Coconut oil, even coconut oil for dogs, has been wrongly accused by most health care professionals who tell us to stay away from coconut oil and place in the artery clogging, saturated fat category next to animal fat.
How misleading that information has been. We’ve had such an obsession with fat that we’ve gone low fat, no fat, non fat for long enough to find out, it’s screwing up our ability to run well lubricated healthy lives! It’s true for our dogs as well.
The technical reasons why there is a big difference between animal and coconut saturated fat are fat that comes from animals is a long chain triglyceride, and coconut oil is a medium chain triglyceride or MCT. Coconut oil does not turn to trans fatty acids when heated or eaten raw by the way.
The real amazing thing about medium chain fatty acids are the healing properties it exhibits in improving metabolism, thyroid function, promotes weight loss and boosts energy.
Coconut Oil For Dogs
So why do these coconut oil facts apply to dogs too?
Well, like people our dogs diet and exercise habits have suffered over the past few decades. The diet being a huge issue. Think about it, when was the last time your dog ate something real? How many days in a row has your dog eaten a processed to death, coated in preservatives for flavor and shelf life meal?
Hmmm, and we wonder why our dogs are also overweight, getting diabetes, and acquiring thyroid problems?
Bottom line, improve your dog’s health with coconut oil.
7 Reasons to Feed Your Dog Coconut Oil
- Coconut oil prevents and treats yeast infections, including candida. The number one reason dogs are itching scratching and licking: candida.
- Coconut oil improves overall skin health, and clears up skin conditions. Dogs get flea allergies, contact dermatitis, hot spots, and generally a need to itch from internal candida.
- Applied topically to the skin, coconut oil promotes the healing of cuts, wounds, hot spots, bites, and stings.
- Coconut oil helps prevent diabetes by regulating and balancing insulin.
- Coconut oil promotes normal thyroid function.
- Coconut oil prevents infection.
- Coconut oil promotes weight reduction and increase energy, which promotes mobility in dogs with arthritis and other joint issues.
Feed your dog coconut oil every day. Start small. 1/2 teaspoon a day will do it. Start small dogs on 1/4 teaspoon per day. Small dogs can work up to 1-2 teaspoons a day while larger dogs can go 3-4 teaspoons a day depending on the degree of health your dog started with and what you are treating. Remember, something is better than nothing so a little dab a day is best if that is all you can do.
Looking for coconut oil ideas to add to your dogs diet?
Pumpkin Dog Food + Treats Recipes offers recipes which all include coconut oil. The added bonus in health benefits of pumpkin for a dog in each recipe too.
By the way, if this is resonating with you and your dog – you find yourself lacking support and tired of listening to the vet and or doctors suggest benadryl, antibiotics, or really bad dog food they get a kick back from selling/promoting – I just want you to know that I support you.
Subscribe to A Better Life Because of Your Dog and I’ll help however I can. If its healthy and it’s vibrant and brings joy I’d like more of that for you and for me and for our dogs.
Jt Clough practices health, happiness, natural remedies and training for dogs and their people. Her uncanny way of communication with both dogs and people is healing and her training is effective physically and emotionally. She is has written the 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs and Pumpkin Dog Food + Treats Recipes and is co-author of Treading for Dogs DVD
*Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional – I just study, practice, read, live, breath natural remedies! I’m not one to follow the normal which doesn’t seem to be working for most these days. What you’ll read here is based on my research and experience and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe. Have fun, read as much as you can, do your own research and make smart choices for yourself!
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12 Comments on Coconut Oil for Dogs (and Their People)
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Chris Danahy
June 11, 2012 at 3:17 am (13 years ago)Hi JT! What brand do you suggest for our best friends?
Jt Clough
June 11, 2012 at 9:41 am (13 years ago)No matter what brand you use make sure it is organic virgin pressed. My favorite for both people and dogs is Dr. Bonners Magic All-One Coconut Oil.
So many great reports coming in about the use of coconut oil, I’d love to hear yours once you give it a try!
Joel Zaslofsky
June 12, 2012 at 4:38 am (13 years ago)Hi JT,
I love coconut oil (coconut anything really) and I love my dogs. But I never thought of combining the two until today. Just mention the letters MCT and I get a smile on my face. Could have something to do with reading Mark Sisson, Robb Wolf and others in the primal/paleo community for two-and-a-half years.
You know what you wrote about that really perked my ears up? “Coconut oil prevents and treats yeast infections, including candida. The number one reason dogs are itching scratching and licking: candida.”
My golden retriever has terrible allergies and we’ve tried a ridiculous number of things to help him with the itching and licking. But we haven’t tried coconut oil. Guess what experiment I’m planning to conduct in the next couple of weeks? 🙂
Lori Lynn Smith
June 12, 2012 at 5:57 am (13 years ago)awesome, I agree with Joel, being on the primal path myself coconut oil is already in my cupboards/fridge. I can totally see how it would benefit our four-legged friends as much as us.
Great advice!
Bobbi Emel
June 12, 2012 at 1:39 pm (13 years ago)Good stuff, JT! I’m going to ask my partner if she knows about coconut oil for her dogs.
Kaylee
June 13, 2012 at 2:05 pm (13 years ago)I have coconut oil in my pantry 🙂 Never thought about giving it to my pup though! And with all the health benefits you listed, I might have to pull it out of the pantry more often (for me and him!)
Linda Jo Martin
June 13, 2012 at 2:54 pm (13 years ago)Coconut oil is a regular part of my diet, but I never thought of giving it to the dogs. I will definitely start putting it on their food. Thanks!
Amit
June 14, 2012 at 12:05 pm (13 years ago)Oooh so true. I eat egg yolk for breakfast and throw out the egg whites. Everyone tells me I’m killing my heart. Psh. A little fat is fine 🙂
Now if only I had a dog to give some coconut oil to…
Elle
June 18, 2012 at 10:35 am (13 years ago)I don’t have a dog, but I’ve sent your post to some friends who do. As for coconut oil ~ its definitely how we cook.
Great tip…thanks for sharing.
Elle
xoxo
Sarah | Holistic Hot Sauce
June 18, 2012 at 7:06 pm (13 years ago)Great information that needs to be disseminated more. I’m so sold on coconut oil – and I think it really works with weight loss plans. I’m going to start spreading the word to my pet-owning friends.
Ana Hillis
June 22, 2012 at 9:36 am (13 years ago)Great post JT. We have been giving our furry kids coconut oil for quite some time now. They both love it and it has done wonders for their skin and fur.
Thanks for such an informative post!
Ana
Katie
November 9, 2012 at 10:09 am (12 years ago)I have sent an email…but thot I’d ask online as well. I have a 7 yr old fem doodle, no health issues, but I thot the C-oil sounded like a good preventative measure, so I started her on it 6-8 wks ago, all went well, she loves it, coat is nice. But she has gained weight…is this a coincidence? Its the only thing I changed in her diet. advice anyone?