As it turns out, coconut oil does more for the body than just help to get you a good suntan. For humans, it promotes heart health, encourages fat burning, has antimicrobial effects, boosts brain function, reduces abdominal fat and so much more. It should be no surprise that what is good for humans is also good for canines. Let’s examine all of the many ways that coconut oil can be of benefit to your dog’s health.
Benefits of Coconut Oil for Dogs
When taken internally, coconut oil possesses great benefits for your dog’s health. According to the AKC, it is a natural anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antibacterial agent. It even has the ability to naturally help fight off viruses, thanks to the lauric acid it contains.
The medium-chain triglycerides that coconut oil contains promote healthy digestion as well as having the ability to improve mental cognition in senior dogs.
Similar to what it does for humans, coconut oil has the ability to boost your dog’s metabolism by balancing the thyroid. As a result, obese dogs may benefit from help with weight loss.
Another benefit of coconut oil for dogs is that bone health and canine arthritis can both be improved through regularly taking it.
What Makes It So Beneficial?
The primary reason behind the usefulness of coconut oil is that it consists of over 90% saturated fat. Classified as a superfood, coconut oil is derived from medium-chain triglycerides. These “good fats” are beneficial to your skin, metabolism, thyroid, and immune system. As a bonus, these MCTs give you and your dog a quick energy boost.
How to Give Coconut Oil to Your Dog
If you have decided to try out coconut oil for your dog, do the following. Your dog needs to be given small amounts in the beginning, and build up the amount a little bit at a time. To start, you can give him or her ¼ of a teaspoon if you have a small dog or a puppy. Larger dogs can begin with one teaspoon. If you give your dog too much, your dog may develop diarrhea or greasy stools. Asking your veterinarian for dosage recommendations is always the right thing to do.
Topically Applying Coconut Oil
Applying coconut oil directly to your dog’s skin and coat is a great way to bring out its healthy sheen. Once a week, try giving your dog a coconut oil treatment. His coat will become unbelievably soft and super shiny. In addition to this, coconut oil will get rid of any undesirable doggy odor that your canine may have.
To give your dog a coconut oil treatment, all you need to do is rub it into your dog’s skin and let it soak in for about 5 minutes. Next, simply rinse it off of your dog. If his coat still feels too oily for you, feel free to shampoo him. Even if you do, he will still look and feel great.
Coconut oil can also be applied topically to help heal hot spots, bug bites, and stings. If your dog’s skin is dry and itchy, just rub in a bit of coconut oil to give him relief.
Some dogs suffer with paws that are sore or cracked. To remedy this, simply massage in a bit of coconut oil into their paws at bedtime to heal them while they sleep.
Are All Coconut Oils The Same?
When shopping for the right coconut oil for your dog, be sure to choose cold-pressed, virgin coconut oil. The reason this is important is that, during this process, the nutrients are captured more effectively. Also, be aware that different brands may have different tastes, so it may take a bit of experimentation to find the right one that your doggie approves of.