Can Dogs Eat Lima Beans?

Lima beans are packed with fiber protein vitamins and minerals. Dogs can eat them in moderation. Butter beans and lima beans make great additions to your dogs diet especially if you have a diabetic dog.

Can dogs have Lima Beans?

Lima beans can be eaten by dogs in moderation. You can feed your dog lima beans that are both high in fiber and high in protein.

The main meal for your dog should not be completely replaced with Lima Beans. Lima beans can be added to your dogs main meal occasionally as a complementary component to his diet.

Lets examine the benefits of Lima Beans for dogs next.

Are Lima Beans good for dogs?

Lima beans are safe for dogs when eaten in moderation. Approximately 24% of the protein in lima beans comes from protein 73% from carbohydrates and 3% from fat. They are primarily composed of healthy carbs and protein with very little fat.

In addition to protein and fiber this legume contains vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to your dogs health including potassium iron manganese and folate.

The nutritional profile of Lima Beans (1 tablespoon or 11.7 grams)

Name Unit	Amount
Calories cal	13.5
Sugar g	0.339
Sodium mg	0.234
Carbohydrate g	2.44
Total Fat g	0.044
Protein g	0.913
Fiber g	0.819
Iron mg	0.28
Calcium mg	1.99
Magnesium mg	5.03
Phosphorus mg	13
Potassium mg	59.4
Zinc mg	0.111
Manganese mg	0.06
Selenium µg	0.526
Thiamin mg	0.019
Riboflavin mg	0.006
Niacin mg	0.049
Vitamin B-6 mg	0.019
Folate µg	9.71

The fiber in Lima Beans supports a healthy digestive system in dogs

Fiber is an essential part of your dogs diet. The fiber in your dogs diet supports its digestive system and helps it stay regular. The same as humans canines would be at risk of health issues if they do not receive the necessary fiber intake.

Fiber not only helps to keep a balance between good and bad bacteria in the gut but it also helps the colon recover from stress or injury. Your four-legged friends may suffer from constipation and diarrhea if they do not consume enough fiber.

Fiber is also responsible for helping your dog maintain a healthy weight. Thats because fibrous food is more filling so fiber-rich food helps your pup feel full longer even though it has fewer calories.

Your dog will not overeat if he feels full longer. When your K9 friends need to lose weight vets often recommend a high-fiber diet.

Last but not least since fiber takes a long time to digest this slow digestion is actually beneficial to dogs. Instead of receiving all the sugar from the food at once slow digestion also reduces the amount of sugar absorbed into the bloodstream.

You’ll be able to avoid the sudden spike in blood sugar levels that may negatively affect your poochs mood and energy level because of this.

Dogs that suffer from diabetes or pre-diabetes can benefit from consuming a high-fiber diet.

Protein in Lima Beans keeps your dogs strong

In addition to fiber Lima Beans also contain protein which is essential for your dogs health. Your dog needs protein to remain strong and healthy. The muscles of your dog may deteriorate slowly and weaken without enough protein.

Lima beans can be beneficial to senior dogs due to their high protein content. As dogs age their protein requirements increase. Although senior dogs are less active and do not need to eat as much as before their protein requirements actually increase by 50%.

It is more difficult to take care of older dogs. This is because older dogs are less active thus losing muscle mass. Consequently if they do not receive enough protein to maintain strong muscles their lives are at risk. Additionally senior dogs are more likely to suffer health issues related to aging which can contribute to early death.

Senior dogs should receive about 25% of their calories from protein-based foods according to many veterinarians.

Are Lima Beans bad for dogs?

Dogs benefit from Lima Beans as we can see. Lima beans can however be harmful to dogs in some cases. This is what we will discuss now.

In the first place canned Lima Beans can be harmful to dogs. Among the preservatives found in canned lima beans are potassium sulfite and sulfur dioxide. Both of these are extremely harmful to dogs and they contain a lot of salt. In addition to salt poisoning dogs can suffer from other severe health problems when they consume too much salt.

Secondly dried Lima Beans can be bad for dogs as they are hard to chew and hard on their stomachs once swallowed. Since dried Lima Beans are hard they can damage the teeth of your dog and make it hard for them to digest.

The second problem with Lima Beans for dogs is that they are beans after all and beans can cause gas in dogs. This is because Lima Beans contain a sugar called raffinose which is a complex sugar that is hard for dogs to digest.

As a result your pooch may become very gassy. Fortunately Lima Beans do not cause a lot of gas that leaves your precious pup feeling uncomfortable and in pain.

Are Lima Beans safe for dogs?

You can feed lima beans to dogs if you cook them thoroughly. Consequently if you are wondering “Can dogs eat cooked Lima beans?” the answer is yes. Lima beans that have been thoroughly cooked will not cause dogs to have as much gas.

Before cooking the Lima Beans you should soak them in water overnight or for at least 5 hours.

Lima beans can be served to your pooch in the following ways:

Prepare the plain cooked Lima Beans and blend them with the main meal for your dog.
You can use white rice to mix the beans with.
It can be served to your dog as a small treat occasionally.

Lima beans should not be eaten raw or uncooked by your pet. They are not only hard for your pooch to digest but they can also be painful to chew and swallow. Due to the hard and raw nature of Lima Beans your dog may suffer a tooth injury or choking.

If you feed your dog Lima Beans make sure they are plain. Seasonings such as salt garlic or onion are extremely harmful to dogs. Lima beans should be served plain.

Make sure your four-legged friends do not get Lima Beans every day. It is fine to treat your pets to an occasional serving of this legume but not every day. It is important to consume Lima Beans in moderation and occasionally as a treat. Lima Beans should not replace your dogs main balanced meal.

Are Lima Beans ok for dogs?

When cooked thoroughly served plain and consumed in moderation Lima Beans are safe for our canine friends. Dogs should not be fed canned Lima Beans raw Lima Beans or Lima Beans seasoned with salt onion and garlic.

How many Lima Beans should my dog eat?

Moderating how much Lima Beans your dog eats is key when it comes to this treat. Thus Lima Beans should not exceed 10% of your pups daily caloric intake. Your dog should be able to consume two to three tablespoons of lima beans or about 20 to 30 grams.

Lima beans should not be eaten in excess of one tablespoon or ten to fifteen grams by small to medium-sized dogs.

Lima Beans should only be fed to your pooch three times a week and no more than that.

Can dogs eat Lima Beans and corn?

Lima beans and corn can be eaten by dogs in moderation. Are lime beans and corn safe for dogs to eat? Yes dogs can eat lime beans and corn. Around the world lima beans and corn are popular dishes.

Corn can be eaten by dogs in moderation just like Lima Beans. If you want to feed your pooch some Lima Beans and Corn make sure they are cooked thoroughly and left plain.

So can dogs eat Lima Beans?

As you can see Lima Beans are perfectly safe for dogs when eaten in moderation and as an occasional treat or addition to your dogs regular diet. They are completely safe and provide a lot of health benefits.

Cook them thoroughly before feeding them to your pooch and make sure they are plain. The best Lima Beans are homemade and canned Lima Beans should be avoided at all costs.

Food and diet play an important role in your dogs health.

If you want to read more about dog food tips read here: Dog Food Tips and Tricks.