Can Dogs Eat Lentils?
In moderation. Lentils cooked in plain water with no salt are safe in small amounts. Lentil soup or stew made for the family, with sausage, onion, garlic and paprika, is not.
What it gives your dog
Cooked lentils provide about 115 kcal per 100 g, 9 g of plant protein, about 8 g of fiber, iron, potassium and folate. Some dog foods include them and, cooked and mashed, they are an extra most dogs accept. They do not replace meat: their protein is less complete for a dog and their iron is absorbed less well.
Raw, sprouted or undercooked, they contain lectins and enzyme inhibitors that irritate the gut, so they must always be well cooked. Their fiber ferments and causes gas if you overdo the amount. But the real risk is the classic homemade lentil soup or stew: it often has sausage and sometimes bacon (salt and fat, both pancreatitis triggers), onion and garlic (which damage a dog's red blood cells) and paprika or other spices. Leftovers from the pot are not for your dog.
How to serve it
- Cooked in plain water, with no salt, until tender
- Canned ones well rinsed to remove the salty liquid
- Mashed and mixed into their usual food
- Split red lentils fall apart sooner and tend to cause less gas
- Never raw and never from the soup or stew made for the family
How much can they eat?
As an extra, 2-3 times a week: small dog (under 10 kg / 22 lb), 1 tablespoon (15 g) of cooked lentils; medium dog (10-25 kg / 22-55 lb), 2 tablespoons (30 g); large dog (over 25 kg / 55 lb), 3-4 tablespoons (45-60 g). Start with half to see how they agree with your dog.
Risks
- Lentil soup or stew: sausage, bacon, onion, garlic, paprika and salt
- Raw or undercooked: lectins that cause vomiting and diarrhea
- Gas and soft stools if they eat too many
- Purines: best avoided in dogs with urate stones
- They should not replace meat as the base of their diet
Frequently asked questions
Can I give my dog lentil soup?
No. Lentil soup or stew is usually made with onion, garlic and spices, and often with sausage or bacon, which are very salty and fatty. Together they can cause gastroenteritis or pancreatitis, and onion and garlic damage a dog's red blood cells. If you want to share lentils, set aside a few cooked in plain water before you add the onions, seasoning and meat.
Are lentils good for dogs with anemia?
They are not the answer. Lentils have iron, but it is plant iron, which is absorbed far less well than iron from meat, and their fiber and phytates reduce that absorption even more. Anemia in a dog has causes that need a diagnosis (parasites, bleeding, disease) and the vet decides the treatment. In the diet, lean meat and heart provide more.
Can puppies eat lentils?
A few cooked, mashed lentils will not hurt them, but they add nothing a puppy needs and their digestive system is more sensitive to gas and diarrhea. While growing, their diet must be well balanced in protein, calcium and phosphorus, so it is better not to replace part of their food with legumes.
General information reviewed against veterinary sources. If your dog has eaten something that worries you, call your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet right away, without waiting for symptoms.