The essentials
- Oatmeal cookies made for humans probably aren’t safe — Ingredients like chocolate, raisins, and sugar are dangerous for dogs. Even peanut butter cookies may not be safe if the peanut butter contains xylitol, a sweetener that’s toxic to dogs.
- We tested an oatmeal cookie recipe that’s safe for canine consumption — Our dogs approved of the four ingredient, all natural recipe.
- Dogs can eat plain oatmeal — As long as the oats are cooked, oatmeal can be a healthy snack in moderation.
The aroma of baking cookies likely draws you and your dog into the kitchen. As you allow the first bite of an oatmeal cookie to crumble into your mouth, you might wonder if you can share this warm treat with your begging friend. Unfortunately, if you followed a standard recipe, the cookie in your hand likely spells danger for your pup.
Common ingredients like raisins and sugar are harmful to dogs, which puts most recipes off-limits. However, oatmeal itself can be good for pets. We’ve created an “oatmeal cookie” recipe that you can make for your pup to enjoy alongside you next time you get into a baking binge. Sidenote: they’re a tasty snack for humans too and much healthier than a real cookie!
🍪 Ready to fire up your oven? Here’s the link to jump to the recipe.
How to safely give your dog oatmeal
Fiber, iron, zinc, and vitamin B infuse a bowl of oatmeal with nutrients. While your dog doesn’t need the extra calories that a heaping bowl provides, they may benefit from a serving of oatmeal according to their weight.
Any type of oats work, regardless of whether they’re steel-cut, old-fashioned, or instant. The most important thing to remember is that dogs can’t properly digest raw oats. Always serve oats in the form of oatmeal or in a baked good to avoid stomach upset. The extra ingredients in oatmeal packets are also not healthy for dogs. If you decide to feed your dog oatmeal, stick to plain oats.
Here’s a chart of approximately how much oatmeal you can feed your dog according to their weight. As always, though, ask your vet before supplementing your dog’s diet.
| Size of Dog | Amount of Prepared Oatmeal |
|---|---|
| 2-20 pounds | 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon |
| 21-30 pounds | 1-2 tablespoons |
| 31-50 pounds | ¼ cup or less |
| 51-90 pounds | ½ cup or less |
| 91+ pounds | ⅔ cup or less |
The danger of feeding your dog oatmeal cookies
If your dog ate an oatmeal cookie with toxic ingredients like raisins, call your vet immediately. Take note of how much they ate and look out for symptoms like:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Restlessness
- Seizures
- Elevated heart rate
- Panting
- Drooling
Even if the cookie didn’t contain anything explicitly dangerous, your dog still might experience an upset stomach if they ate too much.
While most dogs don’t need grain-free diets, a small percentage of the canine population does have a true gluten allergy or intolerance. If your dog experiences digestive upset or displays signs of a food allergy even after a small amount of oatmeal, it’s best to skip grains altogether and ask the vet.
Tuggles’ favorite oatmeal cookies
Oatmeal cookies are one of our favorite things. Sweet (but not too sweet) and American to their soft and crunchy core, they are the stuff of legends…or at least our cookie jars. Wanting our dogs to share the love, we scoured our kitchen to find dog-friendly ingredients to create a healthy alternative that left them begging for more.
Our official taste tester, Tuggles, said that this recipe was bark-worthy. Even his cat, Bluey, hovered in the background wondering what all the commotion was about. Tuggles begrudgingly (and unknowingly) shared his bounty with his dog friend, Hazy, who echoed his enthusiasm for these oatmeal morsels. This recipe only requires four ingredients and takes about 30 minutes to make from start to finish.
🥜 Peanut butter and oatmeal cookies recipe
~Makes approximately 24 cookies
Ingredients
- 1 mashed banana
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup peanut butter*
- ¼ cup applesauce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Mash the banana in a bowl. A fork works best.
- Measure out 1 cup old-fashioned oats, ½ cup peanut butter, and ¼ applesauce into the bowl with the banana. Stir all the ingredients with a spoon until you have a consistent texture.
- Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a greased baking sheet.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are set.
- After pulling the tray out of the oven, let it sit for a minute before transferring the cookies to a wire rack. Let cool completely before storing.
⚠️ *Always check the products you intend to give to your dog for the ingredient Xylitol. Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, is toxic and can be lethal to dogs. Learn more about it in our essential list of foods your dog can and can’t have.
What our test dogs thought
Hazy sat and patiently waited for her cookies, while her toys lay in the background. She usually prefers playing ball to eating treats, so this was her equivalent of a five-star review.
Tuggles jumped up and down upon receiving his oatmeal cookies. His greedy gullet was set on a mission to take down the entire batch, as is typical for “Mr. T.” However, his mom capped his portion at two cookies for the test phase. He is currently waiting for this article to be finished so he can eat more.
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Frequently asked questions
What kind of cookies can dogs eat?
Human treats like cookies aren’t usually safe for dogs because they often have harmful ingredients, like sugar, or even toxic ingredients, such as chocolate or raisins. As long as your vet approves, canine-friendly recipes like our oatmeal cookies can be a good treat for your dog. Just make sure to limit their portions. It’s also best not to feed them extra snacks if they have food allergies or sensitivities, or need to lose weight.
Is it okay if my dog eats oatmeal?
Cooked oatmeal provides your pup with nutritional benefits, such as fiber. When fed as a snack, oatmeal is usually safe for dogs in moderation according to their weight. Ask your vet before making any changes to your dog’s diet.
What should I do if my dog eats oatmeal raisin cookies?
Raisins are toxic to dogs. If your dog eats an oatmeal raisin cookie, call your vet and take note of how much they ingested. Look out for signs of toxicity such as vomiting or diarrhea, but don’t wait for these signs to seek medical help.
Can I use regular flour to make dog treats?
While grain-free diets have gained popularity in recent years, most dogs can safely process cooked grains. All-purpose flour is usually safe to use as an ingredient in dog treats. However, you should never feed your dog raw dough since that predisposes them to food poisoning.
