One debated topic in the pet world is whether dogs should drink oat milk or not. Supporters argue that because beagles are known for their love of oats, it would benefit them to consume oat milk in addition to regular dog food, especially as an alternative to cow’s milk.

Opponents counter that consumption of oats has not been shown to be beneficial in canines, and that the heavy processing of oats to make oat milk could upset their digestion.

In this article, I’ll go over the facts that we do have, explain the both the benefits and associated risks of oat milk for beagles, and will share how exactly I feed my own beagles oat milk from time to time.

Benefits of Oat Milk for Beagles

While oat milk isn’t a traditionally common type of food given to most dogs, there are still a wide array of benefits that we know about from its nutrition facts and established benefits as a dairy alternative.

Some of the biggest benefits include:

• It Is Dairy and Lactose Free

One of the drawbacks of traditional cow’s milk is that it is a dairy product full of lactose. Many dogs can be lactose intolerant, and can have pretty adverse symptoms whenever they drink it.

Oat milk can be a great alternative in this case. It contains no lactose, and is often recommended for people who suffer from lactose intolerance. It can therefore be assumed that it is safe for dogs for this same reason as well.

• It Is High In Calcium

Beagles on average need about 1.25 grams for every 1,000 kcal in their diet, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

This makes oat milk an excellent way to get more calories into your beagle’s diet. In a one cup serving, oat milk has roughly 350 mg of calcium, 15% more than you’d get from whole cow’s milk!

While it’s calcium content isn’t as high as what you’ll find in almond milk (see table below), it still serves as an excellent source for beagles.

	Almond milk	Cow’s milk (whole)	Hemp milk	Oat milk	Soy milk
Calories	29	259	60	130	101
Total fat	2.50 g	10.99 g	4.51 g	2.50 g	3.5 g
Protein	1.01 g	9 g	3 g	4.01 g	6.0 g
Sugars	0 g	31.01 g	0 g	19.01 g	9.0 g
Calcium	451 mg	300 mg	283 mg	350 mg	451 mg
Vitamin D	101 IU	0 IU	0 IU	101 IU	120 IU

*Data from USDA.gov and MedicalNewsToday.com

Calcium is important for growing dogs, as it helps build bone strength, and can prevent degenerative bone conditions later in life such as arthritis.

• Oat Milk Has Complex B Vitamins

The most notable of these is thiamine, which is present in the highest concentration out of any other type of milk. Thiamine can help support your beagle’s cardiovascular and nervous systems, and can also prevent diseases such as depression and dementia.

Other B vitamins heavily present in oat milk include riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3). These are important for growing dogs because they are used to build energy, and can prevent symptoms of vitamin B deficiency.

• It Can Make Your Beagle Feel Full

Oat milk is often touted as an excellent source of fiber, which can make you feel full for longer. This can be a great benefit for beagles, who notoriously eat too quickly. Making them feel fuller quicker will prevent overeating, and will help balance their energy levels throughout the day as well.

Additionally, oat milk is a low fat and low calorie alternative to cow’s milk. The lower fat content can help your beagle with weight loss, especially if milk is substituting other foods or unhealthy treats they might have gotten otherwise.

• It Can Lower Blood Cholesterol

Oat milk is also known to lower blood cholesterol, especially low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), the form of cholesterol that’s most associated with heart disease. This can be extremely beneficial, especially if your beagle has a history of cardiovascular issues in their genes.

Part of this comes from the fact that oats are a healthy whole grain, packed with nutrients that have been linked to lowering bad cholesterol and promoting heart health. The added benefit of extra fiber in oats also contributes to the lowered cholesterol effect.

• It Is Soy And Nut Free

Milk that is made with soy products is bad for dogs, and can cause a lot of allergies and gastrointestinal issues. Some dogs may be allergic to nuts as well, so if you know your beagle has allergies, whether a history of food allergies or even just skin allergies, oat milk can be a great option for you compared to soy or almond milk.

Downsides of Oat Milk for Beagles

• Gluten Can Be A Common Allergen For Beagles

Oat milk is most often made with oat flour, which is made by purifying the leftover parts of the oat plants. Unfortunately that oat flour contains significant enough amounts of gluten, that it can cause a reaction in both humans and dogs that have gluten allergies or intolerances like celiac disease.

It’s best to avoid oat milk and other oat products altogether if you’re aware of a gluten allergy or intolerance, as allergic reactions can be severe enough to warrant an emergency vet visit in some cases.

• Commercial Oat Milks Can Be High In Sugar

Be sure to read the nutrition facts on the oat milk that you buy, because they will vary from brand to brand. Some of the most common sources of added sugar in oat milk include various sweeteners and stabilizers, such as fructose, corn syrup solids, and cane sugar.

If you have a beagle with a history of diabetes or heart issues in their family, these additional sugars will likely raise blood sugar levels and cause a spike in insulin production.

Additionally, if consumed in large quantities over time, high sugar foods can contribute to significant weight gain, obesity, and a variety of other detrimental health conditions and risks that come with obesity.

It’s best to always opt for low sugar options of any human foods that you consider giving to your beagle.

• It Can Be Fairly Expensive

A one cup serving of regular oat milk will cost you roughly $3.50-$4.00, depending on where you buy it. Granted, you probably shouldn’t be giving your beagle an entire cup of milk every day, but for those on a budget this can still be a pretty impactful expense for their diet.

You can always make oat milk from scratch at home (Here’s a good recipe), all you really need are some old fashioned oats, which I like to get right from Amazon.

How to Feed Your Beagle Oat Milk

When it comes to oat milk, you’ll want to give it to your beagle in moderation. Some of the best ways I like to feed it to my beagles include:

– Mixing it in with their dry kibble to make it more enjoyable
– Giving it to them with blueberries, vegetables, and other low calorie foods as a healthy treat
– Including it in their food if they’re ever having teething pain or a tough time chewing (especially for older beagles).

That’s really it when it comes to feeding oat milk to beagles. It’s fairly simple as long as you’re using whole, safe ingredients without any additives.

As a general rule of thumb, I also try to avoid any oat milks that are sweetened with or use vanilla flavoring, as the added flavoring can upset beagle stomachs as well.

Best Oat Milk Brands for Beagles

Some of my personal favorite brands of oat milk that I feed to my beagles (and also personally drink myself) include:

– Califia Farms – Oatmilk Unsweetened Barista Blend
– Pacific Foods – Organic Oat Original Plant-Based Milk
– Oatly – Oat Milk, Single Servings

Final Thoughts

In short, oat milk is a healthy alternative to cow’s milk, and can be a great addition to your beagle’s diet.

It comes from whole oats which are a type of grain that is naturally high in fiber, protein, and other nutrients that can be good for them. It’s also low fat and low calorie, meaning it’s a healthy alternative to dairy options that tend to have too much sugar or unnecessary additives.

However, it is important to note that oat milk is not currently widely recommended by veterinarians. It’s seen as an added treat for dogs, or a way to help to get more calcium into their diets without using dairy.

As long as you give it in moderation, beagles can enjoy oat milk from time to time safely.