why is oatmeal good 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.

Why oatmeal is good for dogs in moderation

If youve been wondering, Is oatmeal healthy for dogs? weve got great news. Oats are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates for people, so it only makes sense that theyre a healthy food for dogs, too. Still, its not as simple as it seems. Although oatmeal is safe for canine snacking, there are a few things you need to remember when serving it to your fur baby. A healthy pup is a happy pup, after all!

Is oatmeal good for dogs?

Although moderation is key, even for a good thing, oatmeal can be a healthy piece of your dogs diet. Oats contain beneficial nutrients such as fiber, vitamin B, and omega-6 fatty acids. Fiber can help regulate blood sugar and bowel movements, while vitamin B and omega-6s contribute to a healthy, shiny coat.

Do be careful: Fiber can be quite healthful, but it can also cause intestinal upset in some dogs. Its always a good idea to keep an eye on your pup for a while after trying new foods. There are certainly ways to prepare this breakfast staple that will help your dog digest it more easily, including serving her only cooked oatmeal. Raw oats might be great for people, but the same cant be said for pups.

How much oatmeal is healthy for dogs?

Generally, you should be feeding your dog no more than one tablespoon of cooked oatmeal per 20 pounds of body weight. So, for example, a 60-pound husky could eat up to three tablespoons in one sitting.

Portion control is important for a variety of reasons. Not only does it make sure that your pup isnt consuming too many carbs, but it also reduces her risk for a life-threatening condition called bloat. Diarrhea, vomiting, and other stomach upset can also be a consequence of too much human food even oatmeal.

When in doubt, you can always ask your veterinarian for a recommendation on portion control or the best snacks and treats for your dog.

How to prepare oatmeal for dogs

As much as you may want to share a bite of your breakfast, you should consider a few things first. Heres what you need to know:

Dont feed your dog instant oatmeal

Instant oatmeal can be delicious, but it can also contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs. Sugars themselves wont be an issue in small quantities, but if your instant oatmeal contains xylitol an artificial sweetener you may be in trouble. Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs, and it can hide in unexpected places.

Do use water instead of milk

If you use milk to make your oatmeal in the morning, this may not be the best to give to your pet. Many dogs, like people, are sensitive or intolerant to dairy products and you may not find out until its too late. Symptoms like diarrhea, loose stools, and vomiting can happen rather quickly.

Milk is also much higher in fat, which can lead to conditions such as obesity, heart disease, or pancreatitis over time. This is just another reason why moderation is key to a healthy dog, no matter what youre feeding them.

Do feed plain oatmeal to your dog

Its a smart idea to scoop out a portion of plain oatmeal for your dog before you add any toppings like fruit, butter, or brown sugar. Many of these toppings on their own arent harmful to dogs, but human food is still more likely to upset her stomach if fed too often. A small bite of an apple or a few blueberries can be a great treat, though sugars and other toppings need to be avoided.

Use your best judgment and dont be afraid to do your research before feeding your dog anything new. Popular oatmeal complements like grapes, raisins, and chocolate all contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs, so be extra careful when preparing breakfast for yourself with these items around.

Dont worry, though: Once youve taken a few extra steps to ensure your dogs safety, oatmeal can make a delicious and healthy occasional snack for your pup. She might really appreciate the new taste and texture, too! So all thats left now is to give it a try. What are you waiting for?

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