Benefits of Coconut Oil for Dogs

Coconut oil has many beneficial properties for dogs, whether we include it in their diet for them to eat, in the right amounts, or use it externally to care for their skin and coat.

However, excessive use can have side effects, so it's important to be well informed before using it. Let's take a detailed look at the benefits of coconut oil and how we should use it so our dog enjoys all its properties.

What Is Coconut Oil?

It's a pasty product, liquid at high temperatures or if refined, obtained by pressing or crushing coconut flesh or pulp. It's off-white in color and has many nutritional and healing properties, as long as it's given in appropriate amounts.

Coconut oil is entirely natural and can be kept for several months at room temperature in perfect condition. In some countries it's known as coconut butter, and its benefits have been proven in humans and some animals, such as dogs.

Nutritional Benefits of Coconut Oil for Dogs

As long as we don't exceed the maximum recommended amount, coconut oil can be a great nutritional supplement for our dog. Coconut oil or butter contains many vitamins such as Vitamin K, E, and a wide variety of B vitamins. It also contains minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, or potassium.

Coconut oil also provides a lot of energy thanks to its saturated fatty acid content, such as lauric, myristic, and palmitic acid. It's also a great ally for the dog's immune system, so it could be considered a superfood.

How Much Coconut Oil Can a Dog Eat?

If you're wondering whether dogs can eat coconut oil, the answer is yes. And although we're talking about a food packed with nutritional properties that benefit dogs, it's also a food high in saturated fat, so too much can be counterproductive and cause harmful effects on its health.

The recommended amount for an adult dog weighing between twenty and thirty kilos is a maximum of two or three tablespoons a week. Exceeding this amount can cause weight gain, high cholesterol, and clogged arteries.

Beneficial Properties of Coconut Oil

Besides being able to use coconut oil in our dog's diet, we can also use it externally to, among many other things, improve its skin. Let's look at the main benefits of coconut oil for dogs.

Improves the Dog's Coat and Skin

Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer, and whether we include it in its diet or apply it externally, it will hydrate our dog's dry or flaky skin. Beneficial properties have also been found for improving possible scars.

Our dog's coat will also look healthier, stronger, and shinier. It's used to improve dogs' coats and also to prevent hair loss. It helps moisturize the skin and stimulates hair growth on bald patches or areas with thinner coat.

Excellent for Skin Conditions

Another of coconut oil's beneficial properties is that it's antiseptic, antifungal, and antibacterial. So applied directly to the dog's skin, it will help improve conditions that affect the skin such as ringworm or mange.

Coconut Oil Works as an Anti-Parasite

If we mix it with the dog's soap/shampoo during its bath, coconut oil will act as an anti-parasite, keeping our dog free of fleas, lice, and mites. It also helps prevent the appearance of yeast and fungi thanks to its antifungal properties. When given orally, that is, included in the dog's diet, it also helps eliminate and prevent intestinal parasites.

Helps Elderly Dogs and/or Dogs With Alzheimer's

Another of coconut oil's great benefits is that, by containing MCTs (medium-chain triglycerides), it improves brain metabolism. MCTs help prevent and improve Alzheimer's in dogs (cognitive dysfunction), which mainly occurs in elderly dogs.

Strengthens the Dog's Immune System

Among the different saturated fats found in coconut oil, lauric acid stands out, making up around 60% of the total. This acid is also present in mother's milk, when puppies nurse from their mother, and it's a great stimulant for a dog's immune system, making our dog stronger against various illnesses.

Can Dogs Eat Coconut?

Dogs can eat coconut, since it's part of the fruits suitable for dogs — that is, ones they can eat safely since they're beneficial for them. Remember that a dog eating coconut isn't the same as giving our dog coconut oil or butter.

Coconut oil or butter is more concentrated, which is why a fairly small amount per week is recommended. However, coconut itself doesn't have such a high concentration of nutrients or fatty acids, and dogs can eat somewhat larger amounts.