Feeding your dogs is one of the most delicate things for a dog owner. It’s quite challenging to give food to them from time to time. So sometimes they look for alternative quick food for them. In that case, most people find cereals easier to make. But the question is can dogs eat cereal?
Cereals are rich in fiber and carbohydrates. Also, they’re highly processed, and artificial sweeteners. And it’s unhealthy for the dogs.
There is more to know about if dogs can eat cereals or not. We are here to guide you with details and without further ado let’s get started with the health issues of cereals for dogs.
Table of Contents
Can dogs eat cereal?
Yes. Dogs can eat cereal but not as their main food. You can give them cereal as an occasional treat or snack sometimes. It won’t be wise to replace their regular dog food with cereals.
Additionally, you shouldn’t add nuts, raisins, and sweetening flavors to the cereals for dogs. Before adding cereal to their diet plan, it would be better to consult veterinarians to know whether it’s safe or not.
Is eating cereal healthy for dogs?
Cereal isn’t healthy for dogs if they consume it daily. But it’s not harmful to them in small portions. Some ingredients of cereals like sugar, flavor, and preservatives can be dangerous for them.
Moreover, these are formulated for humans. The nutrient requirements of dogs are different from humans. Consuming cereals every day can cause various health issues. In the next section, you’ll learn about the side effects of cereal if dogs have it daily.
What are the harmful side effects of cereals for dogs?
As we’ve already told you, cereals aren’t made for dogs. So it’s quite normal for them to have digestion problems, excessive weight gain, diet imbalance, low protein, and many more. These unavoidable issues can lead them to long-term and major diseases. Now let’s know about the risks of giving dogs cereals.
Digestion issues
One of the major problems of eating cereal for dogs is that they can’t digest it properly. As a result, they suffer from chronic diarrhea, gas, and vomiting. Along with these, they can have organ damage issues.
Allergic reaction
Most of the cereals are made of wheat and gluten. Dogs are allergic to these components. In that case, it can activate instant allergic reactions, gas issues, constant itching, and severe skin problems.
Weight Gain
According to veterinarians, dog’s diet plans depend on their age, weight, and food habits. When you feed them cereal without thinking about their capacity to consume calories, it can make them obese and fat in the long run.
Obesity causes serious diseases and that’s dangerous for their life. To control their weight and keep them in shape, you need to be careful about the amount of cereals you’re giving.
Sugar and flavor
Consuming sugar is poisonous for both dogs and humans. And some cereals come up with high-sugar elements. Also, they use various spices and flavors that can harm a dog’s kidney in the long run. It can cause immediate reactions like vomiting and skin rashes.
Imbalanced nutrition
Dogs need balanced nutrition to live a healthy life like humans. But their needs are far away from ours. Humans eat cereals for fiber intake and to be fit. However, the dog doesn’t require much fiber because it imbalances their diet plan.
Inadequate protein source
Animal-based proteins are the main food source for dogs because they ensure better maintenance, health, and strong muscle growth. But cereal has no protein elements due to its plant-based process.
What are the best cereals for dogs?
Although you can give dogs cereal rarely, not all cereals are good for them. So we’ve listed some best cereals for dogs that are safe and healthy.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a fiber source for a dog’s diet. But you can’t add sugar and flavors when you’re giving it to dogs. These are digestive for dogs. Avoid mixing milk with their cereal meal. We suggest making the oats with plain tap water.
Rice Cereal
Another great choice for including fiber in a dog’s nutrition plan is rice cereal. And again it’s not good to use milk or other additives while making the rice cereal. Only boil the rice cereal into a pot and let it cool for some time then give it to your dog.
Low-processing Cereals
Processed food is not a good choice for dogs. You’ll find some low-processed cereals that keep your dogs risk-free. But still, you’ve to feed your dogs these cereals as a treat, not their breakfast or dinner.
Which cereals to avoid for dogs?
Including additives in the dog cereals can make them sick instantly. So you shouldn’t add those to their meal. Some additives like chocolate, raisins, nuts, sugar, artificial sweeteners, cream, milk, spice, and flavored items.
Also, avoid mixing fruits like apples, strawberries, grapes, and citrus ones. Eating cereals with fruits and additives can be responsible for hair loss, and digestion problems.
FAQs on Can Dogs Eat Cereal?
Can dogs eat cereal with milk?
No, dogs are mostly lactose intolerant. If you make cereal with milk, it can trigger their digestion and cause vomiting.
Is cereal with almond milk safe for dogs?
No, it’s not safe to mix almond milk with cereals for dogs. They can cause lactose and additive problems. Yet, it can make the dogs suffer from diarrhea.
Is it good to make regular dog food from cereal?
No. Regular dog food is made of all protein and vitamin sources. It doesn’t require fibers or grains to make the dog food.
Bottom Line
We hope you’ve got the answer to Can dogs eat cereal? Right? Plain and unprocessed cereal won’t be bad for a dog’s health. Whole grains can be good for them too occasionally. But in the long term diet plans, it’ll affect their health.
When it comes to the well-being of dogs, it’s important to maintain a properly researched,vet-recommended diet plan full of balanced nutrition. If you want to keep your dogs healthy and risk-free, ask the vet before initiating
