Most of us use coconut oil as a beauty product as they can give our skin a radiant and glowing looks. Other than that it also boosts our immune system. Coconut oil is antifungal and antiviral. But is it good for our dogs? The short answer to this question will be yes as coconut oil can aid your dog’s digestion and will improve their coats. Most of the veterinarian will suggest using coconut oil for dogs but you should follow proper guidelines as overuse can lead to diarrhea or greasy stools in dogs. You should use unrefined, Virgin and organic coconut oil regardless of their brands.
What is the reason for health benefits of Coconut Oil
Heath benefits of coconut oil are due to the presence of saturated fats. About 90% of fats present in coconut oil are saturated fats. Saturated fats are classified as super food as they contain Medium Chain Triglycerides, Lauric acid, Capric Acid, Caprylic Acid, Myristic Acid and Palmitic. Lauric acid is loaded with antifungal, antibacterial and antivirus properties. The Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) contained in coconut oil will help improve digestion, gives immune support, improves skin and coat health and balance the thyroid. MCT can also be an immediate source of fuel and energy and will enhance the athletic performance and will aid in weight loss. Coconut oil will protect from illness, speeds healing and will reduce allergic reactions.
Benefits of coconut oil in Dogs.
Feeding coconut oil to dogs can have multiple benefits. We can also apply the oil to their skin coat which will give it a glossy look.
Digestion
If your dog is struggling with poor digestion you can add coconut oil to his diet. It helps to absorb more nutrients from foods and will loose the stool.
Coconut oil is beneficial for dogs with digestive problems such as stomach ulcers, colitis, inflammatory bowel syndrome, etc. Coconut oil mainly consists of medium chain fatty acid which can be easily digested and quickly used by dog’s body. This will increase the overall nutrition value of the food and will improve the general health and promotes regular bowel movement.
Coconut oil can eliminate bad breath in dogs. The Lauric acid will eliminate bad breath and gum disease-causing bacteria. Coconut oil is good for your dogs immune and metabolic system.
Ingestion of hair in dogs can cause the hairball. Normally it will get out of their body through poop or vomit. Sometimes hairball may get big and can cause obstruction in the stomach and will cause lack of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, etc. Coconut oil can act as a lubricant and will help eliminate hairball from the stomach.
Coconut oil can reduce excess weight in dogs. Mixing oil with food will satiate dogs sooner and they will eat less.
Skin Conditions
Is your dog suffering from eczema to allergies, itchy skin or dermatitis? Regardless of the disease, you can treat it by applying coconut oil on them.Coconut oil has the ability to cleanse and nourish the tissues and will promote a healthy skin layer and also gives the coat a glossy look. Coconut oil is emollient and will add moisture to the skin and will prevent the skin from drying up. You can also apply oil onto your dog’s dry or cracked paws to moisten them. Sometimes drying of skin can lead to itching and scratch in dogs and by applying coconut oil we can prevent the irritation in dogs. It improves skin health and hair condition.
Dogs suffer from allergies and mostly are due to the food they consume or due to certain fleas. Medications can be given for keeping the allergy symptoms down but they could cause future problems for your dogs. For the flea allergies, we can use coconut oil. Coconut will reduce skin itchiness, rashes and soothe hot spots and itchy ears. You can also add coconut oil to their daily diet to prevent allergies.
Mostly itching and scratching are caused by external parasites such as fleas, yeast, etc. Lauric acid in coconut oil will eliminate the fleas, yeast in dogs. Flea bites will be itchy and painful for your dogs and by rubbing the coconut oil on flea bites will provide amazing relief for your dogs. Other than fleabites it also helps heal cuts, wounds, stings, etc in your dogs. Coconut oil consists of certain fats that are anti-inflammatory in nature. Coconut oil rejuvenates the skin and protects against skin cancer. Applying oil on the skin will leave a natural and lovely odor. When you apply oil directly to dog’s skin there is a chance your pet will try to lick it off. You should use a different rag or towel to wrap the skin and let the oil soak in before they can lick it off.
Health Benefits
Bad fats tend to linger in the tissues, bloodstream which can cause trouble. Dogs need good healthy fat which will provide immediate energy. Coconut oil contains good healthy fat in abundance and amount of bad fat is very less. Coconut oil is easy to digest and absorb and will improve dog’s digestion.
Coconut oil helps to prevent diabetes in dogs as it helps regulate and balance insulin. It supports pancreas in improving insulin secretion and glucose tolerance. Coconut oil can control hunger and cravings and will prevent blood sugar spikes.
Coconut oil helps in healthy thyroid function in dogs. The thyroid is caused due to production disorders that lead to the excess of hormones or inappropriate response to hormones by tissues. Saturated fat, Lauric acid, medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil make a particular fat balance which is nourishing to the thyroid and also helps stimulating metabolism and boosts energy.
Coconut oil helps to ease the pain of arthritis and muscular problems. Arthritis can be very painful for dogs and can make him weak. Coconut oil can have a calming effect on inflamed tissues and joints.
Coconut oil is excellent for brain health. The brain needs healthy dietary fats for their proper functions as it is largely made up of fat. The MCTs in coconut oil will be broken down into ketones by the liver and this will provide instant energy to blood cells.
Type of Coconut Oil to use
It’s so important to choose quality coconut oil for your dogs. It should be organic and non-genetically modified. You should always use unrefined oil (Virgin oil). Coconut oil can be stored for many years and there is no need for refrigeration.
How to use coconut Oil ?
Giving Coconut oil internally
You should start slowly in the case of using coconut oil internally as there can be side effects. Adding too much oil quickly in your dog’s diet can cause diarrhea or greasy stool. You need to slowly introduce coconut oil into your dog’s diet.
Start with 1/4 teaspoon per day for small dogs and puppies and for large dogs start with 1 teaspoon. Give time for dog’s body to adjust to the new addition to their diet. After that, you can feed him about 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds or 20 pounds of body weight daily. You just start slowly and see how your dog reacts.
Using Coconut oil externally
Coconut oil is easy to store and can be kept for many years. If coconut oil is kept at a warm temperature, it will look like a clear liquid. If we kept coconut oil in a cooler climate, it will look like lard. First, take some oil in your hands and rub your hands together. By doing so even the oil in lard state will turn to a more oily consistency. Rub into the fur or coat of your dog and leave it for some time. The dogs may try to lick it off so you need to wrap the skin with a rag or towel. The fleas present in the dog’s body will die within five minutes. Applying coconut oil on the coat will make it soft and healthier. After five minutes you can slowly rinse it off. You can reapply oil each day or few times a week and you can notice the difference it makes.
