Is Coconut Oil Safe For Pets?
Coconut oil is one of the few natural remedies which is safe for both pets and humans. It is easy to presume that all natural supplements and vitamins have health benefits for every living creature. That is not true.
For instance, it is best not to give the supplement Gingko Biloba to cats and dogs as it may cause internal bleeding. However, the supplement is safe under almost all circumstances for us humans.
However, when it comes to the health benefits of coconut oil, dogs and other pets can also safely enjoy it.
How To Treat Your Pet With Coconut Oil
To us humans, coconut oil has many health benefits when it comes to improving our skin quality. Coconut oil is associated with reduced inflammation which aids to reduce the symptoms of common skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
Our companion animals, or pets, also suffer from skin conditions. Although you can use coconut oil to treat skin conditions found in pets, it is best to use it as an internal treatment.
In other words, instead of applying to your pets’ skin or fur, it is best to feed it to them.
Why is that? Animal’s skin works slightly differently from human skin. Most species of pets have a hard time absorbing topical treatments and remedies. But when coconut oil is added to your pet’s diet, it can have a range of health benefits.
What you should remember, is that it is essential to buy a quality coconut oil or other herbal remedy to treat your pet’s health condition. The Coconut Company sells a good quality product which is suitable for pets.
Uses For Coconut Oil
Coconut contains a broad spectrum of health-boosting ingredients for both you and your pet.Some pets, probably benefit more from the compounds in coconuts than others.
Our closest human companions, dogs, are omnivores. That means that they are meant to eat both plant-based and meat-based foods.
Sadly, we are reluctant to step out of the comfort zone when it comes to feeding our dogs. They either end up with an all meat or dry biscuit based diet. A limited diet will eventually lead to health problems for your four-legged friends.
Believe it or not, dogs need a varied diet as much as humans in order to not develop skin problems, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.
Can Adding Coconut To My Dog’s Diet Benefit Him?
Both coconut oil and coconut meat (the white inside of the coconut) can be safely added to your dog’s diet.
What are the health benefits associated with coconut oil and eating coconut?
The health benefits to dogs are very much the same as in humans. The medium chain fatty acids found in coconuts will help to boost your dog’s immune health and reduce inflammation.
Most dogs start to suffer from some form of arthritis in their lives. We often fail to realise dogs are just as dependent on their joints as we are and will suffer from many of the same conditions as we do.
Arthritis in some dogs, especially in large and active breeds, can set in from an early age. Dog breeds such as Pinschers, Greyhounds, and gun dog breeds are more likely to develop arthritis when compared to others.
They are much more active, and if not fed a varied diet, they are at risk of developing joint problems. The canine joint is not so different from human joints and relies on the same compounds to keep it healthy.
That means your dog must eat the right kind of foods to be able to produce collagen, glucosamine and hyaluronic acid.
Adding fruit and vegetables to your dog’s diet is a great idea, but fatty acids from fish or coconut will also help to boost your dog’s general health.
Do Dogs Suffer From Skin Conditions?
Both dogs and cats can develop skin conditions which can severely affect their lives.
Can coconut oil help? Yes, it can but it is far more likely to help your dog than your cat. A cat’s digestive system works differently, and cats will find it hard to digest coconut oil.
You can try adding to your cat’s biscuits but look out for side effects such as an upset stomach. This simply means your cat has not been able to digest the coconut oil.
Cats find it easier to absorb long-chain fatty acids found in cold-water fish.
Dogs, with their ability to digest bones, find it easier to digest coconut oil. It is now added to some dog foods on the market.
Most skin conditions in dogs are caused by inflammation. Vets encounter anything from dermatitis to eczema.
Eczema in dogs is often caused by an incorrect diet lacking in a wide range of nutritional elements and compounds your dog needs to stay healthy.
Coconut oil contains lauric acid. This is a unique essential acid that helps to cut down on our natural inflammatory response. It works the same way in dogs as it does in humans.
Lauric acid has properties that are rather unique to the coconut palm tree. In folk medicine, it has been used as a remedy for fungal, viral and bacterial infections.
It is thought that it helps the body to cope with the damage caused by free radicals. Long-term, some case studies suggest lauric acid improves the strength of the cell wall and may even boost mitochondrial function.
How Much Coconut Oil Should I Give To My Dog?
If you have a small dog, you should at the maximum feed your dog ¼ of a teaspoon. For larger dogs, over 25 kilos, it is safe to add ½ a teaspoon per day. Start slowly to make sure your dog tolerates coconut oil.
When your dog has a specific health condition, it is best to ask the advice of a qualified vet. This is essential if your dog has already received another treatment or herbal remedy.
In summary, yes, coconut oil is safe for your dog. But, just like with anything else that you feed to your pets, you should make sure your furry friend tolerates it well and can digest it without any problems.