Can Dogs Eat Pinto Beans? Yes, Plain and Cooked

Why plain pinto beans are generally fine

Pinto beans are ordinary legumes, and nothing in a plain, cooked pinto is known to be toxic to dogs. They offer some plant protein and fiber, but they are not a replacement for a complete dog food, and your dog does not need them. Treat them as a small extra if your dog enjoys them.

Like all dried beans, pintos must be cooked through. Kansas State University Research and Extension singles out raw red kidney beans as the high-toxin case, with far more lectin than other beans, but it still describes proper soaking and boiling as the safe way to prepare dried beans. Soak overnight, drain, and simmer in fresh water until they are completely soft.

Refried beans, chili and seasoned pintos

Refried beans are usually pintos cooked with lard or oil, salt and often onion or garlic. Chili, burrito fillings and restaurant side dishes add even more. The ASPCA lists onion, garlic and chives as members of the Allium family that can irritate the gut and damage red blood cells, and the AKC says dogs should never eat onions.

Salt is the second problem. The ASPCA says excess salt can increase thirst and urination and disturb blood electrolytes, with vomiting, diarrhea, tremors and seizures among the signs of salt toxicity. A lick of refried beans is unlikely to do harm, but a dish that was left within reach is worth a call to your vet.

Canned pinto beans

Canned pintos are already cooked, which makes them convenient, but they are packed in salted liquid, and some varieties include seasoning, pork or spices. Read the label. Choose a no-salt version if you plan to share any, and rinse the beans under running water to wash off the liquid.

Even rinsed, canned beans are better kept as an occasional spoonful. The AKC recommends no-salt canned green beans for dogs, and the same principle applies to any canned vegetable or legume: plain and low in sodium, or skip it.

How to serve pinto beans to a dog

Mix a small spoonful of cooked, cooled, plain pintos into your dog's regular meal. Mash them for small dogs, since whole beans are easy to gulp. Offer a few the first time and wait a day to see how your dog handles them before making it a habit.

Beans ferment in the gut, so gas is common, and giving them infrequently keeps it manageable. A slow feeder bowl helps dogs that gulp their food, and a lick mat is a neat way to serve a small mashed topping slowly. Our lick mat buying guide explains what to look for.

Puppies and dogs with health conditions

Puppies can try a bean or two once they are settled on solid food, cooked soft and mashed, but they get their nutrition from a complete puppy food and gain little from extras. If your puppy has a loose stool, skip beans until it clears.

Dogs with pancreatitis, kidney disease, diabetes or sensitive stomachs, or those on prescription diets, should only get beans with your vet's agreement. Large, deep-chested dogs that tend to gulp air should have only very small portions of gassy foods.

Signs it disagreed with your dog and when to see a vet

Expect gas, soft stool or a rumbling belly as the most common reaction to too many beans, and it usually passes within a day. Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea repeats, your dog refuses food, or seems unusually tired.

See a vet immediately for a tight, swollen belly with retching that produces nothing, restlessness or drooling, which can be a sign of bloat. If your dog ate refried beans or chili, call your vet and mention any onion or garlic, and consider the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661; a fee may apply.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.