For many of us humans, a bowl of oatmeal is a terrific way to start the day.
It’s full of fiber, it helps keep cholesterol down, and it also releases energy slower than other breakfast alternatives which means it can sustain you until lunch time.
SO, CAN DOGS EAT OATMEAL?
“Dogs can eat oatmeal. Oatmeal is a great option for dogs with grain or wheat sensitivities,” Rachel Barrack, founder of concierge practice Animal Acupuncture, told PureWow.
Oatmeal is a thorough source of carbohydrates, as well as fiber and essential fatty acids.
It will also help to keep your canine friend’s coat in good condition, thanks to the Vitamin B content.
The omega-6 fatty acids are excellent for your dog’s skin health.
Dogs with wheat allergies, a rare occurrence, should stick to a grain-free diet.
To better understand the difference between oatmeal and grain, this article explains it comprehensively.
Okay, so we’ve now answered the question, ‘can dogs eat oatmeal? But what other foods can they eat aside from actual dog food?
There’s a whole bunch of foods ‘man’s best friend’ can eat which they will mostly love and which provide excellent nutrition and health benefits.
In fact, there are even cookbooks out there with dedicated doggy recipes, some of which are quite elaborate, and seemingly delicious for the human pallet as well.
One book called ‘Bark and Bake’ (published by www.darg.org.za) contains recipes such as:
– Tiger Iy’s Pooch Salad: containing ingredients such as lettuce, cucumber, carrot, sweet potato and yogurt.
– Cuzzy’s Playday Pizza: this includes grits, ground beef, mozzarella cheese and carrots.
– Snoopy’s Fruit Pops: an ice lolly made from apples, bananas, strawberries, and blueberries.
– Mr Ray’s Paw-Kin Pie: plain flour, unsalted beef broth and pureed pumpkin in the form of a pie.
– Meisie’s Chicken Bran Muffins: made of chicken, coconut milk and a bran muffin mix.
But otherwise, if you don’t have the time to cook up a storm for you pooch, here are 10 basic ingredients you can add to their diet.
As with most things in life, it should be done in moderation as you don’t want your dog to develop weight issues.