Already one of the most popular dairy-free milk alternatives on the planet, oat milk is beloved by millions worldwide. Many of these folks wonder if they can safely give oat milk to their dogs.
The good news is you can share oat milk with your dogs – but you have to be sure that you are sharing it only in tiny quantities and always infrequently. Consider oat milk a treat for your dog and not a replacement for their water bowl!
To learn about the impact oat milk can have on your dog and which types of oat milk are safe, keep reading.
Can Dogs Drink Oat Milk?
As we mentioned a moment ago, some oat milk now and again shared with your dog isn’t going to cause them any trouble.
There are, however, some caveats to this.
We need to stress that every time you give your dog a splash of oat milk, it must be a rare treat.
Moderation is the name of the game here!
On top of that, it’s also critically important that you only give your dog 100% natural oat milk.
We are talking plain, unsweetened, unflavored oat milk with two ingredients—oats (preferably organic) and water.
The oat milk you buy in the refrigerated section next to the whole milk, loaded with sweeteners and thickening agents?
None of that can find its way into your dog’s bowl.
Related: Can Dogs Drink Almond Milk?
Is Oat Milk Good For Dogs?
Interestingly enough, one of the biggest reasons oat milk is so popular with humans is why you can share it with dogs—it’s lactose-free!
People with lactose intolerance get a lot of enjoyment from drinking oat milk. Many consider it a near 1:1 replacement for the “real deal.”
Most dog breeds are also lactose intolerant.
They don’t have the necessary digestive biome to handle dairy milk.
If they drink too much of the “real deal,” they have a ton of stomach discomfort, gas, and potentially even diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration.
Oat milk doesn’t have any lactose, so it isn’t going to cause dogs any trouble.
On top of all of that, oat milk is also beneficial for dogs because:
- It is relatively free of allergens and dietary irritants
- It can regulate blood sugar levels in your dogs
- It has a ton of calcium, iron, potassium, and lots of vitamin A as well as vitamin D
- It is sky-high in fiber content
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
How to Introduce Your Dog to Oat Milk
It’s crucial that you slowly introduce your dog to oat milk rather than “overdose” them on this new liquid treat.
You want to treat this the same way that you would handle introducing them to new dog food.
Start very slow, with tiny quantities (maybe just a spoonful now and again) before increasing to a splash in their dog bowl once a week.
You don’t want to get any more aggressive with oat milk than a splash or two in their dog bowl now and again – but it’s essential to work your way up to that amount so that your dog's digestive system has time to adjust.
Jump right into the deep end with oat milk, and you’ll give your dog all kinds of fits in their digestive tract.
How Much Oat Milk Can Dogs Have?
As a general rule of thumb, only give your dog a splash or two of oat milk in their bowl (maybe mixed with water), and possibly even less than that, depending on your dog's size.
On top of that, you want to limit the number of times you give your dog oat milk every week. We are talking about making this a once-a-week treat or less.
You absolutely, positively do not want to get into the habit of giving your dog a ton of oat milk regularly.
It might be a healthier alternative to giving your dog straight dairy (especially if they are a breed known to have lactose intolerance). However, it will still do a number on their digestive system and throw their hormonal levels for a loop.
A splash or two once a week. No more than that.
What Types of Oat Milk Should Dogs Avoid?
Now that we’ve gone over how much oat milk you can give your dogs and how often, it’s essential to drill down on the type of oat milk you should be sharing with them – and the kinds of oat milk you should be avoiding.
As far as what you should be giving your dogs, stick to oat milk as close to 100% “raw” as it gets.
We are talking oat milk that only contains oats and water.
Here are some of the types of oat milk you want to avoid.
Sweetened Oat Milk
Dogs might go wild for a sweet treat now and again, but they aren’t adapted to consume a lot of sugar.
Doggy diabetes is serious condition. Even if things don’t progress to that dire of circumstances, giving your dog too much sugar can:
- Ruin their blood sugar levels
- Destroy their energy levels
- Cause them to gain weight
- Mess up their dental health as well
Steer clear of sweetened oat milk.
Flavored Oat Milk
Do not give your dog flavored oat milk.
You might like to have a glass of chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry oat milk now and again. And your dog would probably love to try a little bit of that, but that’s because they don’t know any better.
The flavoring compounds in all flavored oat milk will wreak havoc on the digestive system of your furry little family member.
These kinds of oat milk products are best left avoided.
Most Store-Bought Oat Milk
Unfortunately, most of the popular oat milk brands you see in the grocery store aren’t good for dogs.
Even the most natural and “rawest” commercially available oat milk products usually have additives, emulsifying agents, stabilizers, chemicals, and weird “gums” mixed in them – to add flavor or make them more shelf-stable.
None of those things are suitable for dogs.
Stick to oat milk that you make yourself or commercially available oat milk products that are nothing more than whole-grain oats and water. We’ll give you our recommendations next.
Related: Can Cats Have Oat Milk?
The Best Oat Milk For Dogs
Here are some of our recommended oat milk brands for dogs:
Thrive Market Organic Oat Beverage
One of the most popular “doggy friendly” oat milk options on the market, Thrive Market's oat milk is popular with pet owners because of its simplified ingredient list.
You’re looking at something that is nothing (and we mean NOTHING) more than oats and water.
Elmhurst Unsweetened Oat Milk
Another great oat milk product for your furry little family member, the ingredient list for Elmhurst oat milk is nothing more than filtered water, whole-grain oats, and a dash of salt.
The salt isn’t exactly a great addition (but it’s in such small amounts it won’t make too much trouble for your dog). Also, the oats aren't organic.
Rise Original Oat Milk
Rise Original Oat Milk is another excellent option with simple ingredients.
This oat milk contains sunflower oil, which may give your dog a smoother, shinier coat.
If you can't get your hands on any of these products, you can also try making your own oat milk. The process is simple and requires minimal ingredients.
Here's a video detailing the steps (just skip the sweeteners and vanilla extract):
Side Effects of Oat Milk For Dogs
While oat milk is generally safe for dogs, there are some potential downsides you should watch out for:
Upset Stomach
Maybe your dog has a better tolerance for oat milk and only gets a lot of gas built up.
Luckily, it will pass (reasonably quickly) and shouldn't cause long-term damage.
But if your dog doesn’t have a high tolerance for oat milk or has a history of digestive issues, you may want to avoid giving them oat milk.
Hyperactivity
This is another problem that might not even look like a problem on the surface, as most people would like to see their dogs move around a little more.
The trouble here, though, is that excess sugar can lead to hyperactivity, which leads to increased heart rates, heightened feelings of anxiety, and many other health issues.
On top of all that, you have to worry about too much oat milk causing doggy diabetes issues, excessive weight gain, and dental health issues that can cause a lot of trouble.
However, as long as you only give your dog oat milk as an occasional treat, you shouldn't have to worry about either of these issues.
