Can Dogs Eat Edamame?
Dogs can absolutely eat edamame. Edamame is a healthy and delicious treat that you can give your dog. Edamame is not toxic at all, they shouldn’t cause your dog to have any adverse side effects, and they have great health benefits.
Edamame beans are a fantastic source of polyunsaturated fats (good fats), they are rich in omega-3 acid which can actually help to lower the risk of obesity and diabetes. Edamame beans can even promote healthy hair and skin. These little beans even offer a great source of protein, something necessary for active dogs.
Even more, edamame has a lot of fiber in each serving. This can even help your dog to lose weight. If your dog is on a diet, edamame is a perfect snack. Many dog treats are actually less healthy than edamame beans because they are high in fat and calories.
Of course, edamame beans don’t make a full meal. But if you want to give your dog a healthy snack once in a while, edamame beans are a great idea.
How Much Edamame Can My Dog Eat?
Edamame beans should be given to your dog in moderation. A good amount of beans to feed your dog is up to ten per serving. If you feed your dog too many edamame beans, they could experience gas problems.
This is true for too much of any type of food. If you feed your dog a whole bag of edamame beans, their digestive system is going to have a meltdown. Too much fiber will get into your dog’s system and slow down their digestive tract. This almost always results in diarrhea and vomiting.
Then there is abdominal bloating to worry about. This is what will cause your dog to have too much gas. When feeding your dog edamame beans, be sure that you feed them no more than 10 beans as an occasional snack.
As a side note, it’s important to watch your dog’s reaction the first time you feed them edamame beans. If your dog has problems with eating soy, they could experience negative side effects even from just a few beans. Be sure to watch carefully after feeding your dog edamame beans for the first time. If they appear sick or their behavior changes, find a different snack to feed them.
Are Soybeans Toxic to Dogs?
Soybeans are absolutely not toxic for dogs. Soybeans aren’t toxic for anyone. The only issue you might encounter is that your dog has a soy allergy, in which case they should absolutely not be eating soybeans. If your dog is licking a lot, vomiting or experiencing diarrhea, or if they seem generally unwell after eating soybeans, simply don’t feed them to your dog anymore.
Too much soy can actually damage your dog’s liver and even cause problems with their thyroid. Some studies have shown that excess amounts of soy can disrupt the reproductive system of female dogs.
When it comes to puppies, the shell of the edamame bean is known for being difficult to digest. This may cause smaller dogs like puppies or chihuahuas to choke. They may even suffer from a blockage in their digestive system. Larger dogs won’t have any problems. Just be careful when feeding your smaller pets edamame beans.
Why is Soy Bad for Dogs?
Soy is not inherently dangerous or bad for dogs. The only issue is moderation and that dogs sometimes have a bad allergic reaction to soy products.
If your dog isn’t allergic to soy, they will love eating edamame beans. Soy can actually decrease bad cholesterol and is recommended for dogs who were previously eating too much junk food. Soy is low in cholesterol, high in fiber, and a very healthy heart treat when eaten in moderation. The key word is always going to moderation, especially when it comes to the health of your dog.
Is Edamame Poisonous?
Edamame itself is not poisonous. However, the way that edamame is usually prepared for humans involves a massive quantity of salt. Salt can be incredibly dangerous to your dog. You should never give your dog an edamame dish that has been prepared for people. Even just a little bit of soy sauce on the beans can result in your dog suffering from salt poisoning.
When feeding your dog edamame, ensure that you’re only feeding them the raw beans.
How Do I Feed My Dog Edamame?
There are a few different ways to purchase edamame. You can buy raw, you can get them baked or frozen, or they can come mixed with frozen vegetables. The best kind of edamame beans to feed your dog are the ones that are shelled and raw.
Shelled and raw edamame beans have no additives, seasonings, or unhealthy fats. Just make sure that you pick them up fresh from your local produce section.
And whatever you do, don’t feed your dog baked edamame snacks. These snacks are made for humans. They are often cooked with oil, way too much salt, and probably some unhealthy seasonings as well. Dogs don’t require sodium in their diet. Salt is absolutely horrible for your dog and can lead to dehydration and diarrhea.
You also don’t want to feed your dog edamame mixed with frozen vegetables. These beans may have come into contact with garlic or onions at some point, and these two things should never be fed to dogs.
Always feed your dog raw and shelled edamame beans with absolutely no salt!
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, edamame beans are a healthy snack to feed your dog. They can help with weight loss, they taste delicious, and they can help older dogs to lower their cholesterol and live longer.
So long as your dog doesn’t have an allergy to soy, it’s perfectly healthy to feed them edamame beans. Practice moderation and remember to only feed them shelled and raw beans from the produce section.