The popular breakfast cereal oatmeal is made from hulled oat grains and comes in a variety of forms. With a high protein content and a large dose of dietary fiber, it provides a nutritious boost to any diet. Oatmeal is also high in vitamin A, iron, calcium, vitamin B-6, and magnesium.
Do you want to add a little something special to your dog’s diet now and then? Humans enjoy oatmeal as nutritional food, but what about feeding this food to your dog? Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal? Yes, Dogs Can Eat Oatmeal.
You can give cooked oatmeal to your dog. If you want to feed them cooked oatmeal, you shouldn’t use milk because dogs are sensitive to lactose. Therefore, they should never have milk and you should only use water when preparing oatmeal.
Before digging into oatmeal, don’t forget to read about dogs eating garlic bread, Doritos, vanilla, marshmallows, and granola.
Hence, dogs can eat oatmeal but there are a few things you should keep in mind before giving this snack to your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal? Benefits of Eating Oatmeal
Oatmeal provides high-nutritional value to your dog’s diet. In addition to having more protein than most grains, oatmeal is high in fiber, which can help to regulate bowel movements and glucose levels in the blood.
Oatmeal is beneficial to dogs in a variety of ways. It can be found easily in stores. Before you feed oatmeal to your dog, let us discuss the benefits of oatmeal.
1.1. Soluble Fiber:
Oatmeal is a good source of soluble fiber. Oatmeal’s high fiber content makes it ideal for lowering cholesterol in dogs. Fiber aids in the treatment of intestinal and digestive issues such as constipation.
Additionally, oatmeal fiber helps in digestion and the elimination of gassiness. Oatmeal is highly recommended for overweight dogs. Due to its fiber content, it helps your dog in the breakdown of fats.
1.2. High Amount of Nutrients:
Oatmeal contains a high amount of nutrients and it is an excellent food for dog’s fur and skin. If your dog consumes oatmeal, he will undoubtedly have a shiny, strong, and healthy coat. Oatmeal is used in shampoos and lotions to improve the coat of dogs.
1.3. Vitamins:
Oatmeal contains a lot of vitamins B5 and B9. Oatmeal also has zinc, iron, magnesium, copper, and folic acid. It also contains biotin, which is beneficial to keeping your dog’s coat in good condition.
1.4. Low Cholesterol:
Oatmeal is beneficial for your dog if he has high cholesterol levels due to metabolic or genetic health conditions.
Research shows that oatmeal can help in lowering the cholesterol levels of your dog. This is because oatmeal contains beta-glucan that has been linked to better heart health.
Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal? Side Effects of Consuming Oatmeal
Although oatmeal contains a lot of nutrients and vitamins that are beneficial for your dog there are also some side effects of feeding oatmeal to your pooch. Let’s take a look at them:
- Oatmeal is available in different varieties and flavors. But keep in mind that not all varieties are suitable for your pet companion. Avoid feeding raw oatmeal to your pet as it can be difficult to digest for your dog and may cause stomach upset.
- Oatmeal may contain artificial flavors like chocolate, raisins, and sugar. You should avoid giving your dog those flavored varieties. Also don’t feed milky oatmeal to your dog because many dogs cannot digest lactose.
- Keep in mind that abruptly increasing your dog’s fiber intake can result in unpleasant digestive side effects such as gas or bloating.
How to Serve Oatmeal to Your Dog?
The key to making oatmeal a healthy snack for your dog is to make sure you choose the right variety and cook it correctly. To avoid problems and cook oatmeal correctly, follow these guidelines:
3.1. Cook Properly:
Oatmeal should be cooked properly. Cooking oatmeal before feeding it to your dog is preferable to feeding raw oats.
3.2. Whole Grains Oatmeal:
Whole grains are preferable. Serve only oatmeal made from whole grain oats to your dog. Processed grains provide fewer health benefits and may cause stomach upset in your dog.
3.3. Check Ingredients:
Check the ingredient list first if you’re serving pre-packaged oatmeal. Some pre-packaged oatmeal varieties have added sugar or flavorings and it can be dangerous for your dog’s health.
3.4. Small Portions:
Keep portions to a minimum. A cup of plain, cooked oatmeal contains about 150 calories. While this may not seem like much, but keep in mind that dogs require far fewer calories than we do.
When it comes to feeding oatmeal to your dog, a spoonful or two is usually more than enough.
3.5. Use Occasionally:
It should not be used as a meal replacement. Even though oatmeal has numerous benefits for your dog, it lacks many of the nutrients required for a well-rounded canine diet.
Use it as a snack or a meal topper instead of a meal to ensure your pup gets what he requires.
Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal? Final Thoughts:
So the answer to the question “can dogs eat oatmeal?” is YES, oatmeal is safe for your dog. Oatmeal provides many health benefits to your dog. However, only feed cooked oatmeal to your dog because raw oatmeal can be dangerous for your pooch.
Moreover, don’t use milk in oatmeal as dogs are allergic to dairy products. Instead, you can use water. Before adding oatmeal to your dog’s daily diet consult with your veterinarian, especially if your dog is suffering any health conditions.