Coconut oil is an edible oil that has a lot of health benefits for humans.
The oil has various applications for humans and is used for hair care, skincare, improving the immune system, dental care, digestive system care, preventing candida amongst other uses.
But, do dogs benefit from coconut oil as well?
It is true that coconut oil is perfectly safe for our furry friends to consume but, does it only contribute fat to your dog’s diet, or does it have major health benefits as well?
That’s one major question asked.
In this post, I’ll go through the various benefits of coconut oil for dogs in a detailed manner. But before I continue, why don’t you quickly tap that like button and subscribe if you haven’t already done so. I would greatly appreciate it if you do.
So without any further ado, let’s begin!
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Coconut Oil in Detail
Coconut oil is made of 100% fat; 80-90% of which is saturated fat. It has a solid texture when it’s in your fridge or at room temperature.
All the oils are made of triglycerides, and coconut oil is primarily composed of Medium Chain Triglycerides or MCT’s. !
Triglycerides constitute fatty acids which are individual fat molecules. Most of the benefits of coconut oil are from the Medium Chain Fatty Acids of MCFA such as lauric acid.
Lauric acid has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.
Caprylic and capric acid found in coconuts are known for their antifungal properties but also have antiviral and antibacterial properties as well.
Since the body can metabolize the MCFAs to provide a source of energy, it also helps enhance athletic performance which in turn can help with weight loss.
For dogs, the MCFAs present in coconut oil help by balancing the thyroid, which helps overweight dogs lose weight and also works by making sedentary dogs feel more energetic. Coconut oil elevates the dog’s metabolism, helps in providing a higher level of vitality and energy, protects the dog from illness, and aids healing.
The oil also helps in improving the dog’s skin and coat, reduces allergic reactions, and improves digestion.
Major Health Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Dogs
In this section of the blog, I will go through the major health benefits of coconut oil for dogs in detail.
Let’s take a look.
1. Skin Benefits
Coconut oil helps in clearing up skin conditions such as flea allergies, eczema, itchy skin, and contact dermatitis. It also helps improve areas affected by allergic reactions and improves skin health.
The oil also works by making your dog’s coat softer and shinier and helps get rid of bad odors. Fungal infections, yeast infections such as candida can all be prevented by using coconut oil.
It helps heal wounds, cuts, and dry skin. when applied topically.
2. Digestive System
Coconut oil improves your dog’s digestion and helps them absorb more nutrients from their food, making them healthier.
The oil can also help in healing digestive disorders such as colitis and inflammatory bowel syndrome and helps reduce and eliminate bad breath.
The oil also helps kill parasites. Regularly feeding your pet coconut oil can prevent tapeworms, giardia, and other parasites. Coconut oil is metabolized into monolaurin in the dog’s body, which is an effective treatment for keeping parasites at bay.
3. Immune System
As mentioned earlier coconut oil contains powerful antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial agents and these help build your dog’s immune system and aids in preventing diseases and infections.
It is also linked to reducing the risk of cancer!
Awesome, right?
4. Endocrine/Metabolic System
The use of coconut oil promotes the normal function of the thyroid gland in dogs and helps give lazy dogs a boost of energy that can in turn help in reducing weight.
The oil also balances and regulates insulin and can also help in preventing and controlling diabetes in dogs.
5. Musculoskeletal System
Believe it or not, coconut oil helps in building your dog’s bones to be strong and sturdy.
It also eases inflammation in joints and helps dogs that face discomfort due to arthritis.
Moving on.
6. Brain, Eyes, Ears, and Mouth
Coconut oil effectively helps in clearing up eye and ear infections and can be used as an eyedrop when melted but make sure it has cooled enough to make it safe for your dog.
You can apply it topically on the ear using a cotton ball.
The oil also helps with oral health as it gives your dog a fresher breath and cleaner teeth.
It also promotes good brain and nerve function and is known to help prevent dementia.
Final Words: Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Dogs
Coconut oil is beneficial for both dogs and humans. Coconut oil is made of more than 90% saturated fats.
All the oils are made of triglycerides, and so, the oil is primarily composed of Medium Chain Triglycerides.
Since the body can metabolize the MCFAs to provide a source of energy, it helps enhance their athletic performance which helps in weight loss.
There are a lot of benefits that coconut oil has for dogs. However, it is always a good idea to check in with your vet before giving it to your dog.
In fact, you should run any tweak you make to your dog’s food by the vet.
You can add a tablespoon of coconut oil (the quantity depends on the breed) to your dog’s food, and you can apply it topically on your dog’s skin as well.
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