Can dogs eat broad beans?

Yes, dogs can eat broad beans. Despite what you may have heard, broad beans are perfectly safe to feed your dog providing they form part of a healthy fresh food diet and they are fed in moderation.

Canine nutritionist Gerald Pepin is the author of the book From Table to Bowl which seeks to take the mystery out of feeding dogs fresh food. Here the experienced dog nutritionist explains the benefits and safe serving tips for feeding a dog broad beans.

Also known as fava beans (Vicia faba), broad beans are a type of pod bean, a popular spring and early summer legume often treated as a vegetable in many countries. They’re a legume that offer a sweet and creamy flavour at the same time as being a good source of soluble fibre for dogs as well as humans. Humans often eat them fresh, though they can also be dried, canned or frozen. Dogs? Well, if my own dogs are anything to go by, they just eat them as they come! Read on if you want to learn more about the benefits of broad beans for dogs as we attempt to answer the question, can dogs eat broad beans?

What are the nutrients and benefits of feeding a dog broad beans?

Due to their rich nutritional profile, broad beans offer a variety of health benfits to our dogs. They are:

• High in protein and fibre: Broad beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein. This makes them a good choice for vegetarians and vegans and anyone wishing to feed their dog a plant-based diet. They also contain a significant amount of plant-based fibre. This benefits digestive health and can help considerably with weight management by making your dog feel fuller for longer.
• Good for bone and brain health: Broad beans contain nutrients like folate and magnesium, important contributors to bone health and cognitive function. Folate is also crucial for cell division and DNA creation.
• Beneficial for heart health: The potassium contained in broad beans can help regulate blood pressure and contribute to heart health. Additionally, the fibre content may help lower cholesterol levels, thus further reducing the risk of heart disease.
• Good for blood sugar regulation: Broad beans have a low glycemic index. This means they have the ability to help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diabetes in dogs just as they do in humans.
• Provide other benefits: Broad beans also contain iron, which is important for red blood cell formation and preventing anaemia. Some studies suggest that they may also be beneficial for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction due to the presence of L-DOPA which is also known as levodopa, a precursor to dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial for movement which is converted to dopamine in the brain.

How to feed your dog broad beans

While you can most certainly feed your dog broad beans and they can be a nutritious addition to any dog’s diet, there are one or two caveats:

1. Broad beans need to be cooked thoroughly and mashed well. Cooking broad beans neutralises lectins, sugar-binding proteins which attach themselves to carbohydrates and which can cause digestive upset if fed to dogs raw or undercooked. Mashing them ensures your dog is able break down the nutrients within the beans which may otherwise pass through your dog with all their nutrients locked inside.

2. Serve them relatively plain without any human seasonings. That said, you may add a little butter or olive oil, both of which are perfectly safe and beneficial for dogs.

3. Feed in moderation. Broad beans should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake.

4. Consider your dog’s size and preferences. If your dog enjoys chewing, and some dogs do, you can leave the beans whole. But if your dog tends to swallow food without chewing, as previously advised, broad beans are better mashed or blended in order to ensure maximum absorption.

If you are at all concerned about feeding your dog broad beans, always consult with a dog nutritionist.