For centuries, oats have been both a breakfast and cake staple for many of us. Taking the weight-loss world by storm with the introduction of the “overnight oats” recipe, it would be hard to find a home that hasn’t had this incredible ingredient in their kitchen at least once in their lifetime. Providing awesome filling power and slow release of energy, it is no surprise of the reasons why many of us reach for a bowl of porridge oats for our morning meal.  But did you know, oats can be an amazing addition to our dogs’ diets?

Helping to improve digestion and containing vital vitamins and nutrients, oats can be a super supplement to your dog’s nutrition giving them a little extra TLC where needed. Want to know about the superpowers of porridge oats? Read below about how why this incredible ingredient can be just what your four-legged friend needs. 

Nutritional Benefits of Oats for Dogs

Great for Sensitive Stomachs

One of the primary benefits of rolled oats for your dog is the fact that they are exceptionally low in gluten. Often commercial dog food and treats use bulking ingredients like wheat, barley, potatoes and rice to create that filling power in our dog’s food. Overexposure to these ingredients can lead to intolerances and allergies which can be reduced and controlled with a simple replacement of these ingredients making oats a great addition to the diet of dogs who suffer from gluten intolerances. 

Helps Your Dogs Digestion

In addition to its awesome filling power and benefits for sensitive stomachs, oats are also packed with pawfuls of natural fibre. Fibre is vital for a healthy digestive system. Fibre helps to regulate bowel movements and keep your dog’s digestive tract healthy and toxin-free. Regulating their poops and steading the digestive timeline – oats are a great addition to a dog’s diet who may suffer from troublesome tummies.

Supports Muscle Maintenance

Loaded with vitamins like B and iron, oats are a great way of maintaining your dog’s cardiovascular system, energy levels and muscle maintenance. Oats are a fantastic addition to the diet of puppies and senior dogs who may need a little extra TLC to maintain how their muscles are working. Furthermore, working dog breeds or highly active dogs like spaniels, retrievers and greyhounds can benefit from adding iron to their diets to keep up with their busy and bounding lifestyle. 

Oats for Weight Management

Notice your dog putting on a little extra weight and want some simple solutions to combat that excess fat? Well, oats are an amazing addition to your dog’s daily dinners. Low in fat and calories, oats provide pawfuls of fantastic filling power without any unnecessary added calories helping you to manage a healthy weight for your four-legged friend. 

In addition to their amazing weight-loss properties, and as mentioned before, oats are high in natural fibre helping to regulate the digestive system and keep your dog feeling fuller for longer minimising the risk of overeating and pilling on any extra puppy pounds. 

Oats for Heart Health

As pet owners, we strive to do whatever we can to support the health of our dogs. One of the most important organs to care for in our furry friends is their hearts. Keeping their tickers in tip-top shape may seem like a tremendous task but caring for your dog’s heart is much easier than you might think. 

Oats contain beta-glucans, a type of fibre, which help to lower cholesterol levels working at reducing the risk of developing heart disease and cardiovascular problems later in life. They are also packed with antioxidants which we know help filter toxins keeping the circulatory system in your dog’s body working exactly as it should.

Oats for Skin & Coat Health

One of the key signs your dog is a little under the weather is their coat. A coat and flaky skin are indicators that your dog’s body isn’t getting the nutrition it needs. As the largest organ in your dog’s body, taking care of their skin, and keeping it supple and smooth is vital for a healthy and happy pup. 

Rich in biotin, oats are a great way of giving your dog’s skin a little bit more love. Promoting both healthy skin and a lush-looking coat, oats are also beneficial for dogs suffering from skin allergies like dermatitis aggravated by ingredients that they are intolerant to. Kind on tummies and skin, oats are an ingredient key to helping your dog’s coat and skin look and feel exactly as they should. 

How to Incorporate Oats into Your Dog’s Diet

For those of you wondering how to add this incredible ingredient to your dog’s diet, we have taken all the stress and worry about adding oats to your dog’s daily diet. With some simple ways below, here’s how you can add oats to support your dog’s health and well-being. 

1. Create homemade treats such as rolled oats, peanut butter and banana bakes instead of shop-bought treats. Mash up some banana, a handful of oats and a spoonful of peanut butter and bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes and watch your pooch enjoy a treat of their favourite ingredients. 
2. Top your dog’s food with rolled oats once in the day – adding these straight onto your dog’s wet or dry food can be a great way of supplementing their supper without any fuss. For those wanting to add porridge (oatmeal) try making it with water rather than milk so you aren’t adding extra fat or calories to their diets. 
3. Opt for treats or food with oats already incorporated in their base ingredients. You may find this food in specialist pet food stores or online rather than in commercial high-street supermarkets. 

Oat-so Beneficial

Nutritionally dense, high-in-fibre and packed with skin supplementing power, oats are a great way of taking care of your dog’s health in a simple way. Available alongside your own supermarket shop, this incredible ingredient can be added to your dog’s diet with ease. Whether it is creating homemade treats to sprinkling them onto their food, these flakes of oatey goodness are the pawfect way of helping to ensure your dog’s health and happiness thrive for many years to come.