Did you give a sip or two of oat milk to your dog, and now you’re freaking out? Or did you find out your dog is lactose intolerant? Either way, you’re at the right place because we have everything you’re searching for.
Oat milk consists of oat grains and water. It’s a healthy and safe substitute for cow’s milk but has some limitations. You must make sure you only use unflavoured and unsweetened oat milk but in moderation.
To make your life easy, we have gathered all the necessary information in one place for you.
So let’s jump right in!
Benefits of Oat Milk
Oat Milk is one of the healthiest milk options out there for humans and dogs alike. The 2 ingredients, oat grains and water, make a great dairy-free milk substitute. This is a relief for dog owners whose dogs are lactose intolerant.
Lactose intolerance is when the body can’t digest a type of sugar called lactose. This sugar is mainly a component of dairy products. It causes adverse body reactions like diarrhea, nausea, gas, etc.
The dairy-free property of oat milk, combined with its nutritious value, makes it a popular choice for most dog owners.
Now, you must be wondering:
What’s all this hype about oat milk?
You’ll find your answer in the 9 points listed below.
1. Ideal for Digestion
Research by the Journal of Functional Foods 2020 found that oat milk has the highest amount of fiber content compared to all other dairy milk substitutes, like almond milk and soy milk.
Surprisingly, the high fiber content in oat milk can also aid in improving diarrhea or constipation symptoms if your dog’s suffering from any.
2. Promotes Bone Health
A high concentration of calcium and Vitamin D in oat milk does wonders for dogs who are on the weaker side and whose nutritional needs are not being met.
3. Prevents Anemia
Oat milk helps maintain the dogs’ hemoglobin at a healthy level by retaining the number of red blood cells, preventing anemia.
4. Boosts Immune System
The antioxidants and vitamins, such as Vitamin A and Vitamin D, help your doggies fight off illnesses, boosting their immunity.
5. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels
A low glycemic index in oat milk helps regulate your dog’s blood sugar level. 6. Weight Management
Obesity is one of the major causes of most dog illnesses. If you’re worried about your dog’s little pooch, oat milk is your best bet. It’s low in calories and fat.
7. No Gluten or Wheat Allergies
If your dog is showing symptoms of any of these allergies, it’s safe to shift to oat milk immediately.
8. Healthy Bowel Movements
High fiber allows speedy excretions. Your dog will be less prone to colon cancer as the carcinogens are eliminated from the body speedily.
9. Dog Treat
Besides the health benefits, oat milk can be a tasty and inexpensive treat for your buddy. Your buddy will definitely become a fan of its taste; take our word for it.
Risks of Oat Milk
Like every other food in the world, oat milk has some limitations too.
1. Gastrointestinal problems
While a high fiber content is great for a healthy GI tract, however, if it’s given in large amounts, it can lead to digestive problems like constipation or diarrhea. So always feed it in moderation.
2. Flavoured Oat Milk
You must’ve seen many interesting flavors of oat milk and even felt tempted to spoil your furry friend with it. But let us warn you:
Artificial flavors contain ingredients that dogs can’t digest and are harmful to them. Theobromine, found in chocolate flavor oat milk, can lead to serious illnesses in dogs, like seizures, heart palpitations, and muscle spasms.
3. Sweetened Oat Milk
Some oat milk brands are high in added sugars which can be toxic to innocent creatures.
An ingredient called Xylitol is hazardous for dogs. It can cause low blood sugar levels and hypoglycemia and can even be fatal.
4. Gluten Intolerance
Not all oat milk is gluten-free. If your dog is sensitive to gluten or has celiac disease, then look for oat milk certified as gluten-free by a reliable organization.
5. Allergy
Better safe than sorry:
If your dog has any allergies, read the label carefully. We’d suggest prioritizing natural and organic oat milk.
How to Start
Now that you have a whole picture, you’re probably wondering:
How do I introduce oat milk into my dog’s diet safely?
Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered!
The 3 steps below will help you make a perfect dog parent in no time.
1. Slowly
Yes, that’s quite obvious but important. Your little bud needs to get its tummy used to oat milk without getting it irritated.
For this reason, you’ll have to be patient and start with tiny amounts, gradually increasing the quantity if your dog shows no problematic symptoms.
2. Moderation
Even if you’re giving small amounts at every meal, still keep a check on the total amount you’re feeding in a day.
Dog stomachs can easily get triggered if they consume large quantities of human food. It’s always better to consult a vet to know the exact quantity you should serve.
3. Mix
The best way to introduce oat milk to your dog’s sensitive tummy is to mix it with their usual dog food. Their tummies will get accustomed to the new milk over time.
Oat milk enhances the dog food’s flavor too.
You can also add oat milk to prepared food or kibble to soften it and improve its texture.
How to Make Oat Milk at Home
As a concerned dog parent, you have all the right to be worried about commercial oat milk for your dog’s health. For this, we have a quick recipe for DIY oat milk for your furry friend.
- Take a blender, and add 1 cup of rolled oats and 4 cups of water to it
- Blend on a high setting for about 30 – 60 seconds or until the oats are thoroughly mixed
- Shift the mixture to a large bowl or a pitcher covered with a fine towel
- Strain the mixture so that the liquid separates from any oat remnants
- Double straining through a thin towel produces better results
- Shift to a sealed container
- The oat milk is ready to serve or refrigerate Oat Milk bath. Yes, you read that right. Oatmeal bath is recommended for your dog if it has any dermatological issues like dry, itchy, or irritated skin.
It’s pretty similar to preparing oat milk:
- Use the same ingredients and measurements as the DIY oat milk
- Blend the oat grains and mix them with warm water until milky and smooth
- Skip the straining part
- You can add olive oil or avocado oil for additional moisture
- Pour the mixture over your dog; be careful too much of it doesn’t go in your dog’s mouth
- If your dog has irritated patches of skin, rub the oatmeal directly on it
- Let the mixture soak in for 10 minutes
- Rinse Can my dog have Oat Milk Ice Cream? The answer is yes. As long as the ice cream doesn’t contain Xylitol, it’s safe to give to your dog occasionally. Moderation is key; as a responsible dog parent, keep track of how much you’re giving. In case of any adverse body reaction, consult your vet immediately.
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