Can Dogs Eat Canned Beef Stew? Is It Nutritious?

Sharing canned food items with dogs can be very tempting. So the question is, can dogs eat canned beef stew?

While there are many human food items that are safe for dogs, we have to be extra careful with processed types. I discussed here a few points about feeding canines with canned beef stew and the possible repercussions it may entail.

Is canned beef stew safe for dogs?

To be fair, canned beef stew products aren’t toxic. Your dog won’t drop dead just by eating a serving of it.

However, regular feeding can be a problem as well as the ingredients used in the stew. Canines with underlying health problems might react adversely to the consumption of this processed food.

On the surface, canned beef stew may look nutritious. After all, it has beef, which is a good source of protein for dogs.

Also, these canned goods are mixed with veggies that provide carbs and fiber to canines. But as much as this is the case, the following is also true for these products:

Canned beef stew is high in sodium.

Canned beef stew often contains high levels of sodium, which could be excessive for both dogs and humans.

For example, a 120 ml serving of Campbell’s Vegetable Beef Soup already contains 890 milligrams of sodium. With that, a single 298-gram can of this beef stew is packed with 2,225 mg of salt.

In addition, the 120 ml serving with 890 mg of salt only contains 90 calories. This is too much compared to the recommended sodium intake for canines, which is 100 mg for every 100 calories of food.

This means that even a small serving of Campbell’s Vegetable Beef Soup has unsafe sodium levels for dogs.

To be fair, not all canned beef stews have this much sodium. Still, it’s undeniable that these products are formulated with high levels of salt as a preservative.

Aside from that, beef stews are really meant to be flavorful. One way to do that is to use more sodium.

Canned beef stew contains onion and garlic.

Another concern I have over feeding canned beef stew to dogs is the ingredients. Garlic and onion are both the main spices used in this food item.

Overall, onion and garlic aren’t entirely bad for dogs. However, a large amount can be a problem.

Take note that it only takes one medium-sized onion is enough to cause toxic effects to a medium-sized canine. The bad news is that beef stews are mixed with large amounts of onion, both the homemade and canned types.

On the other hand, garlic is more dangerous for canines. It only takes 30 grams of garlic for every kilogram of a dog’s body to cause dangerous changes in the animal’s blood.

Overall, you can minimize this risk by fishing out the garlic and onion chunks out of the canned beef stew. However, you should still know that the onion and garlic juices are already mixed into the soup.

In the end, it’s best to err on the side of caution and just avoid feeding this food item to your dog.

Canned beef stew has artificial flavorings.

Lastly, canned beef stew is laced with various flavorings. This ingredient doesn’t do your dog any favor and it can also trigger stomach upset in your canine.

For example, the same Campbell canned beef stew I mentioned above has monosodium glutamate (MSG). It’s also mixed with a caramel color to make it more palatable.

Take note that while flavors make food more delicious, dogs don’t need any of it. The natural juices of the meat are enough to entice a canine.

What canned food can dogs eat?

The only canned food dogs can eat is the one made specifically for them. Any canned food formulated for humans isn’t advisable for dogs since it contains too much sodium and seasonings.

Aside from that, canned food for humans is made based on a person’s dietary needs. It’s not prepared with dogs in mind.

After all, dogs have a different dietary requirements than humans. This is why you should stick with dog food products or homemade dog food with the right ingredients.

Is homemade beef stew safe for dogs?

Homemade beef stew can be safe for dogs if it has low sodium, a small amount of onion, and very little traces of onion. But if you want to avoid any adverse effects on your pet, you shouldn’t consider homemade beef stew as the main part of its diet.

Nevertheless, you can always prepare a beef stew just for your pet. You just have to use a small amount of salt and ditch the spices.

Can dogs eat canned chicken?

Just like canned beef stew, canned chicken isn’t totally safe for dogs as a regular part of their diet. It could contain high levels of salt and artificial preservatives, which are unhealthy for canines

If you want to feed chicken to your dog, stick to boiled ones. Purchase fresh cuts from the supermarket and prepare them at home.

Can dogs eat canned tuna?

Canned tuna is delicious and appetizing for canines, but it’s not totally safe. The only safe serving of canned tuna to dogs is around one tablespoon.

Even if it’s safe to feed your dog small amounts of canned tuna, you shouldn’t do it every day. It’s because this canned good might have too much sodium or flavorings that can upset the canine’s tummy.

Also, regular feeding of tuna can cause mercury accumulation in the dog’s body. This is dangerous since canines have low mercury tolerance.

Can dogs eat beef stock cubes?

You should never use beef stock cubes for your dog’s food. Shop-bought stock cubes are packed with excessive levels of sodium that are dangerous for canines.

If you want to make your pet’s meals delicious, you should boil your own beef broth at home. Aside from the natural taste, the real beef broth contains collagen and a lot of joint-healthy nutrients.

Can dogs eat beef stew with potatoes?

Your dog can safely eat the potatoes from beef stew as long as it’s cooked and peeled. Still, you should ensure that you’re not using too much salt in your recipe.

Overall, it’s still best to feed your dog with boiled potatoes with no spices. This is safer since canines don’t need a lot of flavoring on their food.

Conclusion

Can dogs eat canned beef stew? If possible, avoid feeding this food item to your dog since it can cause health problems.

Canned goods are high in sodium and they may have ingredients that are toxic to pets. In the end, it’s still best to stick to your dog’s kibble or canned wet food.