How healthy is oatmeal for dogs? Oats, oat flour and oat bran all provide healthy nutrients that will help to keep your dog fit and strong.
In fact, these healthy ingredients are often found in high quality natural commercial preparations for dog food and dog treats.
The American Pharmaceutical Association also reports oat products to be safe and effective, when used to reduce cholesterol levels, both in people and in animals.
In addition, many veterinarians now recommend some oatmeal or bran in your pet’s diet to help keep their bowels regular and to protect against heart disease.
Oats can help keep cholesterol in check for dogs, just as it does for people!
What is Oatmeal?
Oats have been used for centuries in livestock feeds, and hearty oatmeal has been a staple in many countries for humans.
Oatmeal is hearty and it has a very pleasant taste. Here in the US, it is a common breakfast food.
Oats grow as a grass that later forms seeds (or oats). Oat bran is part of the seed, and the bran is separated from the oats after harvest. Oats are then “rolled” to be used as a cereal or an ingredient in baked goods. Or they are ground to make flour.
Oats contain healthy amounts of:
- Fiber
- Selenium (which fights cancer)
- B vitamins
- Iron
- Phosphorous
- Manganese
- Calcium
Substitutes for Oatmeal for Dogs in Treats
You can substitute oat flour or old fashioned rolled oats freely for other types of flour in dog treats recipes. When you substitute oats, or oatmeal flour for another flour, it should be substituted, cup for cup.
However, if you wish to add oat bran to a recipe, adding just a tablespoon of oat bran will serve as a healthy supplement to your dog’s diet. Adding too much bran to a dog’s diet can cause digestive upsets, with flatulence or diarrhea.
Always keep oat bran refrigerated or in a sealed container, as it can get rancid after being exposed to air. If you suspect that your bran is rancid, smell it. If it is rancid, it will have a strong characteristic rancid odor.
Dispose of rancid oat bran, as it can contribute to:
- diabetes
- Alzheimer’s disease
- digestive distress
- deplete the body of vitamins B and E
- DNA damage
- encourage cancer growth
Oats and its various forms go nicely with applesauce and cinnamon in homemade dog treats. I
If you’d like to get your dog started on oatmeal, why not try my Peanut Oat Dog Treat recipe?
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