Purple and Paws Everywhere you look these days coconut oil is being touted as an amazing health food for humans, but did you know coconut oil is also great for your dog?
More than 90% of coconut oil consists of saturated fat but not the bad kind. Coconut oil is full of the good kind of saturated fat that helps improve your pup’s digestion, support his immune system, help his metabolic function to assist with weight loss, improve his skin and coat health, and boost his thyroid health.
So what exactly can coconut oil do for your dog? Well, for starters it can: clear up eczema, soothe itchy skin, minimize that lovely dog smell, reduce allergic reactions, create a sleek and glossy coat, act as a wound healer when applied topically, help with hot spots and dry skin, improve digestion, increase nutrient absorption, help with colitis and inflammatory bowel syndrome, reduce or eliminate bad breath, balance insulin and promote normal thyroid function, help prevent or control diabetes, aid arthritis and ligament problems, help prevent infection and disease, and increase energy.
Whew. Those are a lot of benefits.
If you like what you’ve heard so far, the next thing you’ll need to figure out is if you want to give your dog coconut oil via food or applied to his or her coat. If you’d like to add coconut oil to your dog’s food as a supplement, you’ll want to start with a small amount so as not to overwhelm their system. Begin with ¼ teaspoon per day for small dogs and puppies and 1 teaspoon for larger dogs (sometimes smaller if your dog has a sensitive stomach).
For topical applications, just rub a small amount (not too much unless you want an extremely oily dog walking around) into your dog’s coat once a week (preferably after brushing). Let the oil absorb for five minutes then lightly rinse the oil off.
Remember to watch your dog closely after applying coconut oil or adding coconut oil to her food for any adverse side effects. The most common is loose or greasy stools. If you notice adverse side effects, stop giving your dog coconut oil or applying any topically immediately.
It’s also a good idea to discuss adding coconut oil to your dog’s diet or grooming routine with your vet.
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