is banana oatmeal good for dogs

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 Dogs Eat Bananas?

As a pet owner, you might have wondered which fruits or vegetables are okay for your dog to consume. If youve ever asked, Can dogs eat bananas? the answer is yes.

Are Bananas Good for Dogs?

Bananas are high in potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. In fact, sometimes veterinarians recommend this fruit as a healthy alternative to fatty, salty treats. The fruit is also high in fiber, which can help if your dog is having gastrointestinal problems, and magnesium, which promotes bone growth and helps the body produce protein and absorb vitamins.However, like with any food item, you should only feed your dog bananas in moderation, especially since they contain a lot of sugar.

Can Dogs Eat Banana Peels?

Watch out for banana peels. While the peels are not toxic to dogs, they are hard to digest and may cause a blockage. Even without the peel, feeding your pup too many bananas can cause stomach upset. If you have any questions or concerns about how much of a banana to give your dog, consult your veterinarian.

How to Feed Your Dog Banana

In addition to giving your dog a piece of a regular banana, here are some other ways they can enjoy the tasty snack:

• Mash it up with their food.
• Mix it into a little dog-safepeanut butter.
• Put the banana into a stuffable dog toy and freeze it.
• Freeze the whole banana, peel it, and slice it.

DIY Banana Dog Treat

Many dogs will enjoy the sweet, starchy flavor of a plain banana, but if youre feeling ambitious, you can make this tasty treat no baking required!

Ingredients

• Ripe banana
• Scoop of peanut butter (first check that it doesnt contain xylitol)
• Slice of mild cheese
• Blender
• A fillable or stuffable toy

Instructions

1. Combine the banana, peanut butter, and cheese in the blender, until it reaches a smooth consistency.
2. Smear it over the toy and freeze.

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats

3-ingredient homemade dog treats made with old-fashioned rolled oats, natural peanut butter, and banana. Perfect for your pups and human-friendly, too!

Hello!

This post is a little different but if you live with a furry friend or see one on the regular then theyre going to love it so you should stick around.

Its Harpers third birthday today so I thought we should celebrate!

For the past three years Ive been making her these super simple baked dog treats to ring in her big day.

Each year I have to dig it up the recipe to make and share, so Im finally sharing here so none of us lose it ever again!

Its hard to forget, because these biscuits are done in under 30 minutes with clean pantry ingredients.

You just need peanut butter, banana, and oatmeal to make these 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats for a happy pup.

And if youre so inclined, theyre absolutely human-friendly too, for a lower sugar cookie snack!

What is it about peanut butter that dogs LOVE so much?

If theres PB on a spoon in the open dishwasher, Harper makes a beeline for it, licking and lapping until I shut the door closed and scold her.

When friends come over and Harper *wont stop* begging for attention, the only solution is tucking a heaping spoonful of peanut butter into the center of a Kong for Harper to riddle over for hours to come.

Or at least 20 minutes.

Anyway, I get it, Harper.

Peanut butter is delicious particularly when baked into cookies!

What ingredients are dog-friendly?

I get asked a lot if Harper eats a vegan diet.

The short answer is no.

But guys, she sure does love peanut butter, banana, and oats.

She takes after her momma.

She doesnt, however, love greens, no matter how much I will her to pick up the spinach and kale that falls to the floor during my recipe shoots.

(I mean, whats the point if they cant double up as your vacuum cleaner?! I KID.)

The long answer is that I want her be able to eat all of the things that growing healthy pups need.

Just because she isnt plant-based doesnt mean I dont check out the ingredients that go into her food, making sure she has clean options in her bowl, too!

These treats are the kind of reward you can feel good placing in your dogs bowl (or on their snout if youve watched our circus act on Instagram).

What You Need to Make 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Lets start with our quality of ingredients.

Harper had digestive troubles as a puppy, and in the beginning she had to eat a special food to heal her tummy.

Ever since then, Im cautious about what we give her and what quantity.

With these cookies, I made sure the ingredients are 100% dog safe and friendly!

You need:

• super ripe banana (the riper the better!)
• natural peanut butter (no added oils, sugars, preservatives, or flavoring, please!)
• gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats (or you can sub oat flour, instead!)

I opted to make my own oat flour for this recipe, but you can also buy store-bought oat flour to eliminate using the blender.

Thats it! No added sugars, no rising agents, no oils, no gluten, no surprises.

How to Make Homemade Dog Treats

The method is simple you just smash everything together in a large mixing bowl until you have a workable pliable peanut butter-y dough.

Depending on the size of your banana(s), you may need to add a little extra peanut butter (say 1-2 TBSP) to add more moisture to the batter.

You want to add more peanut butter if youre dough if dry and crumbly dont worry, your pup will thank you later.

Next you roll the dough out on a floured surface or a large sheet of parchment paper.

I didnt measure, but Id say 1/4 thick dough is about what to aiming for.

How to cut your treats into fun shapes

Now heres the fun part!

We cut the dough into cookie cutter shapes I love these bones shapes in different sizes!

If youre in a hurry, you can skip the cookie cutting altogether and instead roll the dough into 1 balls and flatten with your hands to make a totally respectable circular treat.

Im guessing your pup wont care what shape theyre in but I, of course, am partial to the bone shapes for presentation!

Its all too easy to over-bake these treats, so watch them closely around the 15 minute mark.

The cookies are done when golden brown underneath.

They may seem fragile to the touch, but they firm up when outside the oven for a few minutes.

Make sure to allow them to cool completely before serving to yourself or your furry friend!

Why Make 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats

These 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats are the perfect clean dog treat to spoil your pup!

Theyre ideal to make as a homemade gift to a dog-lover for a birthday or seasonal holiday!

They keep for several weeks refrigerated and for one week at room temp.

If you want to make for multiple pooches, simply double or triple the recipe for treats for days.

When I make them for Harper I like to make a huge batch and save the cookies in the fridge for weeks to come.

She loves it!

These cookies are also totally human-friendly if youre looking for a lower sugar peanut-butter banana snack cookie.

Make a batch for meal prep and you and your pup can duke it out for the last peanut butter banana treat.

If you make these 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats, let me know!

Be sure to leave me a comment, rating, and review so I can use your feedback to create more yums.

Come say hi onInstagramand use#floraandvino!

Check out myPinterestpage to pin more recipe like this one to make later!

For more healthy homemade dog treats, check out my Vegan Sweet Potato Dog Chews.

For some easy human-friendly cookies, try my Almond Butter Avocado Chocolate Chip Cookies,Dark Chocolate Chunk Muesli Snack Cookies, and4-Ingredient Maple Sesame Tahini Cookies.

Love this post and want more? Go to myhomepageand subscribe to get updates deliveredright to your inbox!

XO Lauren

Description

3-ingredient homemade dog treats made with old-fashioned rolled oats, natural peanut butter, and banana. Perfect for your pups and human-friendly, too!

• 1 1/2 cups gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 1 large ripe banana (or 2 medium bananas), smashed

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Blitz the oats in a blender until you have a fine flour, or, alternatively, use oat flour instead. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, smash the peanut butter and ripe banana. And the oat flour and smash with a fork until the dough is thick and well combined. If its crumbly, add 2-4 Tablespoons more peanut butter and recombine. You want the dough to be firm, sticky, and pliable
4. Roll dough into a thin slab, about ~1/4 inch thick, and cut into shapes with a cookie cookie. Alternatively, you can roll them into ~1 Tablespoon balls and flatten with your hands for a simple circular cookie.
5. Bake for ~15 minutes until lightly brown underneath. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before sampling or sharing with your pup!
6. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks!

• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins
• Category: Dog Treats
• Method: Oven-Bake
• Cuisine: Vegan, Gluten-Free, Refined-Sugar-Free

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