can i feed my dog raw oatmeal

Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal?

NOTE: Always check with your veterinarian first before giving your dog any new foods, especially people foods. What might be OK for one dog might not be good for your dog, depending on multiple factors, such as their age, health history, health conditions, and diet. Dogs on prescription diets should not be fed any food or treats outside the diet.

When its cooked and fed in moderation, oatmeal can be a great snack to share with your dog. Just make sure its prepared safelysteer clear of any dangerous ingredients that can make your dog sick and follow portion guidelines so she doesnt have too much.

But can dogs have raw oats? And what about oatmeal cookies? Heres what to know about preparing oatmeal so its safe for dogs to eat.

Is Oatmeal Good for Dogs?

Plain, cooked oatmeal can be a great addition to your dog's diet. This heart-healthy breakfast is rich in soluble fiber, vitamins, and minerals such as iron, zinc, and B vitamins that help support your dogs coat and skin.

The high fiber content helps promote digestion and weight management. So incorporating cooked, plain oatmeal into your dogs food bowl may help regulate her digestive system and keep her feeling full longer, which is helpful for dogs who may need to shed a few pounds.

But when sharing your oatmeal, always steer clear from any extra ingredients that may make your dog sick, such as raisins or too much sugar.

Can Dogs Eat Uncooked Oatmeal?

Sprinkling raw oatmeal into your dogs food bowl might seem like an easy way to add fiber to her diet, but the uncooked grains are difficult to digest and can give her an upset stomach. Instead, prepare plain oatmeal with water and let it cool before sharing with your pooch.

How to Safely Prep Oatmeal for Dogs

Cooked, plain oatmeal can be a good addition to your dogs diet and contains many nutrients. But always avoid feeding your dog oatmeal that contains harmful toxic ingredients. Check the package for any of the following:

When cooking oatmeal, use water instead of milk because its better for your dogs digestive system. Cook the oatmeal as normal, without adding any sugar or salt. Let the oatmeal cool to room temperature before sharing with your dog, and start with small amounts as a complement to their usual food.

Always check with your vet before making any major changes to your dog's diet, especially if your pup has any health conditions or sensitivities.

How Much Oatmeal Can Dogs Eat Safely?

As with any new food, start slow. Just because oatmeal is OK to share with dogs does not mean she should have more than a few spoonfuls at a time! Youll want to avoid giving your dog too much oatmeal at once because the high fiber content can cause diarrhea or other digestive upset.

Note that these are just general guidelines. Its always best to check with your vet before making major changes to your furry friends food bowl.

• Extra-small dog (220 pounds) = 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon, up to twice per week

• Small dog (2130 pounds) = 12 tablespoons, up to twice per week

• Medium dog (3150 pounds) = 1/4 cup (or less), up to twice per week

• Large dog (5190 pounds) = 1/2 cup (or less), up to twice times per week

• Extra-large dog (91+ pounds) = 2/3 cup (or less), up to twice per week

Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal Cookies?

Not all oatmeal is created equally, and therefore not all oatmeal snacks are safe for dogs. Oatmeal cookies that contain ingredients such as raisins, chocolate, nutmeg, or xylitol are harmful and should be avoided.

But even if your oatmeal cookie doesnt contain raisins, chocolate, or nutmeg, the high levels of sugar, butter, and oil found in baked goods can make your pet sick. Stick with plain, cooked oatmeal and avoid the cookies altogetherunless you can find a pet-safe option that satisfies your dogs sweet tooth, like:

There are plenty of naturally sweet human foods that dogs can also safely snack on. Just keep in mind that any treats should only make up 10% of your dogs overall diet. The other 90% should come from a well-balanced dog food.

Featured Image: Adobe/evgeniarusinova

WRITTEN BY

April Saylor

Freelance Writer

Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal, and Should They?

Cooked oatmeal can be a healthy addition to your dogs diet. You should opt for plain varieties prepared with water instead of milk, and increase the amount slowly over time to assess your dogs tolerance.

Oatmeal is a common breakfast staple thats favored for both its versatility and potential health benefits.

It has also become an increasingly common ingredient in many types of commercial dog food.

While it seems clear that oatmeal is generally safe for your canine companion, you may wonder whether you should use caution with some preparation methods and if its truly healthy for them.

This article reviews whether dogs can and should eat oatmeal.

Oatmeal is highly nutritious and has been associated with several potential health benefits.

Promotes skin health

Oats are rich in B vitamins and linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid (1).

B vitamins play a key role in skin health and may be involved in the production of healthy skin cells (2).

Meanwhile, linoleic acid is also essential for skin health and can help maintain the integrity of the skin barrier, promote wound healing, and alleviate inflammation (3).

Although these benefits have not been studied in dogs specifically, dog skin is similar to human skin.

Supports digestion

Oatmeal is high in fiber, with over 4 grams of fiber in each cooked cup (240 grams) (1).

Fiber has been linked to a number of potential health benefits, especially in terms of digestive health.

Fiber moves slowly through your body undigested, adding bulk to stool to support regularity (4).

Although studies in dogs specifically are limited, research suggests that increased fiber intake may be beneficial for treating constipation (5, 6).

May lower cholesterol levels

If your dog has high cholesterol levels due to metabolic or genetic health conditions, oatmeal may be beneficial.

This is because oats are a good source of beta glucan, a type of fiber that has been associated with improved heart health (7).

Humans studies have shown that oats could help reduce cholesterol levels, especially in people with high cholesterol (8, 9).

One study in 14 dogs observed similar findings, showing that supplementing with oat beta glucan for 71 days reduced levels of total and LDL (bad) cholesterol (10).

However, more large, high quality studies are needed to confirm whether oats may help lower cholesterol levels in dogs.

summary

Although more research is needed, oatmeal may help support skin health, promote regularity, and lower cholesterol levels. However, studies on these benefits in dogs specifically are limited.

Although oats are a great source of nutrients, keep in mind that not all types are suitable for your furry friend.

In particular, raw oats can be difficult for your dog to digest and may cause stomach upset.

You should also steer clear of flavored varieties, which are often high in sugar and may contain ingredients that can be toxic to dogs, such as chocolate, raisins, or the sugar alcohol xylitol (11, 12).

Additionally, be sure to prepare oats with water instead of milk, as many dogs cannot digest lactose very well (13).

Finally, keep in mind that increasing their fiber intake too quickly can also cause unpleasant digestive side effects, including gas or bloating (14, 15).

To keep negative side effects at bay, its recommended for fiber intakes to increase slowly over time by 13 grams per day, as well as with plenty of water.

summary

While oatmeal can be nutritious, certain types may contain ingredients that are unsuitable for dogs and can cause adverse digestive side effects.

According to the American Kennel Club, you can typically feed dogs around one tablespoon (15 grams) of cooked oatmeal for every 20 pounds (9 kg) of body weight (16).

Given its rich content of soluble fiber, oatmeal has also become an increasingly common ingredient in many types of commercial dog food (17).

Its especially popular among pet owners with dogs who have difficulty tolerating other grains, such as wheat.

Some specific examples of dog food that contain oatmeal include:

• Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe
• Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Lamb & Oatmeal Formula
• Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Fish and Oatmeal Recipe
• Castor & Pollux ORGANIX Organic Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe
• Nutro Wholesome Essentials Venison Meal, Brown Rice & Oatmeal Recipe

summary

Several popular types of commercial dog food contain oatmeal.

When prepared properly, oatmeal can be a healthy addition to your dogs diet.

Be sure to only feed dogs cooked oatmeal and opt for plain varieties prepared with water instead of milk.

You should also increase their intake gradually to assess your dogs tolerance.

However, keep in mind that oatmeal should be included as part of a balanced diet and not be used to replace commercial dog food.

Additionally, its a good idea to consult your veterinarian before making any changes to your dogs diet, especially if they have any underlying health conditions.

Can my dog eat oatmeal? Cooked or raw?

Oatmeal dosage

The amount of oatmeal you can feed your dog depends on its size, activity level and general health. As a general rule:

• Small dogs: 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon
• Medium sized dogs: 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup
• Large dogs: 1/4 to 1/2 cup

It is important to consider oatmeal as a supplement to your dog's normal diet and not as a substitute for their regular meal.

Ingredients and nutritional values

Oatmeal consists mainly of carbohydrates, but also contains proteins and fats. Here is an overview of the most important nutrients per 100 grams of oatmeal:

• Calories: About 389 kcal
• Proteins: 16.9 g
• Fats: 6.9 g
• Carbohydrates: 66.3 g
• Dietary fiber: 10.6 g
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine): 0.76 mg
• Iron: 4.72 mg
• Magnesium: 177 mg

Preparation and feeding

• Cooking: It is best to cook the oatmeal before feeding to make it easier to digest.
• No sugar or flavorings: Make sure the oatmeal does not contain any added sugar or artificial flavorings.
• Slow introduction: Start with small amounts to see how your dog reacts.

Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal?

Your dog can safely eat most forms of oatmeal, but avoid those packets of flavored oatmeal, as they may contain other ingredients that are harmful to your dog, including the deadly sweetener xylitol. Stick with plain oats.

You have likely seen dog foods and treats that include oatmeal as an ingredient. Thats because it is nutritious. Beneficial nutrients in oatmeal for dogs include:

• Fiber
• Vitamin B
• Omega-6 fatty acids
• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Antioxidants

These qualities can help to support heart and gastro-intestinal tract health for your dog. Oatmeal also can help promote healthy weight and stable blood glucose levels. Oatmeal is good for dogs with diarrhea or loose stools because its high in fiber.

How to Feed Oatmeal to Dogs

When cooking oatmeal for your dog, use water instead of milk. Most dogs are lactose intolerant, so water is the better choice. Follow the instructions for the plain oats of your choice. You can even use overnight oats that soak overnight.

As with any new food, introduce oatmeal gradually so that your dog doesnt get an upset stomach. Start with about a spoonful of cooked oatmeal at a time. You can work up to about 6 ounces of oatmeal a day per 25 pounds of the dogs bodyweight.

If you plan to home-cook your dogs meals rather than just feeding oatmeal as a supplemental snack, consult with a veterinary nutritionist or use BalanceIt.com to formulate a complete and balanced diet. This will ensure that your dog gets all the nutrients that she needs to be happy and healthy long term.

And dont forget to let the oatmeal cool before you serve it to your dog!

Oatmeal in Dog Food

Oatmeal is sometimes used in commercial dog foods as an alternate carbohydrate source instead of wheat, rice, or corn. Provided that the dog food packaging has an AAFCO statement declaring that it is formulated to meet nutritional standards for your dogs life stage, you are all set to feed it to your dog as-is.

Oatmeal is also used in many treats that your dog may enjoy.

Can Dogs Eat Uncooked Oatmeal?

Dogs should not eat uncooked raw oatmeal. The cooking process makes it easier for dogs to digest. Eating dry uncooked oatmeal in large quantities may cause your dog to bloat, which is a medical emergency.

Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal Cookies?

Dogs can eat oatmeal cookies once in a great while depending on what else is in them. Remember that raisins and chocolate chips are both toxic to dogs, which rules out many oatmeal cookies. The high sugar content of many cookies is not ideal for our canine companions, however.

Unless you are certain all the ingredients in an oatmeal cookie are safe for dogs, keep that treat for yourself.