Can I give my dog wheat gruel?

There is great potential in cereals and they are useful even for outright meat eaters. Dogs need a balanced diet and gruel is also part of their weekly ration. Wheatgrass is only suitable to be fed as a meal in the form of grits or flakes and has a rich composition and medium digestibility. It is not completely digestible, so it is allowed as a supplement only for adults without digestive problems. The value of this product lies in its rich mineral composition.

Useful properties

Cereal is made from whole grains by crushing. The larger version is called poltavka, the finer one is called "Artec". In both cases, the grain is previously ground, cleaned of shells and germ kernel. It has a characteristic wheat color and light pleasant aroma with its traceable nutty notes.

Wheatgrass in any degree of grinding refers to the products rich in fiber. It also contains vitamins PP, E, C, group B. But the main benefit lies in a long list of micro and trace elements necessary for the normal functioning of the body:

• calcium;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• phosphorus;
• sodium;
• copper;
• manganese;
• zinc
• selenium.

These substances are necessary for normal growth and renewal of the coat, strengthening the bone base, good condition of the teeth. Wheat porridge refers to products with a high glycemic index, but it still does not have time to be fully digested. Nevertheless, there is a benefit and it lies in the stabilization of the gastrointestinal tract, a beneficial effect on the immune system, strengthening the bones. And also gets rid of apathy, gives energy and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Guidelines for age and breed

It's easy to find out how much of the dog's diet should consist of cereal, and whether it's allowed. The longer the torso, the higher the percentage of cereal on the menu. For a dachshund, doberman, or greyhound this supplement will only benefit them. Bulldogs, Sharpies and small tame breeds will have to reduce the amount of cereal to 20-30%, the threshold of 40% already becomes critical for the state of the digestive system. But you should not exclude gruel from the diet at all, it is enough to maintain a reasonable food balance.

For puppies, the amount of cereals should not exceed 15%, and the rest is given to proteins and animal fats. Pregnant individuals do not prevent and half of the diet to fill with cereals, including wheat. Animals of advanced age, as well as puppies, will need 10-15% of plant components in the daily menu. Their body is not able to assimilate more.

Important: It is not recommended to give porridge in pure form. It is much more useful to add dried breadcrumbs, dry food, bones to give the muscles of the mouth a sufficient load.

A very important point is the preferences of the pet. If he flatly refuses wheat porridge, drinking only the liquid part, then you should not force-feed it. Perhaps, over time, his taste preferences will change.

Foodies who are sensitive to smell and taste should add a few ingredients to make the grits more appealing. These can be:

• parsley, dill, basil;
• potatoes, tomatoes;
• any kind of cabbage;
• minced meat;
• cottage cheese;
• egg yolk.

Preference is given to natural products with a known composition. But what you definitely should not put in the porridge is sausage, sausage, margarine, mayonnaise, and hot spices. There is no benefit from them, but the harm can be quite tangible.

The criteria for selecting cereals

Quality product has a uniform color, fresh flavor without the admixture of mustiness, approximately a homogeneous structure. If there is a large amount of croup dust, an unpleasant smell, dark spots, then such a product is no longer suitable for food. When buying packaged cereals, you should pay special attention to the integrity of the packaging and the date of production. Priority is given to the transparent base, through which it is easy to control the appearance and if you can clearly see sticky lumps, it means that there are food moths feasting in the packet. You should also check that the groats do not contain unexfoliated, whole grains, various particles or remnants of other grains.

The shelf life of wheat groats in a dry, dark place is 1 year. Then you can eat it, but the amount of nutrients in it will be several orders of magnitude less and the taste will also change not for the better.

Recipe for making wheat gruel

As a base, it is better to choose milk, which increases the glycemic index of the dish, which improves its digestibility. The consistency should be quite dense, so that the dog can safely eat it without being confused with liquid food. The main requirement is not to give it in a hot form and carefully control the process of cooling, because in the dense structure of porridge, it occurs unevenly.

For 1 cup of cereal take 400 ml. water or in equal parts with milk. Alternatively, it can be cooked in whey or meat broth.

Considering that modern dry foods contain corn and ash as additional elements, it is clear that natural ingredients will obviously not make it worse. Focusing on the condition of the pet and its taste preferences, it will be possible to choose the optimal taste and consistency of porridge, which will strengthen its health and give energy.