Coconut Oil Benefits for Dogs

Learn more about the amazing coconut oil benefits for dogs - from improving skin conditions to relieving arthritis and reducing the risks of cancer! Coconut oil can be used both internally and topically on dogs.

Many health-conscience people are constantly praising all the good things coconut oil does to their health. More and more holistic veterinarians and vets who emphasize the importance of nutrition are also tooting the benefits of coconut oil on our dogs' health.

To help you understand more how coconut oil benefits your dog's health, we are putting up this page which looks at the following topics:

Benefits of Coconut Oil to Dogs (Internally)
Benefits of Coconut Oil to Dogs (Externally)
The Fatty Acid Composition of Coconut Oil
Which Type of Coconut Oil To Give to Dogs?
How and How Much To Supplement?

Coconut Oil Benefits for Dogs - Internal

When taken internally, it is believed that coconut oil can prevent and help with a lot of canine health problems. For example:

Disease Prevention: Coconut oil has strong antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal functions; therefore it can help prevent and treat infection (e.g. yeast infections) and infectious diseases (e.g. canine influenza).
Weight Control: Coconut oil supplies fewer calories than other fats. It is beneficial for dogs who are overweight and cannot consume too much animal fat.
Joint and Bone Health: Coconut oil can prevent and relieve symptoms of arthritis.
Skin Health: Coconut oil benefits the skin greatly - it alleviates skin allergy symptoms (e.g. itching, dry skin and hair coat) and protects the skin against cancerous growths.
Digestive Health: Coconut oil improves digestion and nutrient absorption, and is beneficial for dogs with digestive problems (e.g. stomach ulcers, colitis, etc.)
Hormonal Control: It is also believed that coconut oil can help with hormonal balance and is therefore good for dogs with diabetes or thyroid problems.
Cancer Prevention: Finally, it is believed that coconut oil reduces the risk of cancer and other degenerative conditions.

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Coconut Oil Benefits for Dogs - Topical

Not only can coconut oil be taken internally, it can also be applied topically on our dogs.

When used topically, coconut oil can:

Disinfect cuts and promote wound healing.
Improve our dogs' skin and hair condition, making the hair coat smooth and shiny. It can also eliminate the dog's body odor.
Clear up numerous skin problems, such as warts, eczema, dandruff, precancerous lesions, ringworm, bites and stings.

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Fatty Acid Composition of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil consists of more than 90% saturated fats, with traces of few unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

When we see the words "saturated fats", most of us will think that these are "bad fats". However, most of the saturated fats in coconut oil are Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs), which are supposed to assimilate well. The main component (more than 40%) of MCTs is lauric acid, followed by capric acid, caprylic acid, myristic acid and palmitic.

Coconut oil also contains about 2% of linoleic acid (polyunsaturated fatty acids) and about 6% of oleic acid (monounsaturated fatty acids).

Most of the coconut oil benefits come from the MCTs. For example, the lauric acid in coconut oil has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. Capric and caprylic acid have similar properties and are best known for their antifungal effects.

In addition, MCTs are efficiently metabolized to provide an immediate source of fuel and energy, enhancing athletic performance and aiding weight loss. In dogs, the MCTs in coconut oil balance the thyroid, helping overweight dogs lose weight and helping sedentary dogs feel energetic.

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Which Type of Coconut Oil Benefits Our Dogs?

There are two main types of coconut oil - refined and unrefined ("virgin" coconut oil).

Refined coconut oil are usually made from low-quality coconuts and sometimes chemicals (e.g. chlorine and hexane) are used in the refining process.

On the other hand, unrefined coconut oil is made from fresh, high-quality coconuts, either hand-pressed or manufactured in state-of-the-art factories. Unrefined coconut oil retains most of the nutrients found in fresh coconuts.

Always give unrefined coconut oil to dogs as a dietary supplement.

Here is a good organic product to consider:

Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil

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How and How Much to Supplement?

Dogs usually like the taste of coconut oil, so it can be added to their food at any meal. Some dog parents just let their dogs lick the oil off from a spoon.

How much coconut oil to give to a dog depends on the size and health condition of the dog, As a general guideline, give about 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight per day.

However, remember not to start with the suggested amount. You need to add coconut oil to your dog's diet a little at a time in divided doses. Because coconut oil kills harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi, the burden of removing dead organisms can trigger symptoms of detoxification. Too much coconut oil at a time may also cause diarrhea and greasy stools in dogs.

As a start, try giving 1/4 teaspoon/day for small dogs or puppies and 1 teaspoon for large dogs, and gradually increase the amount every few days. Reduce the amount if your dog has diarrhea.