Can dogs eat oatmeal porridge? On the face of it, oatmeal would seem like a healthy addition to any dog food diet.
After all, a good hearty bowl of oatmeal porridge is a recommended start to the day for us humans, (assuming you lay off the sugary ones). Surely the same would apply to our dogs.
Well the fact is, dogs can eat oatmeal porridge. In fact, if served the correct way it can be very good for them.
Let’s first look at the benefits…
Can Dogs Eat Porridge – The Good News
Oatmeal porridge has some real plus points if given as dog food. For a start oatmeal can help lower cholesterol, the knock on effect being the reduction in the chance of heart disease.
The secret lies in the fact oats contain complex carbohydrates, have a low glycemic index and are packed with beneficial nutrients such as zinc, magnesium, B-vitamins and vitamin E.
Oatmeal is obviously very high in fiber too. The extra roughage is good for your dog’s digestive system and will aid intestinal health.
Dogs and Oatmeal Porridge – Serving Suggestions
You can in fact prepare oatmeal for your dogs dinner, by simply cooking it. Warm porridge may be a tad sloppy for your dog, however chunkier oatmeal will prove a little easier for them to eat..
It is important to ensure that the oatmeal is served plain. You do not want any artificial fruits or flavorings added ino the mix, (as some oatmeal breakfast products have).
Furthermore, if your dog is unable to tolerate milk, (many canines are lactose intolerant) mix in water to create the porridge instead.
Should you want to, coconut milk is a nutritious substitute for dairy milk, and will be a tastier way of knocking up this oatmeal based doggie treat.
You should avoid anything with excess added sugar too.
Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal Porridge – Any Precautions
Other than the fact you should avoid any added flavorings if serving up oatmeal as dog food, you should also look out for any unknown allergies.
It is highly unlikely that your dog will be allergic to any of the ingredients of your average scoop of oatmeal, however if feeding them such foods for the first time, do so with a small amount.
Watch for any adverse reactions to that small helping, and if your dog likes his porridge and shows no signs of allergies within a 24 hour period – you know you are safe to carry on feeding them the stuff.
However, moderation is always key when feeding such dog foods. Generally speaking, grains should compose only about 10 percent of your dog’s diet. So limit serving size accordingly.
Additional Resources
- Head here for a great online recipe for oatmeal dog biscuits
- Read the full nutritional benefits of oatmeal here.
- Read the Pet360 take on oats for cats and dogs here.