Turning to holistic care using natural remedies from your pantry is becoming more widespread. Superfoods like kale and quinoa have health-conscious individuals reaching for home remedies instead of some over-the-counter solutions — think garlic, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and coconut oil.
But did you realize many of these wellness alternatives can also benefit our canine companions?
Coconut oil for dogs is a popular way pet owners introduce extra health care to their pets — partly because it’s an inexpensive staple they often already keep at home and because it offers numerous potential benefits for dogs.
How might coconut oil help enhance your dog’s health and well-being?
Below, we walk through six practical ways to raise your dog’s quality of life using coconut oil.
- Add to Food to Help Many Skin Concerns
- Mask the Flavor of Medications
- Use It to Clean Your Dog’s Teeth
- Apply Coconut Oil to Skin and Fur
- Use as a Supplementary Flea and Tick Deterrent
- Support Wound Recovery
What the Research Says About Coconut Oil for Dogs
Although not all veterinarians agree on every claimed benefit of coconut oil for dogs, evidence tends to support its use, especially in moderation. While coconut oil isn’t a miracle solution, many researchers and vets suggest coconut oil can:
- Improve overall odor.
- Alleviate many skin problems, including dryness, itchiness, hot spots and reactions to bites or stings.
- Give a shinier, healthier-looking coat.
- Help reduce coughing and issues with hairballs.
- Assist digestion due to medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). Some vets even believe MCTs from coconut oil can enhance brain fuel and cognitive performance in senior dogs.
- Support joint and bone comfort, potentially easing symptoms of arthritis.
- Assist metabolic processes.
- Combat certain viruses, fungi and bacteria thanks to lauric acid.
Keep in mind coconut oil won’t prevent every skin ailment or eliminate every virus your dog encounters, and it likely only helps alleviate arthritis discomfort rather than preventing the condition entirely.
Consider coconut oil a beneficial supplement, not a substitute for a balanced diet — particularly the essential fatty acids your dog needs.
Essential Fatty Acids — Why They Matter
The word “fat” often carries negative baggage, but fats are essential in both human and canine diets. Healthy saturated fats like medium-chain triglycerides, for instance, supply energy that fuels daily activity.
Lauric acid in coconut oil is known for antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial attributes. Coconut oil also contains beneficial unsaturated fats (both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) that have recognized advantages.
6 Practical Ways to Use Coconut Oil for Your Dog
Is coconut oil right for your dog? It can be. Coconut oil offers various perks. Here are six simple ways to integrate coconut oil into your dog’s routine to boost health and comfort:
1. Add to Meals to Improve Skin Health
Eating coconut oil is the most straightforward and often the most effective use. If your dog enjoys the flavor, it’s a helpful addition to food to address itchy or flaky skin, rashes, nutrient uptake, digestion, joint stiffness and more. Just mix a small amount into your dog’s bowl at mealtime. Many owners use small portions of the oil as treat supplements.
Recommended amounts
Moderation is key. When introducing coconut oil into meals, begin with a tiny amount and increase slowly (to avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach and potentially making a mess). Your veterinarian can give guidance tailored to your dog’s breed and weight.
2. Mask the Taste of Medications
If coconut oil becomes a favorite snack or meal additive, it can work well to hide pills. With a texture similar to peanut butter — making it a handy peanut-butter substitute — it’s easy to conceal a tablet. Your dog may even begin to look forward to medication time!
3. Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
Coconut oil has antimicrobial traits that make it a solid alternative to commercial dog toothpaste, particularly for pups who dislike the flavors of store-bought pastes. (It’s also typically less expensive.) Use your finger, a pet toothbrush or even a child’s toothbrush to rub the oil onto your dog’s teeth once or twice weekly.
4. Apply Coconut Oil to Skin and Coat
Benefits of coconut oil go beyond ingestion. Applied topically, coconut oil can improve your dog’s skin and fur.
If your dog suffers from flaky, itchy or dry patches, dab coconut oil onto the affected area. You can also rub some between your palms and give your dog a full-body massage to distribute the oil across fur and skin.
This can be particularly helpful following an allergic flare-up. Still, be sure to follow up with your vet to identify the trigger of the reaction.
Don’t be alarmed if your dog licks more than usual after application — just keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t consume too much.
5. Use as a Supplemental Flea and Tick Deterrent
Coconut oil not only hydrates the skin but may act as a natural flea deterrent.
But a warning: From personal experience with DIY flea and tick remedies, store-bought treatments usually deliver stronger protection. Use coconut oil as an extra deterrent rather than your only defense, or you risk inviting fleas into your home and increasing the chance your dog contracts tick-borne illnesses.
6. Help Wounds Heal
Topically, coconut oil can help wounds recover due to its mild antibiotic qualities. Vets have found coconut oil useful for cracked paw pads, scrapes from active play or even self-inflicted sores when dogs gnaw at irritated paws during allergy seasons.
Choosing the Best Coconut Oil for Dogs
The good news is you probably already have coconut oil in your pantry.
That said, certain coconut oil varieties are preferable for your pet, so if you plan to buy some, most vets recommend opting for specific types.
Look for unrefined coconut oil rather than refined. Unrefined is often labeled virgin coconut oil. Even better is cold-pressed coconut oil for optimal benefits.
Choosing organic coconut oil is also a solid choice. That doesn’t mean every unrefined coconut oil lacking an organic label is useless, but evidence tends to favor these higher-quality options.
Besides selecting cold-pressed, organic, extra-virgin coconut oil, you might need to experiment with flavors.
Some dogs, like my 40-pound mutt named Murphy, will eat almost anything (except spinach, because who really loves green veggies?), so he had no trouble with the first jar I offered.
Other, pickier pups may need to try several varieties. Coconut oils vary from robust coconut tastes to milder, buttery or nutty profiles.
Possible Risks of Giving Coconut Oil to Dogs
As with most things, too much coconut oil can cause problems.
If you add too much too quickly, your dog’s stomach may revolt. Watch your dog’s stool when introducing coconut oil. If diarrhea appears, stop for a few days and resume with a lower amount.
A small number of dogs could be allergic to coconut oil.
If gastrointestinal upset persists even at low doses or you see signs of an allergic reaction, stop use and consider alternatives like flaxseed oil or salmon oil (excellent sources of omega-3s). You might also try switching to a fish-based diet, for instance salmon and sweet potato formulas.
Also avoid coconut oil for overweight dogs. It’s calorie-dense — roughly 120 calories per tablespoon — and can contribute to weight gain if not carefully monitored.
Lastly, coconut oil is not recommended for dogs with a history of pancreatitis.
