is raw oatmeal good for your dog

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 30, 2024

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Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal?

A healthy breakfast choice that offers an abundance of nutritional value to humans, oatmeal is a staple found in many peoples homes. But, can dogs eat oatmeal? The answer is yes, but there are some things you should keep in mind before feeding your pup this snack.

Is Oatmeal Good for Dogs?

Oatmeal is high in fiber and contains a plethora of nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants. Served in moderation, oatmeal can benefit a dog in a variety of ways, says Dr. Carly Fox of New York Citys Animal Medical Center. It is a great alternative carbohydrate for dogs that may be sensitive to wheat or grains. Oatmeal contains vitamin B, which helps maintain a healthy coat, and linoleic acid, which is a type of omega-6 fatty acid that helps to maintain the strength of dogs skin.

Its also a great source of soluble fiber, which can regulate blood glucose levels and help dogs that have irregular bowl movements. But Dr. Fox cautions that feeding your dog foods containing a lot of fiber can lead to GI upset, whose symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting.

How to Serve Oatmeal Safely to Dogs

When preparing oatmeal for your canine companion, make it with water, as opposed to milk. Dogs are very sensitive to dairy, and their bodies dont break down lactose as easily as humans do, says Dr. Fox.

If you plan to share your oatmeal, make sure its cooked and not sprinkled raw over food; serving it raw will only make it harder for your pup to digest. It should also be plain; while humans might enjoy additives, such as salt, butter, chocolate, raisins, or grapes, these ingredients can be extremely harmful to a dogs health. Never feed your dog flavored oatmeal, as it often contains more sugar and may even have artificial sweeteners, such as xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. Once the oatmeal is cooked, serve it at room temperaturegiving your dog food thats too hot can cause burns inside their mouth.

Dr. Fox also advises owners to stay away from instant oatmeal. While its faster and easier to prepare, its highly processed, and the health benefits your dog gets from eating oats will decrease. It loses its nutritional value, explains Dr. Fox. The least processed version provides the most health benefits.

Dietary Advice

Whats important to remember is that too much of any human food can be upsetting to a dogs stomach. Just because youre eating oatmeal daily for breakfast doesnt mean your dog should, too. Generally, you can feed your dog one tablespoon of cooked oatmeal for every 20 pounds of their weight.

Dont give your dog too much oatmeal at once because it contains a lot of carbohydrates and is relatively high in calories. Consuming a large amount can also lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and/or bloat, which can be life threatening. Half-a-cup of cooked oatmeal (at most), one to two times a week is more than enough for most large dogs. Your dog should be eating a well-balanced commercial diet, Dr. Fox says.

When introducing human food into your dogs diet, start off gradually and gauge how well he handles it. If he has any adverse reactions, consult your veterinarian immediately.

Here at the AKC, we field many queries from anxious dog owners about what is and isnt safe for their canine companions to eat. Questions range from the obvious (Can dogs eat steak bones?) to the trendy (Can dogs eat quinoa?) Check out more Can dogs eat articles on AKC.org to see what foods could be harmful to your dog, includingcherries,avocados, andonions.

Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal: Is Oatmeal Good Or Bad For Dogs?

Todays question: can dogs eat oatmeal? Is oatmeal good or bad for dogs? Scroll down for detailed answers.

What is oatmeal?

Many may have different ideas as to what oatmeal actually is. Depending upon where you live in the world, oatmeal may signify different things.

In the United States the term oatmeal can be visualized as flakes of grain and oats, or also referenced as the popular breakfast food.

Oatmeal consists of grains (oat groats) that have either been ground rolled or crushed. The oats can also be used in the production of many foods including, muesli, cookies, oatcakes and the classic British flapjack bar.

The oat grain itself is used in far more unexpected places, such as shampoos, conditioners, and moisturizing creams.

But can dogs eat oatmeal?

Oatmeal can be very beneficial for humans. The high beta-glucan content in the oats means it can lower blood pressure, and as part of a low-fat diet, has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.

With the added benefits of oatmeal in humans, dog owners may feel the urge to offer this wonder grain to their pets as well.

Clearly a great option for humans, which leads dog owners to ask can dogs eat it too? Is it okay to feed oatmeal to the dog while you are enjoying this healthy food?

Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal?

The answer is YES, dogs can enjoy oatmeal just fine, but take a few precautions before feeding Fido anything and be sure to read the rest of this piece first.

There are always risks involved when offering your dog new foods and when offering the dog food meant for humans. Oatmeal is generally a whole food when bought as steel cut oats or shredded grain.

Whole foods have less potential for disrupting ones body and causing harm.

Powdered oatmeal in packets may offer certain side effects to dogs because of preservatives and sugar content, but overall oatmeal is safe food for all to enjoy.

Oatmeal can really be a great help to your dog if he is suffering from tummy or bowel problems such as upset stomach, uncomfortable gas, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation.

Oatmeal has a soothing effect on the stomach lining as well as a calming effect when one eats the warm comfort food. Put the two together, and you have a recipe for soothing any ailment.

Health Benefits

The best bit about oatmeal is the high soluble fiber content.

This is great for keeping the bowel movements of your canine companion regular and in good order! Less time cleaning up messy spots.

Foods with high fibre soluble content also raise the immune system of your dog by keeping their body free of toxins. Strong immune systems leads to less sickness and longer life.

High fibre food will also keep your dog feeling fuller longer than usual, thereby lowering the risk of begging. The fibre from oatmeal can also help overweight dogs by helping lower cholesterol levels.

Fibre also plays a role in managing sugar levels, keeping your dog happy and on an even keel. Keeping a stable level of sugars will keep your dog at a low risk of diabetes as well.

Dogs develop diabetes just as humans do, so keeping the sugars of your dog balanced is an important aspect of pet ownership. Oatmeal can aid in this task and is perhaps a better treat to offer than a Milk-Bone or cookie.

Obesity, like in humans, can lead to high blood pressure and heart conditions (although this problem is less common in dogs as they dont tend to live long enough).

Oats are high in protein too, great for promoting healthy growth and muscle development. They have iron content and also manganese, which works as a catalyst for the body enzymes to produce fatty acids and energy.

The oats also contain vitamins, including Vitamin B-5 (panthothenic acid) which enables the body to extract energy from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

This also supports a healthy looking and feeling coat. Vitamins B-6 and B-9 (folate) are also present. If these amazing beneficial factors of oatmeal are not enough, the oats are also rich in silicon, which helps to keep the bones strong.

Outside As Well As Inside

As mentioned earlier, oatmeal is used in shampoos and moisturizers because of their soothing and healing properties. So as well as consuming the oats, the actual oats can be used in specific dog shampoos and soaps to help relieve itchiness and soothe a dogs irritated skin.

Humans know the effects of oatmeal on their own itchy, red, dry skin, especially in the winter. Imagine the benefits a dog would feel.

Dogs do not have the ability to understand the need for lotion, determine the best brand, purchase the lotion, and apply as needed.

Offering a homemade oatmeal treatment for the skin will allow your dog to be relieved of itchy and irritated skin.

Dogs that have itchy and allergic tendencies in their skin tend to be those who choose to chew their irritated skin endlessly. The itch is difficult to stop, and dogs are able to scratch their skin hard with their teeth. The chewing of ones skin can lead dogs to serious cuts and abrasions and may even lead to infection. Stopping the skin irritant before it starts is a good treatment plan. Products made with oatmeal are wonderful for the skin and will only benefit your dog if you choose to use it.

Interestingly, this calming effect oatmeal has on the skin, also works on the nervous system. Oatmeal is great for the more anxious dogs out there.

Eating Oatmeal

Oatmeal must be cooked before feeding it to your dog. Plain varieties of oatmeal without added fruit or flavorings are recommended, and likewise, ensure there is no added salt or sugar either. Added salt and sugar keep the benefits of oatmeal out of balance.

To keep the benefits of oatmeal high, serve your dog only pure oats. A sugar spike from processed oatmeal will lead to health problems, whereas as whole oatmeal will help resolve health problems.

Avoid the instant oatmeal; this tends to be packed with more artificial flavorings and ingredients. It is also safer to prepare the oatmeal using water instead of milk in case of any adverse reaction between the dog and the milk. A helpful hint for all dog owners is to always let oatmeal cool before serving. The eagerness to eat the comfort food may lead to a few burned doggie mouths.

Oatmeal should not be a replacement for your dogs regular diet and it is best to use it sparingly. Ideally if your pet is actually suffering from gastric problems.

Older dogs typically get the most benefit; their digestive system is most in need of some assistance. Using oatmeal as a tool to occasionally clear tummy upset or soothe nervousness is good. As is using oatmeal on the skin and hair in an effort to soothe abrasions.

A dog does not need constant use of oatmeal, either internally or externally, to be healthy. If you find yourself relying too much upon oatmeal, you may want to contact your vet to find another remedy or check for a larger problem than you suspected.

There have been an increasing number of cases of wheat and gluten intolerance in dogs that mirrors the increase in human cases.

No one is entirely sure why wheat and gluten intolerance are on the rise, perhaps it is due to the effects of the urban environments most of us now live, or perhaps it is dog owners projecting their own fears onto the dog.

Maybe we are just more aware of these intolerances, and they always existed but we just didnt know or understand them. Be sure to identify factors that the breed of your dog may find intolerable in oatmeal before serving.

Bearing that in mind, it is good to know that oats are low in gluten, (not quite zero but just a very small amount), certainly much less than wheat. Even though oatmeal is low in gluten, some are so sensitive to gluten that even a small amount can be upsetting to the system.

Oats make a great wheat replacement. Oats also make a great bread replacement in recipes that call for bread crumbs.

There is also no genetic modification occurring with oats, which is good to know for those concerned about Frankenstein Foods.

Oats are whole foods without risk of toxins, poison, pesticides, or chemicals being discovered within.

Conclusion

Oatmeal is one of the better whole foods made for humans that dogs can consume.

Like humans, there is always a chance the dog may be allergic to the oat grain, but that is very rare (much less common than say wheat). Oat grain is the widest tolerated grain for dogs!

You can use oat grain as a treat or as an occasionally addition to your dogs food.

Mixed with a little kibble or moist food, and the oatmeal should be very well tolerated and the benefits should begin to show in the wellness of your pet.

For these reasons, and like all foods it is best to introduce slowly and carefully. Oats can really benefit their digestive system and are jam-packed with fiber.