Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal?

If you’re like most pet parents, you’re always looking for ways to improve your dog’s diet. One food that you may not have considered adding is oatmeal. Believe it or not, oatmeal can be a great addition to your dog’s diet and provides many health benefits. In this article, we’ll discuss why oatmeal is such a good food for dogs and how to add it to their diet.

Why oatmeal is so popular

As a delicious whole grain, oatmeal provides many essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Oatmeal is also a great source of protein and can help your dog feel fuller longer. Adding oatmeal to your dog’s diet can also help with weight loss or maintenance, as well as improve their digestion.¹

Benefits of oatmeal for dogs

Oatmeal provides many of the same benefits for dogs as it does for humans. As a whole grain, oatmeal is packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The fiber in oatmeal can help improve your dog’s digestion and make them feel fuller longer. The protein in oatmeal can also help your dog maintain a healthy weight or lose weight if they need to.¹ Oatmeal is also a great food for dogs with allergies or sensitivities, as it is naturally hypoallergenic.

How to add oatmeal to your dog’s diet

If you’re interested in adding oatmeal to your dog’s diet, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, make sure to cook the oatmeal before feeding it to your dog. Raw oats can be hard for dogs to digest. You’ll also want to avoid adding any sweeteners or flavorings to the oatmeal, as these can be harmful to dogs. Once the oatmeal is cooked, you can mix it with your dog’s regular food or serve it as a treat. Start with a small amount and increase the amount gradually over time to avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach.

Why whole grains are better for dogs

While refined grains like white flour and white rice are common in many dog foods, they aren’t as nutritious as whole grains. Whole grains like oats, barley, and brown rice contain more fiber and nutrients than their refined counterparts. Refined grains are also more likely to cause gastrointestinal issues in dogs. If your dog is prone to digestive problems, switching to a food that contains whole grains can help.

When it comes to your dog’s diet, oatmeal is a great food to consider. Oatmeal provides many of the same benefits for dogs as it does for humans and can help with weight loss or maintenance, improve their digestion, and more. Just make sure to cook the oatmeal before feeding it to your dog and avoid adding any sweeteners or flavorings. Start with a small amount and increase the amount gradually over time. Your dog will love the taste of oatmeal and you’ll love knowing that they’re getting all the nutrients they need! Can dogs eat oatmeal? Can dogs eat oats? Can dogs have oatmeal? YES to all three! Oatmeal provides many of the same benefits for dogs as it does for humans and can help with weight loss or maintenance, improve their digestion, and more.²

Just make sure to cook the oatmeal before feeding it to your dog and avoid adding any sweeteners or flavorings.

Why oatmeal can’t be used as a meal replacement

While oatmeal is a great food for dogs, it shouldn’t be used as a meal replacement. Oatmeal doesn’t contain all the nutrients that dogs need to stay healthy and should only be given as a occasional treat or added to their regular food. If you’re looking for a complete and balanced meal for your dog, consider switching to a food that contains whole grains. Whole grains are more nutritious than refined grains and can help your dog stay healthy and happy.²

A healthy breakfast choice that offers an abundance of nutritional value to humans, oatmeal is a staple found in many people’s 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

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 City’s 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.³

Dietary advice for dogs

When it comes to feeding your dog oatmeal, avoid using flavored or instant varieties, as they often contain sugar or sweeteners, which can be harmful to dogs. Instead, cook plain oatmeal and add it to your dog’s regular food or use it as a standalone treat.

Extras for your dog’s oatmeal

Peanut Butter

A little bit of all-natural peanut butter can go a long way in making oatmeal more palatable for your pup.

Bananas

Bananas are a great source of potassium, which is an important electrolyte for dogs.

Blueberries

Blueberries are packed with antioxidants and make a great addition to oatmeal.

Plain, unsweetened yogurt

Yogurt contains probiotics, which can help support a healthy digestive system.

When it comes to feeding your dog oatmeal, avoid using flavored or instant varieties, as they often contain sugar or sweeteners, which can be harmful to dogs. Instead, cook plain oatmeal and add it to your dog’s regular food or use it as a standalone treat. You can also mix in some all-natural peanut butter, bananas, blueberries, or plain, unsweetened yogurt to make the oatmeal more palatable for your pup.

With all of the benefits that oatmeal has to offer, it’s no wonder that more and more pet parents are adding this healthy food to their dog’s diet. Just be sure to cook the oatmeal before feeding it to your dog and avoid adding any sweeteners or flavorings. Start with a small amount and increase the amount gradually over time. Your dog will love the taste of oatmeal and you’ll love knowing that they’re getting all the nutrients they need!

What Your Dog Can Eat As Well

There’s no shame in wanting to give our dogs whatever food will make them happy. There just happens to be many other choices out there that are much healthier and more nutritious than pretzels. Here is a list of all the junk foods that your dog can eat.

Fruits

There are many fruits that dogs can eat which are packed with vitamins, dietary fibers, and antioxidants. The best are berries like strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, and raspberries. Dogs can eat bananas, oranges, apples, melons, mangos, and pineapples. Make sure fruits with pits, stems, cores, and seeds have been ridden from these items. Several of them are choking hazards and peach pits can be toxic. Grapes of any kind are poisonous to dogs, and even raisins shouldn’t be given to them.

Seafood

When seafood is free from shells, tails, bones, and legs, they are safe for a dog to eat. Dogs can have lobster, shrimp, salmon, crab, tuna, flounder, and a variety of other fish that is lower in mercury. Fish with too much mercury fed too often to our dogs can cause mercury poisoning. Uncooked or undercooked seafood can contain harmful pathogens and bacterium like salmonella which can make a dog extremely ill. Always ensure that seafood is thoroughly cooked before feeding it to your dog.

Beans

Beans can be great sources of dietary fibers and proteins which are necessary for a dog’s health. Dogs can have a wide variety of beans, including lima beans, pinto beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, soybeans, butter beans, kidney beans, navy beans, and even green beans. Beans should always be cooked thoroughly and fed to dogs in moderation to avoid tummy aches. Beans shouldn’t replace meat in a dog’s diet, since the meat they eat is a richer source of proteins.

Vegetables

As stated earlier, garlic and onions contain toxins that are bad for dogs, and even seasonings containing traces of these vegetables could cause problems. Avocado is another poisonous food because it contains a toxic chemical called persin. Other veggies are considered great sources of fiber and vitamins for dogs. Dogs can eat carrots, pumpkins, spinach, celery, brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, and many other vegetables instead.

Nuts

Most nuts aren’t toxic to dogs, save for walnuts and macadamia nuts. Other nuts aren’t necessarily poisonous, but they can contain lots of salts, fats, and proteins that are difficult to digest. They also aren’t very practical because they can be choking hazards due to their shapes, sizes, and shells. Cashews, almonds, and pistachios are fine for dogs to eat moderately, especially when they are made into butter which is safer to eat in terms of obstruction.

Expert Insights From Spot

While sharing our favorite foods with our pets can be tempting, it's important to remember that not all human foods are safe for dogs. Spot's internal data shows that pet insurance claims for dietary indiscretions average $642*, highlighting the importance of caution and research before sharing snacks with your pet.