Can Dogs Eat Edamame?

If a number of people are asked, “What do dogs eat?”,
“Meat, fish, bones..” would be the most common response. The dog food you feed your four-legged friend contains more than just meat or fish, dog food comprises a variety of ingredients from animal and plant sources alike. Vegetables such as potatoes, corn, carrots are healthy options for your dog. These varying ingredients found in dog food have a number of benefits your dog derives from them.

You might get the idea to feed your dog more human food, although not quite popular, Edamame beans are a healthy addition to Bruno’s treat when given in moderation. Fortunately, dogs love edamame.
What is edamame exactly?

What are edamame and what do they contain?

Soybeans are one of the most versatile food crops that can be processed into a variety of food products such as Tofu, natto, soy protein, soybean meal, soy nut, soy yogurt, edamame, textured vegetable protein, soybean oil, and soy sauce. However, not every form of soy is good for your dog, tofu is not recommended but edamame is great. Edamame is “immature soybeans”, young soybeans that are harvested before they mature.

Also referred to as Vegetable-type soybeans. While regular soybeans are light brown, beige, or tan, edamame is green in color. These healthy vegetables are enclosed in pods and have a bean or two in each pod. They are available as fresh or frozen food. They are a type of soybeans that can be eaten without being processed. Edamame can be tossed in salads or meshed in other diets or eaten alone.

Popularly used in the preparation of meals in Japan, China, and Korea, these tasty beans are a healthy choice for you and in moderation, your dog. Plain steamed or boiled edamame is safe for your dog. Edamame is naturally gluten-free, contains no cholesterol, and is low in calories.

It contains a variety of nutrients – Vitamin C, iron, calcium, omega 3 fatty acids, proteins, and fiber. A 75g or a 1⁄2 cup serving of edamame contains Calories- 100mg, Protein- 10g, Fat- 5g, Carbohydrates-8g, Fiber- 6g, natural sugar- 1g, Calcium- 60 mg, Iron- 8mg, Sodium- 15 mg and vitamin C- 6g.

Why edamame are bad for your dog

Although edamame is a healthy vegetable packed with essential nutrients, it should not be given regularly. Some dogs exhibit signs of allergy to soy such as itching, hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and ear infection, edamame should be given to your dogs in little quantity initially, say one or two beans to be sure their digestive system agrees with it.

When commenced, keep an eye out for signs of allergic reactions which could be life-threatening. When consumed in large quantities, its high fiber content causes diarrhea, constipation, or stomach gas/bloating.

The pods are usually tough and quite difficult to digest and could cause choking hazards or internal blockage particularly in smaller dogs, so avoid feeding your dogs the pods.

According to a veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker, “The health risks associated with soy products outweigh any potential benefits”, so although having amazing benefits to your dogs, the health implications are more glaring. Moreover, Edadames shouldn’t be relied on solely to meet your pup’s nutritional needs.

Processed edamame snacks contain salt and other additives which are unhealthy for your canine.
Soy can cause other health problems including, damage to the thyroid, liver, and reproductive health.

Excessive consumption can also lead to too much estrogen and hormonal imbalance as edamame contain isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen.
In all, moderation is key, avoid the pods, don’t add seasonings, and monitor for allergies.

Why edamame is good for your dog

Edamame is one of the healthiest vegetables you can feed your dog, it contains protein, fiber vitamin c, omega 3, and calcium, among other nutrients.
This immature soy is rich in protein which helps build and repair body tissues and muscles in your dogs, promotes healthy hair growth, and helps create enzymes and chemicals. It is particularly essential for active dogs.

The beans in the pods are soft and easily digestible, preventing constipation. Its high dietary fiber content makes your dog feel full, promoting a healthy diet and weight management as it reduces the risk of obesity.
Although dogs naturally produce vitamin C, it can be added as a supplement. Vitamin C gets rid of harmful free radicals, acting as a powerful antioxidant, it also reduces aging and inflammation in dogs.

Enriched with omega 3, edamame reduces the risk of obesity and diabetes by maintaining balanced blood sugar and fat to muscle ratio thereby promoting a healthy weight, also promotes and maintains healthy skin and coat for your canine friend.
It contains calcium which promotes the growth and development of bones, muscles, and teeth. Soy is known to reduce the chances of heart diseases as it reduces LDL (bad cholesterol) in the body. Particularly recommended for dogs with high cholesterol levels due to consumption of junk food over time.

How To Prepare Edamame For Your Dog

While it is safe for humans to eat edamame in various forms, steamed, fried, baked, roasted, or flavored, it is best to feed your dog with raw or steamed beans, as edamame with additives may be unhealthy for your friend. You can mash up a little amount of raw or cooked edamame beans, and add this to your dog’s diet.

Due to the risk of choking associated with the shells, it is recommended that the dogs only eat the beans in the pods.
When picking fresh edamame, look for pods that are bright green in color and firm to touch, it can be stored in the refrigerator for 7 – 10 days.

Edamame is available as frozen food in local stores, sometimes these products are mixed with onion and garlic which are unhealthy for dogs, so you should be cautious in picking products, when bought, they should be steamed and beans removed from shells before being served to the dog, boiling or steaming takes about 4- 10 minutes. Steamed edamame is tender and makes it easier for dogs to chew.

Fried foods including edamame are bad for your dog, it can cause pancreatic inflammation and cancer as well as raise cholesterol levels. Frying also destroys the beneficial nutrients in edamame, so it’s a no-no for your dog.
If dogs are fed with salted edamame, salt poisoning could occur since dogs require only very little salt.

It is best to avoid roasted edamame, they are made with salt and pepper which could cause digestive problems and make your dog sick.

How Much Edamame Is Good For Your Dog?

Although edamame is tasty and nutritious, it is not advisable to give your dog a handful at once. The fact that your dog may have never had edamame before means you should be cautious when introducing it to his diet. When edamame is first introduced to your dog, it should be served in little quantity as some dogs develop allergies to soy.

It should be checked if the dog develops any form of reaction over time, if none, the quantity being given can be increased gradually. Most people give their dogs 3 to 4 beans a day.

The quantity of soy to be given depends on the size of the dog and its tolerance for edamame.
Having your dog eat a lot at once could cause stomach upset, bloating, and vomiting.
If your dog develops allergies, don’t feel bad, your dog doesn’t need only edamame to stay healthy, you can try other vegetable sources.

Final Thoughts

Wow! Who knew we could get so much information about edamame in one sitting!. Yes! Dogs can eat edamame. It has been proven that they are quite safe for your dogs. Although quite popular among humans, not many dog owners know about the existence of edamame as an addition to their dogs’ diet.

Many dog owners are being pressured to introduce their dogs to more human food, rather than having their dogs eat crumbs off the table. Some human foods can be dangerous for your dog, like onions and garlic, edamame is a good start for human foods that your dogs can be introduced to.

Edadames are non-toxic healthy human food that is safe for your dog, loaded with protein, fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, and a bunch of other good vitamins and minerals, and don’t contain unhealthy saturated fat.

When given in moderation, as an occasional treat, it is a healthy crunchy snack, when given in excess, it could cause health issues such as bloating, diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset as well as more pronounced allergic reactions.

Although not all dogs have allergies to soy, it should be put into consideration, just in case. If allergies occur, stop the edamame and take your pet to see the vet.

Make sure to remove the pods before feeding your dog to prevent choking hazards.
If you are picking edamame, save a couple of the greenish soybeans and steam them until they soften a bit, then feed your dog one to five beans. Make sure to monitor for allergic reactions.

Remember, your furry friend does not NEED edamame to live a healthy life, so if allergic, don’t feel bad.