Yes! We are pleased to be able to tell you that some cereal can safely be eaten by your furry friends. Not all cereal is suitable, of course, and we will be exploring these different types of cereal and their suitability for dogs throughout this article.
However, for now, suffice to say that cereal may actually be a tasty and relatively healthy snack for your pooch to snack on, provided they only eat small amounts, very occasionally, and only a type that is suitable.
We should inform you outright that this doesn’t mean that you can just grab a handful of any cereal you have in the kitchen cabinet and feed it to Fido. Sure, those Golden Grahams are tasty for us humans, but they may not be entirely suitable for your four-pawed pooch.
Keep on reading to find out exactly what kinds of cereals are safe for your furry four-legged friends.
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What type of cereal can dogs eat?
Not all cereals are bad for dogs. In fact, some cereal is actually thought to be pretty good for dogs. It all depends on the ingredients that are used for the cereal and whether they are free of nasty additives and processed ingredients
It is important that you recognize that many kinds of cereal are full of sugar, additives, corn syrup, and more. These kinds of cereal should not be fed to your furry friends.
Instead, you should feed them plain cereal that is free of added sugar and other ingredients that are unsuitable for dogs. The best plain cereal that dogs can eat includes plain Rice Krispies, plain Cheerios, Bran Flakes, and more.
As well as this, everyone’s favorite source of fiber, oatmeal, can be an excellent choice for dogs. This kind of cereal is sometimes recommended by vets, especially if your dog is experiencing constipation or other tummy issues.
Of course, this should only ever be based on the advice of your veterinarian and should never be served as a substitute for a proper, nutritious diet.
You should also bear in mind that some of these cereals may sometimes be sold with nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate chips. If that is the case then they should not be fed to your dog. Dried fruit and chocolate in particular can be very harmful to your dog.
Can dogs have cereal with milk?
No! You should not give cereal with milk to your dog. Dogs cannot and should not consume any form of dairy. This can make them very unwell as they do not have the capacity to consume dairy products.
In fact, many dogs are actually lactose intolerant, and even a small amount of milk can give them symptoms such as sickness, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you want to feed some cereal to your dog, feed it to them dry.
Do not just let them finish the cereal and milk that is leftover from your bowl! You should feed them small amounts in their own bowl. If you want to add some liquid to it to make it easier for them to consume then you should use fresh, clean, drinking water.
You should also avoid giving your dog any dairy free ‘milk’ drinks such as almond, coconut, oat, and soy milk. These may all cause undesirable symptoms for your dog. The only liquid your pooch needs is water, whether in cereal or otherwise!
Is Special K cereal good for dogs?
Special K cereal by Kelloggs is made from a mixture of mostly rice and whole grains. It is a relatively plain cereal, and whilst there may be a small amount of sugar in there, the amount is tiny. This means that your dog will be able to safely consume a small amount of this cereal.
However, we also want to make the point that some Special K is formulated with dried fruit, berries, chocolate, and nuts. These flavors of cereal should not be fed to your dog as they contain ingredients that can be very harmful to your pup.
If you have Special K, ensure it is the plain and original version. Do not overfeed this to them, just give it occasionally and in small amounts as a little treat. Cereal of any kind should not be used as a substitute for actual food. Special K is a treat, not a dietary essential.
How much cereal can a dog eat?
Feed cereal to dogs in small amounts. A few pieces every now and then are ideal, and you can use them as an occasional treat.
If your vet has recommended that you give your dog some cereal then you should ask them exactly how much to feed them. They may even require you to mix some cereal in with their usual food if they have gastrointestinal issues and need lots of fiber.
Is cereal good for dogs?
Cereal can sometimes be good for dogs, but always in small amounts. Certainly, cereal does not make up a large portion of a dog’s diet, and so it shouldn’t. The reason for this is because there is not as much nutritional content in cereal as a dog needs.
Cereal is packed full of carbohydrates, and it often has some fiber in there too, alongside some vitamins and minerals that can be essential to a dog to ensure a healthy lifestyle.
However, carbohydrates tend to make up the bulk of cereals, and since dogs do not need many carbohydrates for a healthy diet, it is not a good idea to feed them lots of cereal.
This is especially true if your dog has limited mobility. Feeding them too many carbohydrates in the form of cereal can cause them to gain lots of weight, especially if they do not get enough exercise to burn off the energy.
On the other hand, high fiber cereals such as oatmeal and bran flakes may be good for them, especially if your dog has digestive issues such as diarrhea. You should always consult a vet before feeding your dog cereal.