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Should you feed your dog ( including French bulldog) oatmeal?
There are many questions surrounding oatmeal in every dog parent’s mind.
If you are one such person with these questions in mind, then this article is just for you.
In this article, you will learn about the benefits of oatmeal, and how as well as how much you should feed them.
Is Oatmeal Good For Dogs?
Absolutely, yes,
Oatmeal is a healthy breakfast choice, for both you and your canine and of great nutritional value.
It is a good dose of dietary fiber and high protein. Vitamin A and B-6 are what make it perfect for your dog.
Further, it is rich in minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, etc.
It is also known to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering the blood pressure, because of its low-fat diet character.
Oatmeal is a blessing as you can just cook it with water and serve it to your buddy without any additives, and yet, it will benefit your dog with all the above-mentioned nutrients and vitamins.
This diet will also increase the water intake of your dog. Further, fiber is known to improve the bowel activity of dogs and reduce the risks of many serious diseases. But, you must use whole grains as they are more nutritious than processed grains.
Dogs that are allergic to wheat love eating oatmeal.
Studies have found that gluten can’t be tolerated by dogs, therefore oatmeal is an excellent substitute.
Oatmeal also contains biotin that is necessary for keeping your dog’s coat perfect and shiny.
That why Many shampoo brands include oatmeal to improve the shine of a dog’s fur.
Moreover, the soluble fiber present in oatmeal is important to regulate cholesterol in dogs.
It also prevents constipation and helps digestibility.
Oatmeal is also known to improve a dog’s blood circulation by increasing the number of red blood cells.
How Much Oatmeal Can I Give My Dog?
This is definitely an important question. You need to know the exact quantity so that your dog does not over-eat and gain extra weight.
Remember that your dog needs much lesser calories than you, so you should keep the amount to a certain limit and not overfeed your dog. It is important to feed your dog as per his/her weight.
To give you a rough idea, take for example a 25 pound dog will need just about 550 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight, and cooked oatmeal (plain) contains about 150 calories, per cup.
Also, remember that oatmeal is not a complete diet for your dog. Although it is good in nutritional value and has plenty of benefits for dogs, yet it does not fulfill the criteria for a well-rounded canine diet.
Therefore, it is important to consider it only as an additional ingredient and not as a full diet for your canine. Your dog needs different types of foods to meet his/her metabolic needs. Oatmeal can’t replace meat as the ideal dog food.
Yet, you can feed your dog as much as you want, but not at once. I mean, you can give oatmeal to your canine every day, occasionally and in small quantity, as a supplement. You can also introduce it as a daily snack. The call is on you.
Related Article : Best food for Puppies/Adult and Senior French Bulldogs
Can I Feed My Dog Oatmeal Every Day?
Now that you know oatmeal is very beneficial for your canine, I am sure you are wondering if you should feed it to your dog every day.
Even you could feed your dog oatmeal every day but it’s not recommended.
Feed your dog half a cup of cooked oatmeal – twice a week – is more than enough.
It is recommended to feed your dog different foods every couple of days so that his/her nutrient intake is balanced.
Yet, if you want to feed your dog oatmeal regularly, then keep it as a quick snack.
In simple words, your dog does need oatmeal but does not need too much of it.
Therefore, it is better to keep feeding him the staple diet and add oatmeal as an additional supplement.
How To Serve Oatmeal For Dogs?
You should know that your dog’s staple food ideally is meat, rounded with fruits, vegetables, and oatmeal, rice, etc.
So, for your dog you should use 50-80% meat and the rest can be fruits and vegetables, and occasionally oatmeal.
Note that whole oat grains take about an hour to cook, steel-cut oats take about half an hour, rolled oats take about 10 minutes to cook. As already mentioned, do not use too much oatmeal.
Most importantly, do not use it as a meal replacement. By replacing the diet you are most likely to disrupt the digestive process of your dog.
It is also recommended that grains should not make more than 10% of your dog’s diet. Stick to the ideal meal – meat, with fruits and vegetables.
One easy recipe to feed your dog oatmeal is given below:
- This recipe consists of 5% oatmeal and 5% rice (1/2 oz. rice and 1 oz. oatmeal).
- Boil 8 oz. water, and cook 16 oz. chicken and ½ oz. rice for about 20 minutes.
- Now, add 4 oz. mixed vegetables and cook for 10 more minutes.
- Turn the heat off, cover and leave it to cool for 10 minutes.
- Make sure you serve it warm.
You can also serve pre-packaged oatmeal to your dog, but make sure to check the ingredient list.
Pre-packaged oatmeal has added sugar and flavors, which is not ideal for your dog.
Any added sugars or flavors imbalance the nutrient value of oatmeal. This can lead to weight gain and induce potential health risks.
Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal With Milk?
If you cook oatmeal for your dog, never use milk, always use water.
It is difficult for dogs to digest lactose (milk).
You should avoid feeding cow’s milk to your pet. Because mostly, dogs are lactose intolerant as they lack the enzyme to breakdown cow’s milk.
Soy milk and almond milk can be served with oatmeal, but generally, dogs are allergic to soy milk.
So, lactose-free milk can be a good substitute but use it only occasionally.
Since lactose-free milk does not mean Sugar free-milk,
As mentioned, added sugars can disrupt the nutritional value of oatmeal.
Therefore, it is recommended to avoid mixing milk and oatmeal.
Apart from lactose intolerance, weight gain is another reason why you should never do it.
If you add milk to your dog’s regular diet, your dog is more likely to gain extra weight.
I am sure you don’t want to have a chubby dog, so make sure you don’t feed him/her milk.
Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal With Honey?
Oatmeal with honey is technically safe for your dog, but it is not healthy. Oats with honey are made up of wheat and corn which aren’t the essential ingredients for a dog’s health.
The packing of oats with honey also contains sugars and other preservatives, which tickle your dog’s digestive system and encourage unessential weight gain.
If you do offer your dog oats with honey, offer only in small quantities.
Remember to provide your dog with the necessary required sugars in a limited quantity. Otherwise, if you do so in excess, it will only have bad effects like weight gain.
Never offer oats with honey as a full meal to your dog because it will make him/her gain weight. Plus, it is not a ‘complete food’ for your dog, so it is better to stick to the regular diet.
Generally oatmeal for dogs is good because of is rich nutritious nature, but excessive eating of it with honey can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.
You can still feed your dog this delicacy, but make sure to feed him/her moderately, with the regular diet.
the best is to feed your dog without honey, as in the case of milk. So, it is recommended to cook it plain and serve it as it is.
Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal With Brown Sugar?
No, you should not add any sugar to oatmeal.
The best way is to always cook it with water and serve without adding any sugar or flavor.
If you feed your dog oatmeal with sugar, then you are just making him/her gain weight. Extra weight gain can lead to obesity, which in turn can trigger health issues like heart problems.
Adding sugar to oatmeal is very similar to adding honey and milk.
It is obvious that dogs can get diabetes by consuming too much sugar.
Also, if you don’t want to mess your dog with the blood pressure, then do not feed them with sugar.
Fruits, vegetables, etc. naturally provide the required amount of sugar to your dog. So, it is not recommended to add sugar to the routine diet of your pet.
In fact, oatmeal itself is rich in sugars, so your dog does not need any additional. Therefore, it is important to avoid adding sugar in the canine’s diet.
Especially, in the case of older dogs, sugar can cause serious health issues.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Oatmeal?
It depends.
Let me explain.
Raw oatmeal is healthier than the cooked alternative, so it is good for some dogs. If your dog likes them, then it is good for him.
But, dogs do not have the necessary teeth to grind it up properly, so your dog may not be able to properly digest it.
To chew up granola, your dog does not have molars as you have. Further, if your dog eats raw oatmeal, it will swell with the liquid in the stomach. So, it is much better to cook the meal. Come on, it is an easy cook.
But, still some dogs like rolled oats, raw with milk! Such dogs also remain healthy and active. Yet, most experts believe and suggest that cooking the oats first is better.
It adds moisture to the diet and therefore helps prevent dehydration. Some people feed raw oatmeal with other food that is relatively moist to their dogs.
You can try this option, but feeding your dog straight raw oats is not recommended. Seriously, most dogs will not be interested.
But, it depends more on the personal liking of your canine. So, if your dog likes it and nothing wrong appears, you can feed him raw. But, it is recommended to ask your vet at least once.
Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal With Cinnamon?
The answer is yes. Cinnamon is non-toxic and has many health benefits for both humans and dogs.
Cinnamon is also an excellent brain food and helps reduce neurological problems, also helps to improve cognitive functions like memory, reaction, etc.
It has both physical as well as mental health benefits. Overweight and diabetic dogs can benefit it.
By adding 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon in a dog’s daily diet can help reduce weight. Cinnamon helps in reducing body sugars after eating a diet that is rich in carbohydrates.
But, experts warn that if your dog eats excessive cinnamon oatmeal, it will irritate him in the lungs and can cause coughing, choking, and difficulty in breathing.
Excess of anything and everything is bad. The excessive cinnamon oatmeal can also cause stomach and mouth irritation. So, to prevent these things, make sure you feed your dog moderately.
Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal Cookies?
Now you know that oatmeal is very healthy for humans as well as dogs because it is rich in vitamins and minerals.
But, another important question arises.
Can your dog eat oatmeal cookies?
The answer is yes, but you cannot feed him too much.
It is recommended to feed him in small amounts. Many scientists do not recommend it at all, because it contains sugars which aren’t essential for dogs.
Particularly, in the case of old dogs, sugar is more harmful than beneficial.
Therefore, if the oatmeal cookies contain chocolates or raisins, you should not share them with your dog, as both ingredients contain sugars that are toxic for your dog’s health.
If your dog has eaten oatmeal cookies he may experience an upset stomach, pain, and even diarrhea. But, these symptoms should pass within a couple of days.
If your dog has eaten oatmeal cookies containing chocolates or raisins, he may develop a lot of symptoms.
Some of them include vomiting, restlessness, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, increased urination, elevated heart rate, and even tremors and seizures.
Remember to call your vet immediately if such symptoms appear.
Final Words
Now, you know everything about feeding oatmeal to your furry Freind.
You can add it as a regular ingredient to your dog’s diet.
You can also choose to feed it to your dog with cinnamon, lactose-free milk, or as raw, cookies, etc.
The call is upon you and the liking of your dog.
In case, any unwanted symptom appears, immediately halt the use of oatmeal and visit your vet. It is also recommended to talk to your vet once before adding oatmeal to your canine’s diet.