Surely you have heard on more than one occasion how beneficial it can be for our four-legged furry, to give him occasionally seaweed, tofu, brewer’s yeast or even dog oatmeal in small amounts.
The truth is that it is a very natural and beneficial nutritional supplement, at the same time inexpensive and easy to prepare. If our dog tolerates it well, it is undoubtedly one of the best contributions we can give them. Let’s go over all the details about eating oats in dogs.
What benefits does oatmeal bring to a dog?
It is important to remember that some dogs do not tolerate oats well, either because of intolerance or because of a specific allergy. Although most not only tolerate it well but take advantage of its many benefits.
Oatmeal is a food rich in proteins of high biological value, fiber, vitamins and minerals, as indicated wikipedia. So obviously it is a highly recommended supplement in a dog’s diet, although always in adequate doses.
We can buy natural oats in any herbalist, shopping center, pharmacy or establishment dedicated to food.
In addition to the nutritional benefits, it offers health benefits such as:
- It helps to carry out digestions, so that they are less heavy.
- Regulates intestinal transit thanks to the fiber it contains.
- It has natural relaxing properties, ideal for anxious or nervous dogs.
- Improves the color and hydration of the dog’s skin and hair.
- Reduces levels of saturated fat (cholesterol).
- It has diuretic properties, helps maintain the heart, etc …
How much oats should I give my dog?
Before knowing how much, we must know how to give it to them. There are two ways to use oats for our dog to take advantage of its benefits. Through food, adding a little cooked oatmeal and / or using the bath.
To feed oats to a dog, we must cook it first. You have to cook the oats in water until it is consistent, you must acquire the texture of a porridge for example. We should only use natural oats and water, we should never add sugar, salt or other additives. Under no circumstances should we use milk to cook oats, because dogs cannot take lactose. It is completely normal for oats cooked in water to also have a “runny” texture.
When the oatmeal is cooked, we can store it in a cold place and give our dog a little bit each day. The amount of oatmeal that a dog should take is one or two tablespoons a day in dogs weighing thirty kilos. If our dog weighs fifteen kilos, we should give him only one tablespoon a day and if he weighs seven kilos, only half.
We can mix the cooked oatmeal with your breakfast, with your lunch or with your dinner. We can even give you dog biscuits cooked with oatmeal. We must use common sense, oats are rich in fiber, so if we observe that our dog begins to have a weak stomach (diarrhea), we should stop giving him oatmeal.
If we mix a little cooked oats with the water with which we bathe our dog, his hair and skin will be more nourished. Today there are many dog shampoos that contain oats.
Can all dogs take oats?
No, dogs that have problems with diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease or any problem at the digestive level should not take oats. Dogs with food allergies sometimes should not take it either, so if your dog has any known nutritional allergies, you should check with your vet first.
Dogs under six months of age should also not take oats, since their digestive system is not yet ready for it. Although many feed for puppies bring this ingredient incorporated into their compositions.
Dogs with dermatitis or any hair / skin problem should avoid using oatmeal shampoos unless specified by the vet.
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