Oatmeal is a typical healthy breakfast option which provides a lot of nutritional value and less risks to health. It is very good for humans but there are some facts you should keep in mind before giving it to your dog. Oatmeal is very helpful for dogs that have difficulty digesting food. Oatmeal is full of soluble fiber that improves bowel movements but too much fiber can cause many problems, your dog can show signs of diarrhea, vomiting, gastrointestinal upset etc. when you are going to prepare oatmeal for your dog then you should not use milk in that rather you should pour water into it. Dog’s digestive system is not good at breaking down lactose so milk is not a good choice for them. The oatmeals for your dog needs to be properly cooked and not given any raw oatmeal just sprinkled over your dog’s food.
Can Dogs Have Oatmeal?
Yes, oatmeals are very nutritious and healthy for our four legged canine companions. But there are certain measures you need to take before feeding oatmeals to your dog. Oatmeals will help your dog digest other food and itself quickly but if you give your pup raw oatmeals then your pup will not be able to digest it properly. You can not add any seasonings whatsoever in that oatmeal which is being prepared for your dog. You can only add water to the oatmeal and cook it like that without any sugar, salt or additives. You should buy only the plain oatmeals that are not flavored. If you feed your dog flavoured oatmeal then it will do more harm than any good. However, your dog should be put on a balanced diet so you need to make sure he or she is getting all the other nutrients he or she is supposed to get.
How to Feed Oatmeal to Your Dog
If you want your dog to get the absolute best and get healthy then what you need to do first is to choose the correct variety. You would also have to cook it carefully so that he or she does not get any health problems after consuming oatmeal. Here I am going to list the steps with the help of which you will be able to cook the perfect healthy and safe food for your pup.
#1. You can never feed your dog raw oatmeals because they cause many problems so you have to cook the oatmeal nicely.
#2. Buy the oatmeals that are made from whole grains. If you feed your dog oatmeal that is made from processed grains then it can be hard to digest for your pup.
#3. If you are going to cook a pre packaged oatmeal then i suggest that you first check the ingredients it is made of. If it contains any kinds of additives or chemicals then do not feed it to your dog.
#4. One cup of oatmeal that is well cooked contains 150 calories. So in the case of dogs you can not give more than 2 spoonfuls.
#5. You should not replace your dog’s everyday meal with oatmeals because oatmeal cannot give all the nutrients one dog requires. Dogs must have a well rounded and well balanced diet. They need proteins, fibers , carbohydrates and fats. If they lack any one component, they will start to show symptoms of sickness.
This is the reason why you can not give your dog oatmeal everyday. 1 spoonful is okay and encouraged but a lot of it everyday will cause stomach issues. You should cook plain oatmeal without any additives.
Is Oatmeal Good for Dogs?
Oatmeal is a great choice because it has a lot of fiber which helps in the digestion process. Other than that, it also contains abundant nutrients, antioxidants and minerals. Your precious dog can have a lot of benefits if you give oatmeals to him or her in moderation. If your dog is not comfortable eating or digesting wheat or grains then oatmeal will be a perfect alternative to the carbohydrates. Oatmeal includes vitamin B which is very helpful and also maintains a healthy coat. Other than that oatmeal consists of linoleic acid which is actually one kind of Omega 6 fatty acid. All these help your dog be fit and healthy. Oatmeal helps regulate the levels of glucose in blood as it consists of soluble fiber. Dogs who have difficulty digesting foods can be extremely relieved if they start to eat oatmeal.
Side Effects of Feeding Oatmeal to Dogs
There will not be any side effects if you do not overfeed your dog oatmeals. Oatmeal is a typical healthy breakfast option which provides a lot of nutritional value and less risks to health. It is very good for humans but there are some facts you should keep in mind before giving it to your dog. Oatmeal is very helpful for dogs that have difficulty digesting food. Oatmeal is full of soluble fiber that improves bowel movements but too much fiber can cause many problems, your dog can show signs of diarrhea, vomiting, gastrointestinal upset etc.
However, if you feed your dog a lot of oatmeal at once then your dog can vomit, have diarrhea, bloat and this situation may become very dangerous. Oatmeal contains a lot of calories (mainly carbohydrates and fiber)
Can Dogs eat Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeals are safe for dogs to eat which is why many people assume everything that is made of oatmeal will be okay for dogs to eat. But this assumption is wrong on all the different levels. Oatmeal is safe only when it is made from whole grain and no other additives like salt, sugar, artificial sweetener and spices are added in that oatmeal. To be sure you should always check the ingredients before buying any oatmeal product for your dog. However you can look for plain oatmeal too which is completely safe if you cook them properly. Oatmeal may be safe but you have to keep the amount very small because too much oatmeal will cause diarrhea and vomiting as it is high in fiber and carbohydrate.
Oatmeal cookies are not safe because they are made with extra sugar and sweetener, little bits of salt and other additives that make them tasty to eat. Other than the harmful additives, there are chocolate chips and raisins too which are also not safe for the dogs at all.
Can Dogs eat Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
No, oatmeals are safe when it is plain cooked and you have added absolutely no additives at all. But Oatmeal raisin cookies are made with choco chips, raisins, a lot of sugar and salt which are extremely risky for dogs to consume. A little bit will not kill your dog, nor do much harm, a lot of it, even a half of the cookie will be able to make your dog very sick. If you do not want your dog to vomit and suffer from diarrhea I suggest you keep oatmeal raisin cookies away from your dog. Sometimes, people add milk to the cookies as well which is also not suitable for our four legged canine companions.
Can Dogs eat Cooked Oatmeal
Yes, cooked oatmeals are the right way to serve your dog some good oatmeal. By cooking I do not mean you need to add a lot of other additives and all to make it tasty. As you only have to give a spoonful to your dog so you do not need to give a large amount of oatmeal to him or her. Buy the plain oatmeal from the stores that says whole grain. Now, do not add any milk to that, only boil the plain oats in plain water. After it has been well cooked and has gone soft take it out and let it cool down. Now only give 1 or 2 spoonfuls to your dog.
Can Dogs eat Uncooked Oatmeal
No, raw oatmeals or uncooked oatmeals will be hard for your dog’s digestive system to break down. If your dog can not digest the raw oatmeal or if he or she is having a hard time digesting it then it is likely for them to suffer from tummy ache, vomiting and having diarrhea. Oatmeal is full of fiber but it is no use if your dog can not digest it properly which is why it is recommended that you boil the oatmeal in plain water and cook it before serving it to your dog.
Can Dogs eat Oatmeal with Milk
No, milk can not be digested by our dogs. Our dog’s have less amount of enzymes that help them to break down the lactose in the milk so when ingested in large amounts they may suffer from diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. Humans have more of these helpful enzymes which is why we are able to digest a lot of milk. But other than that too much milk everyday can make your dog obese. When your dog become obese he or she will develop many other problems along with obesity and eventually it can be life threatening dieases. That is why it is recommended to use non dairy products for dogs.
Can Dogs eat Oatmeal with Cinnamon
No, oatmeal will be safe for your dog only when you cook it without any additives at all. Cinnamon is among those additives which can be very harmful to your dog. If your dog consumes it then he or she might show signs of mouth irritation. Sometimes, cinnamon can cause breathing problems for our four legged furries. So remember that if you are cooking for your dog something please make sure you add absolutely no seasoning at all.
Can Dogs eat Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal
No, dogs can not eat oatmeal that is cooked with maple brown sugar. Maple brown sugar contains a lot of sugar which is extremely bad for dogs. Sugar can cause extreme pain in the stomach and eventually make your dog obese. Your dog can develop diabetes if he or she consumes lots of maple syrup everyday. If it continues for a long time then your dog can also start showing symptoms of hypoglycemia and liver failure. Maple syrups also has in itself xylitol which is extremely toxic for both dogs and cats.
Can Dogs eat Oatmeal Cereal
Yes, if the oatmeal cereal is plain and has no additives in it then you can surely give them to your dog. But make sure that you properly cook the oatmeal properly. If you are unsure whether or not the oatmeal cereal you have at home is safe or not then look at the ingredients at the back of the cereal box. If all the ingredients are safe for dogs then your dog will have no problem eating it. But remember that do not serve it with milk because milk is not suitable for dogs.
