
- Onion
- Garlic
- Tomatoes
- Chili
- Cumin
- Salt
Consuming any of these in high amounts can be dangerous for your dog, so let your chef’s hand pass over them when you’re cooking doggy dinner.
What Types of Beans Are Bad For Dogs?
Not all beans are good beans when it comes to dogs.
Coffee beans? You humans might need your daily caffeine intake before you can get up in the morning, but us dogs certainly do not. Your favorite tin of baked beans?
To you, delicious but divisive – are you supposed to eat it hot or cold? To us, an irritant to our bowel systems, and… confusing. Just eat it cold.
Other beans you should keep away from us include:
- Fava beans (or broad beans): I tried these once. It was awful. There was vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, and my human never replaced the rug I ruined.
- Baked beans: As I mentioned above, baked beans aren’t good for us dogs. I obviously had to see what all the hype was about though to make up my own mind. Again, awful. I was okay, but baked beans have a high sugar content and contain ingredients that can be harmful to dogs, including tomatoes, onions, and garlic.
- Refried beans: Look, I love Mexican night as much as the next hound, so I couldn’t resist the refried beans that my owner cooked up specially. Not a good idea. There are preservatives and seasonings that are not good for dogs in refried beans, such as garlic, salt, cumin, and chili powder.
- Chili beans: Okay… This one was totally on me, I don’t know what I was expecting. But chili beans contain garlic, onions, and spices, which did not agree with me. It was… not good.
- Raw red kidney beans: Even I drew the line at kidney beans. These contain a toxin that is highly poisonous to dogs.
As you can see from my track record… it’s probably best if you do your best at all times to keep foods that can be harmful to your dog out of their paw’s reach.
Why Are Chickpeas Bad For Dogs?
If your dog gets into your stash of chickpeas and makes the most of their unrestricted access (we’ve all been there, buddy) then they may show signs of gastrointestinal discomfort.
Keep an eye out for the following symptoms:
- Excessive gas. At least you’ll definitely know if they’re experiencing this one.
- Loose stool. Poop checking might not be the most glamorous job, but it’s all part of the joy of being your dog’s human.
- Abdominal pain. Slightly trickier to spot, so keep an eye out. Unless your dog is overdramatic, like me, in which case they’ll probably be writhing around on the floor and whining like a puppy.
A lot of the time it’s actually the seasonings or the ingredients the garbanzo beans have been cooked with that cause side effects like these, so always stick to beans that are safe to serve to your dog.
Can You Cook Chickpeas For Dogs?
Yes, you should cook chickpeas before feeding them to your dog and the same goes for most other beans. Except for green beans, of course. Those are delicious just as they are.
It’s also a good idea to mash the chickpeas slightly with one of those silver pointy utensil thingy’s. This makes it easier to chew which is helpful if your dog has a tendency to scarf their food down as I do, and it helps improve digestion as well as providing higher nutritional value.
I know you humans have to worry about money, even though it’s something I don’t understand myself. I deal in bones and barks, mostly. If you’re looking for the cheapest way to introduce chickpeas into your dog’s diet, I happen to know the best way to do this.
Purchasing dried beans in bulk is the most affordable option and they’ll keep for a long time. You can soak them in water overnight to soften them and then rinse them multiple times before you cook them.
While you might be tempted to try and whip us up a storm, remember to leave out any spices, herbs, or seasonings that may be harmful to your dog.
In this case, the plainer the better, and it’s the best way to avoid smelly side effects and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Are Canned Chickpeas Okay For Dogs?
While chickpeas themselves are okay for dogs like me to eat, the canned variety is not good for us. And I’m not just saying that because I’m a fussy eater!
Humans do this weird thing where they add a bunch of stuff to stuff that’s already good.
Us dogs like to stick to a much more natural diet – you’ve been around to smell the consequences when your dog releases gas, so you know it ain’t pretty.
In canned chickpeas, there are preservatives that disrupt your dog’s digestive system and these could be harmful to their health. So, stick to fresh chickpeas or leave them out completely.
