So… dogs can eat oatmeal? Like, the fast-cooking, quick-acting, zombie-apocalypse-preventing kind of oatmeal? Yup, that’s the one.

It’s true. While cooked oatmeal has always been considered a food meant more for human consumption – it is the real breakfast of champions, if you ask me – your furry friends can also benefit from it. Oats are full of nutrients which help our skin stay clean and healthy, give us a boost of vitality, and regulate digestion.

The same goes for cats and dogs. When given appropriate amounts of oatmeal, pets respond very well to this staple of good nutrition. We’re talking about a food which is one of the most popular breakfasts around the world, and for good reason. It comes from the earth, it is filling, it can be made fancy or on-the-fly, and it goes with a lot of other breakfast foods.

How Can Oatmeal Help My Pet?

Oatmeal Cookies For Dogs.

Humans and animals are very different. No, really, they are! Not everything which we find appealing and beneficial will work the same way with our pets. Consider chocolate, which can make us feel so good, but make a dog very sick. As with so many other substances, it is proper moderation which is the key. Oatmeal can help your pet look good and feel good, but too much of it can have adverse effects.

Whether in the form of ground oats, rolled oats, or steel-cut oats, the porridge made from this grain is tasty and stimulating. Not to mention that you can make oatmeal cookies out of them. We all know how life-changing a good oatmeal cookie can be. The right cookie at the right time. It can do wonders, my friends. And you can never seem to eat just one.

Oats can provide the body with a food that goes down easy. They are quick and easy to prepare, they taste good (I like mine with maple, brown sugar, and a cubed peach when I can get a good one), and to top it all off they are relatively inexpensive.

The connection between oats and skin is underlined in pet food and pet shampoo. Healthy skin cells are meant to be smooth and tight, and oats can facilitate that. It all starts with the skin cells, and it can happen in two ways: ingestion or topical application.

When given to pets in small amounts, oatmeal can work as a meal substitute or an additional portion to an existing meal. This obviously depends on your dog or cat and his diet, so you make the call. It has a wet and mushy kind of texture, if made right, which is why it is considered one of the best foods for older pets. Make sure not to overcook it.

Wheat Replacement And Honey And Oat Treats

It is also recommended as a good alternative source of carbs and fiber for pets who are sensitive to wheat products. You can even prepare honey-and-oat treats for your cat or dog to munch on. The kicker? If, for some reason, your pet isn’t into them, you can eat them yourself. Score!

Now, even though your cat or dog may enjoy oats and honey, remember that it should not become a main ingredient of their diet. They are carnivores, and they need the right kinds of ingredients in their system.

Also, I completely understand those who don’t want to provide their pet with mainstream foods. However, the animals we live with are a part of the household, and that means you need to attend to their carnivorous needs.  Not giving them what they require could seriously damage them and their physical well-being.

How Oats Benefit Your Pets Skin

DIY Oatmeal Dog Shampoo.

When applied directly to the skin, the oats’ nutrients fight dryness and provide the body with a layer of protection. Not only does this help the skin look better, it also has anti-inflammatory properties that relieve itching and soothe the skin. Because of this, doggy shampoos with oatmeal have been becoming more popular.

I don’t wash and shampoo my pup too often. I have a small, black, mousy-looking min-pin. In fact, I only bathe her twice or three times a year. She keeps herself relatively clean, and has very short fur, so it isn’t such an issue for me. But those of us who shampoo our pets more often should definitely be looking at that list of ingredients on their pet’s shampoo bottle.

Learn About Kennel Cough In Dogs

Conclusion

I feel there is something so cool about living with an animal. I have always felt this way. This is especially true when it is a more sentient and responsive creature, like a cat or dog. The relationships we have with our pets are unique, and the ties we form are real.

Studies have found that the well-known bonding hormone, oxytocin, is released in certain animal-human relationships.

This chemical reaction was seen in both canine- and feline-human relationships, although it was more prominent with dogs, for obvious reasons. I mean, have you seen those videos of cats just not caring and being total jerks? Yeah. I love those, too.

Treating pet your with love shows you care. It is why we stroke them, play with them, walk with them, talk to them, and share our life with them. In a world of pet foods comprised of slaughterhouse by-products and genetically engineered substances, it is good to know that you have the option of providing your pet with a more wholesome meal every now and then.

Oatmeal for dogs may sound like a strange concept at first, but the fact is that it is perfectly safe, and that it’s even recommended in certain situations. I agree it isn’t an obvious kind of pet food, like kibble or canned meats. Nevertheless, it can help them out a great deal, and it is a tasty, out-of-the-ordinary type of food which they will most-likely continue to enjoy for life.

Find out how to make your own DIY Lavender Pet Spray today!