Many dog owners try to feed their pets natural food, even though it takes more time to prepare. Sometimes even veterinarians recommend switching their dogs to natural food. Let's look at which grains are good for dogs.
Buckwheat groats
This is one of the healthiest cereals for both humans and animals. It provides iron, vitamins B and E, calcium, magnesium, and complex carbohydrates. Dogs stay full for a long time after eating buckwheat porridge. To ensure buckwheat retains all its beneficial properties after cooking, it should not be pre-roasted.
Benefits of buckwheat for dogs:
- accelerates metabolic processes;
- improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
- prevents obesity;
- relieves allergies;
- strengthens the immune system;
- makes teeth and bones stronger.
Buckwheat for your pet can be simply boiled (water and grain in a 1.5:1 ratio) or soaked in boiling water overnight. The latter method preserves the maximum amount of nutrients in the porridge.
Rice groats
Rice porridge is enriched with magnesium, zinc, calcium, copper, B vitamins, and fatty acids. It's an excellent absorbent for dogs, removing waste, toxins, and other harmful substances from the body. Rice porridge is ideal for pets who have suffered food poisoning and are on a diet. Rice also offers the following beneficial properties:
- has an astringent effect, therefore it is considered an indispensable product for diarrhea;
- relieves pain during inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract;
- gives a feeling of satiety for a long time.
However, it's not a good idea to feed your pet rice porridge on a regular basis. It contains a lot of starch, which can lead to constipation. It's also not recommended for dogs diagnosed with diabetes or obesity.
Brown rice is preferred. It contains more vegetable protein and fewer carbohydrates. Before cooking, soak the rice in cold water for 1-1.5 hours, then cook it as usual, but without adding salt or spices.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal contains amino acids, vitamins A, PP, B, and E, sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, vegetable fats, and protein. Oatmeal is ideal for dogs who have been starved for long periods due to illness. It has a coating effect, significantly reducing the risk of pain associated with inflammatory processes. However, oatmeal is not suitable for all dogs; some may experience allergic reactions. Therefore, after the first feeding, observe your pet closely. If no allergic reactions occur, oatmeal can be added to the diet.
Barley groats
Barley porridge is rich in vitamins, micro-, and macronutrients. However, it's not suitable for feeding your dog regularly, as not all the nutrients are digestible. It's best to mix barley porridge with other grains. Only freshly cooked barley-based dishes should be fed to your pet, as barley turns into a useless, sticky substance after sitting in the pan for a while.
It's quite easy to add variety to a dog's diet when eating natural food. The key is to avoid experimenting with your pet. If your dog is accustomed to two or three types of cereal, feeding them only those for life is sufficient.
