Beyond beat is a plant-based meat product containing processed ingredients and is high in fat, sodium, and cocoa butter which can upset your dog’s stomach. This article covers the concern, “Can dogs eat beyond meat?”, what happens if dogs eat beyond meat, what to do if your dog has eaten beyond meat, etc.
Can dogs eat beyond meat?
No, dogs cannot eat beyond meat, but in small quantities, beyond meat is not that toxic for your dog if it gets a little. But if your dog eats beyond meat as a whole, the high content of sodium and fat is too much for your dog. Moreover, it contains cocoa butter, which is toxic for dogs.
Dogs are facultative carnivores, and the central part of their diet is prey which may include small animals like mice, rabbits, insects, and so forth. There are six main nutritional contents of a dog’s diet, which are water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
Why can’t dogs eat beyond meat?
Dogs can’t have beyond meat, which is due to the ingredients it contains. After carefully analyzing every component, it’s extracted that the agent present in beyond meat toxic to dogs is cocoa butter. All other ingredients, like onions and garlic, are safe for dogs.
The sodium and fat content in beyond meat is safe for humans, but for dogs, it’s far beyond the limit. Dogs can’t tolerate the same amount of fat and sodium as humans can, especially when the fat and sodium are from a processed product.
For cocoa butter, it’s not possible to assess how much cocoa butter is present in the beyond meat your dog just ate, but it’s safe if it takes a smaller bite. However, cocoa butter can give upset stomachs to dogs that consume beyond meat in higher amounts.
What happens if your dog eats beyond meat?
If your pet friend has eaten beyond meat, be alert for the signs of vomiting and extra thirst. A dog may throw up or feel extra thirsty, so you’ll have to monitor your dog for vomiting and water intake. It would be best if you don’t let them drink so much water to avoid bloating. If your pet shows unconsciousness or seizures, take them to your vet.
Beyond meat, companies have made these products keeping human consumption in mind; they can’t be fed similarly to animals because animals have sensitivities to ingredients like cocoa butter, milk, etc. That’s why they are not recommended for your pet.
What to do if your dog has eaten beyond meat?
First, there is no need to panic if your pet has eaten beyond meat. It’s very unlikely that your dog will drop dead suddenly after eating it. You should be worried about the cocoa butter in beyond meat but bear in mind that a dog needs to eat a relatively large amount of chocolate compared to its body weight to get sick enough to die from it.
The most common condition going to occur due to consumption of beyond meat is that your dog will throw up the food.
They may get extra thirsty due to the salt present, but you should monitor the water intake – about 4 oz to 8 oz per hour is considered safe, so they may not get bloated.
However, if your dog is showing seizures, stupor, or unconsciousness, you should take it to your vet or call for an emergency. At the same time, you should be very careful in giving treats to your dog, keeping in mind their response to that food.
What are other plant-based foods that your dog can eat?
The key to plant-based eating for dogs is their nutritional balance. Dog’s diet requires six primary ingredients for proper body functioning and metabolism, which are water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. So, you’ll have to actively look for ways to supplement your diet with these nutritional factors.
A lot of such plant-based food sources are available for dogs. However, some of them are listed below:
- Lentils
- Rice
- Almonds
- Barley
- Potatoes
- Soybeans
- Apple
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Mangoes
- Watermelon
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Dark, leafy greens
- Pear
- Peaches
- Pineapples
- Cucumbers
What are some other plant-based foods your dog can’t eat?
Of course, there are some plant-based foods that your dog can’t eat. Some, like coffee, tea, and chocolate, are well known, but others should not be fed to your pet to avoid health risks.
The fruits like cherries and peaches can cause cyanide poisoning in dogs. Onions and garlic can cause hemolytic anaemia, while grapes and resins lead to kidney failure. To avoid such conditions, there is a list of plant-based foods your dog can’t have:
- Cherries
- Peaches
- Grapes
- Resins
- Onions
- Garlic
- Tomatoes
- Walnuts
- Pistachios
- Macadamia nuts
Conclusion:
Today, we covered the article, “Can a dog eat beyond meat?”, what happens if your dog eats beyond meat, what to do if your dog has eaten beyond beef, etc. When there is thought of giving beyond meat to your dog, there is a big NO for it, but your dog can have it only in a small amount.
Ingredients beyond meat are toxic for dogs, so they should not be included in their daily diet. They can cause vomiting, extra thirst, seizures, and unconsciousness-like conditions. That’s why if you’ve beyond meat or burgers in your house, you better keep it out of your dog’s reach.
References:
https://purehealthyliving.com/blog/can-dogs-eat-beyond-meat-plant-based-foods-that-are-good-for-dogs
https://medium.com/@sundaysfordogs.com/is-beyond-meat-just-bad-dog-food-1cd231a855de
