When we speak of eating healthy, the first thing that comes to our mind is homemade comfort food. When you are incredibly sick and wish to resort to some convalescent food to comfort your body, rice and lentils stand as a popular choice. Lentils are highly nutritious legumes and add value to one’s diet. But can dogs eat lentils? Let’s find out!
Pet parents share a common concern: Can my dog eat what I am eating? If your fur baby pukes a couple of times, you tend to get all worked up and start thinking about what you should feed him to remain full while also considering your pet’s health.
Have you ever wondered if your dog can share the same meal as you? Can you feed lentils to your dog?
If your question is, can dogs eat lentils; the answer is a big yes. Lentils are highly nutritious for your dog and will immensely benefit dog health. To know more about feeding your dog lentils, stick through till the end of this article.
Table of Contents
Why lentils are good for dogs
Before we delve deep into the discussion, we must understand what lentils are. Lentils belong to the legume fiber. Since lentils are extremely rich in protein and fiber, they are a popular choice among people who look forward to eating healthy.
A variety of lentils are available in a wide range of colors and shapes. If you are wondering if dogs can eat red lentils, you should know that different lentils have different effects on different varieties of dogs.
Lentils are extremely easy to cook and do not burn a hole in the pocket. Therefore, lentils are popular among people for self-consumption or for feeding their pawsome friends.
Lentils and Furry Buddies
Lentils are a great nutritious option for healthy eaters due to the wide range of health benefits. If your dog is a fussy eater and looks for something new to eat each day, lentils will solve most of your problems.
You have to cook one variety of lentils daily and serve it hot to your furbaby. Lentils are completely safe for the regular consumption of dogs. They are convenient to make and add ample nutrition to a dog’s diet.
Nevertheless, some dogs might sometimes experience gastrointestinal issues due to legumes’ high fiber content. The dietary requirements of dogs vary based on the dog’s breed, size, and body weight.
Therefore, if you are wondering can dogs eat lentils and rice, you need to consult your dog’s dietician to get a fair idea about the portions in which lentils can be served to your dog.
How can Lentils Benefit Your Dog’s Health?
Lentils are known for being extremely rich in fiber and protein. If you wonder how lentils will benefit your dog’s health, here is some interesting information.
One cup of lentil will contain some calories, protein, fiber, carbohydrates, iron, magnesium, folate, phosphorus, potassium, copper, zinc, manganese, and multiple Vitamins such as B1, B3, B5, and B6.
Your dog might be prone to risks that you cannot even imagine. Lentils help lower cholesterol levels, eliminating the risk of heart diseases.
Lentils also help to reduce blood pressure. If your dog is overweight and you are looking forward to controlling weight and keeping from getting bulky, lentils are a great choice. Therefore, it can be said that lentils are great for weight loss. Listed below are four ways in which lentils can benefit your dog:
Lentils are a great choice for diabetic dog
Just like any normal human being, dogs can also develop diabetes. In such situations, it is advisable to add lentils to their diet. Lentils have low sugar content and can help manage the situation.
Lentils are also rich in protein and fiber
These can help eliminate the toxins from the digestive tract, allowing a dog to feel fuller for longer. However, it is essential to consult your veterinarian about the portions of lentils that you should add to your dog’s bowl.
Lentils provide dogs with energy
Lentils are an excellent source of iron. This will give your dog the energy required to be healthy, happy, and active.
Dogs require adequate iron levels in their bodies to produce blood. Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin that aids in transporting oxygen from the lungs to different body parts.
Therefore, adding lentils to your dog’s diet will increase the iron content in his diet and help him lead a healthy life.
Lentils help prevent diseases
If you feed lentils to your dog, you can safeguard him from certain diseases. Lentils contain several essential minerals and selenium, which is an antioxidant.
Selenium is a rare component that is not usually found in all foods. Its importance lies in the fact that selenium curbs the growth of tumors, improves immunity, and helps keep inflammation at bay! It also helps to detoxify the compounds that might be agents of causing cancer.
Therefore, lentils are a good and pocket-friendly choice if you wish to give your dog the gift of the goodness of health. However, not everything is hunky-dory about feeding lentils to your dog, and there might be some shortcomings that you need to be aware of.
The next section deals with some problems your dog might face due to lentil consumption.
Can Dogs Digest Lentils Easily?
This might be a problem if you are wondering can dogs eat lentils. Studies have shown that lentils can slow down the process of digestion in dogs.
The more lentils you add to your dog’s diet, the slower the rate of digestion. This, in turn, will cause your stomach to get upset and cause gastrointestinal issues.
If you do not feed your dog the correct quantity of lentils, it may lead to diarrhea or constipation.
Legumes also contain lectins, and large quantities of lectins might lead to toxicity. It is advisable not to feed your dog slow-cooked lectin and to provide him with boiled or steamed lentils.
Steaming or boiling will automatically lead to a reduction in the number of lectins in the lentil. The next section deals with some of the possible ways in which lentil consumption can pose a threat to your dog’s body.
Side Effects of Lentil Consumption on a Dog’s Health
Although lentils do not pose any major threat to the body, here are some of the side effects you need to be aware of:
It may cause your dog’s stomach to get upset
Some lentils can hurt your dog’s health and cause him to get gassy. The effect of legumes on a dog’s health varies from one dog to another.
An upset stomach and diarrhea can follow this discomfort and gas. Therefore, make sure that you introduce the lentils in limited quantities and observe how your dog is responding to them. If your dog reacts negatively, stop giving him lentils. If he seems to like it, keep adding!
Some lentils have added seasonings and salts
If you plan to feed your dog lentils, make sure you cook them thoroughly. Some lentils that you purchase from stores may contain additives that your fur baby will find difficult to digest. Therefore, be very sure about what you put in your dog’s bowl.
The danger of lentil soup
When you cook lentil soup, you add onion and garlic to enhance the taste of the soup. These components may be toxic to dogs’ health. Very minute amounts of garlic or onion can cause your dog to grow anemic. It might even lead to coma or even death in the worst case! Ensure that the lentils you are feeding your dog are plain, do not have salt, and are thoroughly cooked.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many lentils can I feed my dogs?
There is no fixed answer to this question. Different breeds of dogs have different nutritional requirements, and it is better to consult your veterinarian before you introduce this new ingredient to your dog’s diet.
2. Can I give cooked lentils to my dogs?
Yes, you should provide cooked lentils to your dog. However, make sure that it is bland and does not contain salt, turmeric, or any other taste enhancer.
3. Can I feed my dog lentils every day?
Feeding your dog lentils every day will make his diet monotonous. However, you can try feeding lentils of different varieties each day.
Final thoughts
Does this satisfy your curiosity about are lentils good for dogs? Now that you are aware of all the pros and cons associated with lentil consumption in dogs, you can chalk down a diet plan for your pup and add lentils to dog food as suggested by your dog’s dietician.
The catch is that it is completely harmless as long as lentils are fed to dogs in a bland, cooked manner. Introduce it in limited quantities, gradually, while you assess how your dog is reacting to the new item in his diet. Therefore, to answer the question, “Can dogs eat lentils?” the answer is a big YES!
