is oatmeal okay for dogs

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 Dogs Eat Oatmeal? Vet-Approved Facts & FAQ

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more

Many dog owners often wonder, Can dogs eat oatmeal? And the answer is yes! Most dogs can absolutely eat oatmeal in moderation. However, like any other human food, certain rules apply. So, lets go on an informative journey to understand how to serve oatmeal to our four-legged buddies and things to consider before offering it to them.

Oatmeals Nutritional Value for Dogs

Oatmeal, packed with dietary fiber and rich in a variety of nutrients, could be a healthy occasional addition to your dogs diet. Oatmeal can also be a wholesome alternative carbohydrate for dogs sensitive to grains.

Infused with the goodness of vitamin B, oatmeal helps in maintaining a lustrous coat, and its linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid¹, supports robust skin health. Soluble fiber, another strong point of oatmeal, can help regulate blood glucose levels. It may also offer assistance for dogs struggling with irregular bowel movements.

A few words of caution here: An overabundance of fiber can result in gastrointestinal upset, which isnt the most pleasant of experiences. It can come with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Thus, the phrase moderation is key is worth remembering.

Oatmeal may also not be suitable for all dogs, for example those who are obese or have underlying health conditions. Dogs on prescription diets should not have any additions to their diet unless you have the go ahead from your vet.

Serving Oatmeal to Dogs: A Step-By-Step Guide

Before adding oatmeal to your dogs menu, a quick primer on the best way to serve it is in order. While you may love oatmeal cooked in milk, its better to serve it to your dog prepared in water. Why, you ask? The reason is that many dogs are lactose intolerant, and their bodies may struggle with efficient lactose breakdown.

As for the cooking process, make sure the oatmeal is well-cooked, not served raw, to aid in easy digestion. And remember, while we love our oatmeal chock-full of additives like sugar and butter, these very ingredients can harm dogs so only ever serve it plain.

Special caution is needed against flavored oatmeal, which often contains excess sugar or even artificial sweeteners like xylitol, an additive thats toxic to dogs.

Another pro tip is to avoid instant oatmeal, as its heavily processed, leading to a significant loss in nutritional value. And of course, before serving, let the oatmeal cool down to room temperature to prevent any potential mouth burns.

Dietary Tips and Serving Size

While sharing oatmeal with your furry friend might seem like a bonding experience, remember your dogs dietary needs are different from yours. Too much human food, regardless of type, can upset your pups stomach.

Heres a simple rule of thumb: a single tablespoon of cooked oats per every 20 pounds of your dogs weight should do the trick. Overindulging can lead to consequences like vomiting, diarrhea, and in extreme cases, even bloat. To steer clear of this, just stick to a small serving and give it to your furry pal once or twice a week, tops.

Its always recommended to ensure your dog is primarily consuming a well-balanced commercial diet. When introducing oatmeal (or any new human food) to your dogs diet, take a gradual approach and watch for any negative reactions. And in case of any alarming symptoms, reach out to your vet at the earliest.

Tips to Feed Your Dog a Healthy Diet

Switching gears from oatmeal, lets focus on some general tips that can aid you in feeding your dog a healthy, balanced diet, ensuring they live their life to the fullest.

Go for a Balanced Commercial Diet

The backbone of your dogs diet should be a commercial, well-balanced dog food. So you want to look for products that have met the nutritional standards of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

These dog foods are designed to provide complete nutrition with a perfect balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

Keep Human Food to a Minimum

While its okay to treat your dog to some human foods occasionally, such as oatmeal, remember that their system is different from ours. They require a specific set of nutrients that might not be adequately provided by human food alone. Additionally, certain foods we enjoy can be harmful or even toxic to dogs.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

Water is as essential to dogs as it is to humans. Ensure your dog always has access to clean, fresh water, especially during hot weather or after periods of exercise. Staying hydrated helps maintain healthy kidney function and regulates body temperature.

Understand Your Dogs Specific Needs

Not all dogs have the same dietary needs. Size, breed, age, activity level, and health status can greatly influence a dogs nutritional requirements. Small breeds often need calorie-dense food, while larger breeds may benefit from certain joint-supporting nutrients. Age also plays a role, as puppies and senior dogs have unique dietary needs. Its always best to consult with your vet when choosing the best diet for your dog.

Portion Control Is Crucial

Overfeeding is a common problem that leads to obesity in dogs, which can result in various health problems. Ensure youre feeding your dog the right amount by checking the feeding guidelines on your dog food and adjusting according to your dogs activity level and body condition.

Regular Vet Checks

Regular vet visits can help monitor your dogs weight and overall health status. They can provide personalized advice on feeding, especially if your dog has a health condition that requires a special diet. Never hesitate to ask questions or express concerns about your dogs diet during these visits.

By keeping these tips in mind, youre setting the stage for a healthy, balanced diet that will support your dogs overall well-being and longevity. After all, a healthy dog is a happy dog!

Conclusion

So, can dogs eat oatmeal? Absolutely! But as with everything in life, balance is crucial. Serve it cooked, avoid additives and flavorings, and watch the serving size to ensure that the oatmeal is not only enjoyed by your dog but is also benefiting them.

Featured Image Credit: olhovyi_photographer, Shutterstock