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When I started writing about better nutrition for my dogs, I wrote a post listing coconut oil as an alternative to fish oil. This week, I learned that not only is it not an alternative, but many people don't believe there is a benefit to feeding coconut oil to our dogs. Nearly everyone agrees that the topical benefits are outstanding, but not everyone is sold on the dietary benefits. This gave me pause, and I realized that I've been adding coconut oil to my dogs' diet without a clear understanding of why – so I started down this rabbit hole to figure out if coconut was good for my dogs.
Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil for Dogs
I will admit that I drank the Kool-Aid. Other raw feeders were doing it, so I started doing it too. However, it's easy enough to do a quick Internet search to find the many benefits of coconut oil for dogs.
- Coconut oil is rich in anti-oxidants.
- Improves nutrient absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
- Prevents the spread of cancer cells and enhances the immune system.
- Regulates the immune system.
- Repels mosquitoes and fleas.
- Soothes and heals cuts, wounds, hot spots, bites, and stings.
- It’s antimicrobial, kills yeast, and may help clear ear infections.
- It’s a natural anti-inflammatory and helps with arthritis.
- Coconut oil is rich in insoluble fiber, soothes anal gland issues and hairballs, and helps to keep pets regular.
- It freshens breath and makes an effective toothpaste.
- Coconut oil is a thermogenic oil that stimulates the metabolism and can aid in weight loss.
- Great for the brain and nervous system, the liver converts MCTs into Ketones and is the ideal food for the brain, preventing cognitive decline in aging pets.
- Allergies are due to an overactive immune system, and you can regulate the system by adding lauric acid to a dog’s diet.
Source: My notes from the CocoTherapy presentation at the 2018 Raw and Natural Dog Summit
When reading this long list of benefits, how can I question the benefits of adding coconut oil to our dogs' diet? But I wasn't finished with my homework; I now wanted to learn why some people feel dogs don't need coconut oil. I became curious because I've seen so many passionate discussions on this topic in groups (in some groups, mentioning coconut oil can lead to being banned).
Is Coconut Oil a Fad with No Benefits?
When I was new to raw feeding, when leaders in the raw feeding community made a recommendation, I listened without question. Over the years, I've become more and more curious when conflict arose on social media surrounding topics discussed by Dr. Becker and Rodney Habib. When I read claims that coconut oil was a fad and today's new snake oil, I wondered, are they right?
On the site HealthySkin4Dogs.com, many of the claims made about coconut oil are challenged.
- The claim that coconut oil will boost skin and coat health is “completely unsubstantiated clinically.”
- “Dogs fed coconut oil lost less weight and had more body fat than dogs on diets with other sources of fat.”
And on SkeptVet.com, I read…
“There are some theoretical reasons to think the types of fat found in non-hydrogenated coconut oil might have health benefits in humans, but there is no conclusive research to support this. There is virtually no research on coconut oil in dogs and cats, apart from some studies looking at topical use for treatment of parasites. Therefore, the health effects, both risks and benefits, are unknown and supported only by unreliable anecdotal evidence.” Source: SkeptVet.com
It's confusing – who should we believe?
Should We Stop Feeding Our Dogs Coconut Oil?
Whenever I see the phrase “anecdotal evidence,” I get my panties in a bunch because I've often read and heard this regarding the benefits of raw feeding. I find the phrase condescending and dismissive. Little to no evidence of the benefit of a diet didn't stop me from switching my dogs from commercial dry dog food to raw dog food. And it won't stop me from adding coconut oil to my dogs' diet – or will it?
I also understand that the phrase “anecdotal evidence” is valid. Too often, I've added supplements to my dogs' diet simply because people in a group said they were beneficial and necessary. I've learned that anecdotal evidence is fine, but I still need to do my homework to make sure something is appropriate for my dogs.
Myths of Coconut Oil for Dogs
Coconut oil is a saturated fat, which is bad for dogs and humans.
- Medium-chain fatty acids don’t go to your lymphatic system, add to your adipose tissue (fat in your body), and don’t make you fat. Coconut oil is a thermogenic oil that boosts the metabolism, helping you lose weight. Coconut oil causes heart disease.
- Coconut oil raises the HDL and lowers the LDL: HDL ratio. Most oils have very little cholesterol; butter and lard, on the other hand, have a high amount of cholesterol, but dietary cholesterol doesn’t increase your cholesterol levels.
- Animals naturally have higher levels of HDL as compared to LDL.
Coconut oil cause fatty liver disease in cats.
- Fatty liver disease may also occur when a cat suddenly stops eating over some time.
- When a cat becomes undernourished, the body automatically moves fat from its reserves to the liver to be converted to energy – THIS is why cats develop fatty liver disease, not from eating coconut oil.
- When a cat is in starvation mode, the liver is inefficient in processing fat, and much of the fat is stored in the liver cells, resulting in a fatty and low-functioning liver. THIS is why cats develop fatty liver disease, not from eating coconut oil.
Coconut oil is harmful to animals with pancreatitis and other lipid disorders.
- Coconut oil doesn’t need pancreatic lipase to be digested, so the pancreas isn’t stressed.
There are no studies that show the benefits of coconut oil.
- There are over 10,000 document studies about coconut oil; visit PubMed.gov to search for the studies.
- Another source is www.coconutresearchcenter.org by Dr. Bruce Fife; he has all of the coconut oil studies on his website.
Let's Talk About Fats
Saturated Fats (vegetable and animal fats)
- short chain; produced when dietary fiber is fermented in the colon (grains, beans)
- medium-chain; coconut oil, palm oil
- long chain; beef fat, butter, cream
Polyunsaturated Fats
- Omega 3 – ALA, alpha-linolenic acids (flaxseed oil, chia seeds, walnut oil), EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid (fish oil, krill oil), DHA, docosahexaenoic acid (fish oil, krill oil)
- Omega 6 – LA, linoleic acid (soybean oil, sunflower seed oil, corn oil, safflower oil)
Monounsaturated Fats
- Omega 9 – OA, oleic acid (olive oil, canola oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, almonds)
Why is Coconut Oil Healthy?
Coconut oil is a saturated fat, a medium chain fatty acid, and nearly 50% lauric acid. “When lauric acid is digested, it also forms a substance called monolaurin. Both lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. For example, these substances have been shown to help kill the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (a very dangerous pathogen) and the yeast Candida albicans, a common source of yeast infections in humans.” Source: Healthline.com
Lauric acid from virgin coconut oil metabolizes in your liver as monoglyceride monolaurin, which is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal, similar to breast milk. Source: My notes from the CocoTherapy presentation at the 2018 Raw and Natural Dog Summit
If you read up on fats, you may come across statements that medium-chain fatty acids lead to increased cholesterol by raising your LDL. However, it also raises your HDL, which helps to remove the LDL. And “epidemiological studies find that groups of people who include coconut as part of their native diets (e.g., India, Philippines, Polynesia) have low rates of cardiovascular disease.” This can be due to the coconut oil, other parts of their lifestyle, or both. Source: Harvard.edu
How to Choose a Good Coconut Oil
- It's important to note that the levels of lauric acid in coconut oil vary greatly between the many brands available.
- We need to ask: where are the coconuts grown, what types are used to make the oil, and are the coconuts tree ripened when harvested, or are they scavenged from the ground?
- More questions: when are the coconuts processed, how are they processed, and are they processed using the cold pressed or expeller pressed? How is the coconut oil extracted?
- Cooking-grade coconut oil is what we find in grocery stores and at Costco. Cosmetic-grade coconut oil is used in lotions and other beauty products. Therapeutic-grade coconut oil is virgin, has the highest amount of lauric acid, and is used in the pharmaceutical industry to make medicine for Alzheimer's patients (for example).
Coconut Oil Terminology
- Like with the term “natural” some of the terms to describe coconut oil, like “cold pressed,” don't mean what we think, so don't stop there when shopping for coconut oil for your dog.
- Virgin means unrefined; there is no FDA definition of “virgin,” so folks can slap this term on their products despite them going through a refining process. And, by the way, there is no such thing as extra-virgin coconut oil; this is a marketing ploy.
- 90-95% of ingredients are organic so you can use the USDA-certified organic seal. However, this leaves room for 5-10% non-organic ingredients, and companies are claiming “organic,” just like some claiming “all-natural.”
Coconut Oil Checklist
- What country did the coconuts come from? What type of soil – beach, volcano?
- What is the age of the coconuts? Are the tree-ripened or scavenged off the ground?
- Who makes the coconut oil?
- Is the facility free of dairy, eggs, fish, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, or wheat?
- Are the coconuts 100% organic?
- Are the coconuts are free from pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers?
- Are the coconuts non-GMO Verified?
- Are the coconuts free from bleach, hexane, sulfites, and solvents?
- Is the coconut oil 100% unrefined?
- How is the oil made?
- Buy coconut oil in a glass jar, not plastic. The plastic will leach into the coconut oil.
- What is the potency of lauric acid?
- Is the oil free of toxins, contaminants, and heavy metals?
- Ask for a certificate of analysis and a product spec sheet.
How I Use Coconut Oil with My Dogs
I used to alternate coconut oil with fish oil, but in my research on the benefits of coconut oil (see, we have to do our homework), I learned that this was unnecessary. Coconut oil isn't the same as fish oil. My dogs get their Omega 3 fatty acids through fish oil, raw sardines, and fermented fish stock. I add coconut oil to their diet as follows:
- Golden Paste: to alleviate joint inflammation and pain associated with arthritis (plus loads of other benefits). Click here for the recipe.
- Weight Loss: I add a spoonful of vegetables to help her feel full on a low-calorie diet while providing her with a natural source of probiotics, fiber, and antioxidants.
- Detox: coconut oil serves as a natural detox (along with many other benefits), so our dogs enjoy a melon ball scooper size as a treat once a week.
Topical Uses of Coconut Oil
- Coat Conditioner: In a small Rubbermaid container, mix 3-4 melon ball-size scoops of coconut oil with 1-2 drops of Lavender essential oil to create a coat conditioner between baths.
- Paw Salve: I rub coconut oil (no essential oils added) on our dogs' paws to soften the pads and heal any cuts or itchiness (for Rodrigo). It works great overnight.
- Toothpaste: Our dogs only get raw meaty, and recreational bones on nice days on warm, sunny days. They dine on their bones outside, and I supervise while reading a book. I use a finger brush and coconut oil for the rest of the year to clean their teeth while the dogs enjoy Real Dog Box chews.
My Bottom Line on the Benefits of Coconut Oil for Dogs
Once again, I was reminded not to take everything I read at face value. Exploring all sides of an issue is important to help us make a more educated choice about our dogs' health and diet. If I give my dogs coconut oil now and then or every day (which I do through the golden paste), I feel I'm doing it with much more information than because everyone else is feeding it to their dogs.
And when someone asks me why I feed coconut oil to my dogs, I feel more prepared to respond with an educated response.
Fish Oil Supplement I Recommend
I only use fish oil by Life Line Pet Products. They offer several products, I alternate the following:
- Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil
- Wild Alaskan Salmon + Pollock Oil
- Omega Fish + Hemp Seed Oil
More About Coconut Oil
- CocoTherapy Coconut Oil; you can purchase it on CocoTherapy.com, and it may be available at small, independent pet stores.
- Curious why I switched to CocoTherapy when a plastic tub of coconut oil at Costco is so much cheaper. Read about the difference on CocoTherapy.com.
- 22 Uses of Coconut Oil by Dog Moms
Read More About Raw Feeding for Dogs
- Books to Help Dog Owners Feed Their Dog Better
- The Truth About Raw Feeding
- What You Don't Know About Chia, Hemp, and Flaxseeds
- Vitamin D Deficiency in Dogs: Symptoms and Solutions
- Is the Billinghurst Institute Professional Raw Feeding Course Worth It?
Christine…thank you so much for this tip. I’ve never read this and it makes complete sense.
Oh! One last thought about coconut oil for your dogs. Although it IS (in my highly unscientific but extremely satisfied experiences) great for all the reasons aforementioned in this article (and many, many, MANY others) do introduce in small amounts and gradually increase as needed and don’t over do it. Why? Well, to quote ‘The Whole Dog Journal”
Because coconut oil kills harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, yeasts, and fungi, the burden of removing dead organisms can trigger symptoms of detoxification. Headaches, fatigue, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms are common in humans who consume too much too fast, and similar symptoms can occur in dogs.
You can read their article here
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/8_10/features/How-Coconut-Oil-Benefits-Dogs_15754-1.html
I’m not a raw food feeder but I do add what I can to my dogs diet as well as other various natural items both topically and internally. Nothing I don’t personally use or ingest myself (except raw meats). I figure if it was good enough for thousands of years of human and canine consumption and use and with a due diligence research effort I’m not going to wait for someone to publish a damn study. Shades of ‘Let’s vaccinate for rabies every year -oops sorry, we got that one wrong too’. come to mind. Our dogs are being vetted to death and any studies are being done in private by the big brand feed companies with unpublished results. They see a trend in a natural food or remedy and amazingly several months later – after kyboshing it – produce a food or other product containing it as a marketing point. Perhaps to placate and get into the pockets of those of us already using the natural forms or perhaps ‘their studies’ finally showed that we were on the right path all along.
Either way, nuff said. Anyone, who not only puts this much effort into her pups but also takes it a step further by publishing her story for others to ponder and learn from, deserves a huge hug… and you’re right! If the science-guys are serious about real world applications for what ever they’ve been toying with – they have to learn that when dealing with people they are going to have to click on that ‘open conversation’ button and pull their noses out of their… um… test tubes.
Check out Answers Pet Food. They have a diet for yeast issues and it’s been doing wonders for dogs and curing them. You can find out more about the diet by emailing Answers at info@answerspetfood.com. You’ll receive an automatic message that contains a link to all of their diets.
Best.
I never feed my dogs coconut oil, but I am using it as a last resort (along with eliminating all carbohydrates) to try and resolve my dogs yeast issues. I rub it all over her, nose to tail, especially between her toes. If nothing else, it does seem to help with the itching. The only time I let anyone eat it is during nail clipping. I recently discovered with my other dog that it is the ONLY thing that will get him to sit still while I clip his nails (food is a low reward for either of my dogs)
You are so dead on. Heck, for years tbey said avocado was great for dogs with skin problems like dry and itchy skin as well as allergies.
Here we are 15 years after i heard that and even gave my itchy dog a brand of dog food called Avoderm.
The entire point is after years of tputing how great for skin and now tbey say there is evidence (supposedly cause I’m not hunting on Google for it) bit now they say its harmful to give a dog avpcado or avocado oils.
I use coconut oil with my dogs (and or myself). It’s great for freshening up the coat, softening/healing their paw pads, and I use it as a natural toothpaste. I think the biggest issue with coconut oil and other natural treatments are the number of people who start using them because of something they saw on Facebook and choosing these natural treatments over veterinarian care. I’m seeing the same thing with essential oils. I’ll admit that I fell into this habit when I started feeding raw and it’s a mistake. Today, before I add something to my dogs’ diet, I do some homework to make sure it makes sense for my dogs. I also speak with their vets about the choices I’m making or considering to get their feedback as well. It’s not to say that these things don’t work, I just think if we don’t have a clear understanding of how to use these treatments on ourselves or with our dogs, we can end up doing more harm than good.
It’s been used for thousands of years, I used it topically on my dogs paw which became very infected, he was infact lame with it, I also bathed it in apple cider viniger..these are natural topical remedies that killed the infection and my dog was on his feet in days.
Blood letching there is something to that there was some benefits for its use at the time. But potions and lotions were being made and used to great effect for thousands of years nature has provided us with all the medicines nature can produce, the pharmaceuticals took over to make money not cure, we’ve had our connection to nature almost erased to make us reliant of chemical sybarites that caye more harm than good as a miraid if studies have shown, and further more big pharma deliberately hid the dangers of their drugs.
I think MCT oil is great. With everything I learned about coconut oil, I would be very careful about the sourcing of the MCT oil. So I need to do more homework to learn which brands are the best.
Do you jave any thoughts on MCT oil vs coconut oil for dogs? Would really be interested in your opinion 🙂
Thanks,
Victoria
Thanks for the comment, Ellen
I use the following CBD oils for my dogs:
Irie CBD: https://www.keepthetailwagging.com/cbd
Natural Pet Organics: https://amzn.to/2MijX2P
The bottles will tell you how much to give to your dog.
I would like to try a CBC oil for my shepherd mix who has painfull joints. What is the name of a good oil and where can l buy it and how do I use it? Axel is about 65 lb I would be ever greatful for any help. Thanks
Karen – have you tried Answers Pet Food? Many dogs that have liver disease thrive on their food and they will help you develop a meal plan to get your dog’s liver enzymes to the right level. You can contact them through their website or social media: http://www.answerspetfood.com.
My Maltese Toby just turn 12. We found out almost 2 months ago his liver enzymes was close to 2K. He has been on 2 liver meds. Prednisone and I’m giving him milk thistle also. We’ve had 3 blood panels done. The 1st his liver was almost 2K. 2nd blood work h8s liver enzyme came down a Lil bit. Friday liver enzymes went up again. Can the coconut oil you can use to cook with or for skin cam that help drop the enzymes down.plesse get back with me. Pm me I’m Karen Arceneaux Quebedeaux from Sulphur.Louisiana .thank you so much
I’m so tired of people dismissing anecdotal evidence and sitting on the high horse of “but it’s not science.” The arrogance is annoying, and frankly, shows a fundamental misunderstanding of science.
I got to watch vets scoff and make fun of owners using CBD oil for pain, time and time again as a vet student. But all I heard from thousands of people who used it was that it helped. Why are we ignoring the experience of SO MANY people just because science has not caught up with current therapies or ideas? Someone who truly understands science knows that nothing can be known with true certainty, and everything must be taken seriously least we ignore things due to our own inherent bias. Bias is a killer of scientific thought, and group think is strong regardless of the topic. Cornell just released a study that found CBD oil to be effective in osteoarthritis in dogs, and owners everywhere responded with, WE KNOW.
If I had a penny for the amount of times I heard owners tell us that after they switched to grain-free, their dog’s skin problems went away, I would be able to pay for my vet school education!! But all I hear from vets is that there is no research so therefore, it’s invalid. That’s /stupid/. ALL science starts with an observation. Low and behold, there is a grain-free prescription diet out now, that is labeled for… skin issues.
There is not enough money to go around the vet community, so scientific research is very lacking. Add in the fact that because there are no funds, a lot of research is produced by the company making the product, and you have the grounds for rampant bias. Drugs are used off-label, dosages are guessed, and numerous things are done by vets because it ‘seems to work.’ Yet, when our clients tell us something that works for them, suddenly the things they experience are less valid than ours, even though neither have undergone scientific scrutiny. Some of my classmates are the last people I’d want to figure out correlation vs causation, so a scientific degree doesn’t suddenly make them any better than the general population.
Not all anecdotal evidence is useful, and humans are terrible at determining causation. But when thousands of people agree that they see something, perhaps we should take notice vs writing them off.
Cornell just released a study about CBD oil, and I believe another university is in the process of releasing another. It helped with pain, and possibly other things that just haven’t been tested yet.
The major thing I’ve noticed about coconut oil is that it is a pretty effective toothpaste for dogs. I used it after I ran out of doggy toothpaste a few months back. It was supposed to be a one time thing, but it keeps my dog’s teeth so much more clean than those “peanut flavored” dog toothpastes. Even when she’s not chewing on bully sticks or bones, it keeps her teeth so clean.
There’s so much helpful information contained in this post, like the fact that coconut oil doesn’t put pressure on your dog’s pancreas. I was so scared that my dog would get pancreatitis if I gave her more coconut oil besides as toothpaste. I’m so glad that that isn’t the case!
I DO use coconut oil for my dogs, but not for the reasons you cite. First of all, it must be organic, cold pressed, extra virgin coconut oil. It makes a great natural wormer for dogs. 1 tsp per 10 lb body weight. It works, along with some other natural remedies (ground organic raw pumpkin seeds, canned pumpkin, and shredded carrots)
https://homeremedyshop.com/home-remedies-for-heartworm-dogs/
Many articles support these methods, as well as the holistic vets I have consulted.
I’m the person who wrote this blog post. This is a personal blog about what I feed my dogs and my attempts to find natural solutions for my dogs. CBD oil has been very beneficial for my dogs – it eases their anxiety and it helps with joint pain. While not everyone will have the same experience, I’m happy to say that I’ve had a great experience, but that is only after I tried several different oils. Just as others have shared their experiences to help me, I’m sharing my experience with the hope of helping others.
Thank you for your comment.
The person who wrote this article about coconut oil. Mentions the cbd oil she prefers for her dogs. That’s all you need to hear about her biased opinions. Cbd oil isn’t proven to do any of beneficial claims made about it. FDA approved a pure form for 2 types of epilepsy. Every other claim about it’s benefits is here-say.
I have a 17yr old dog that was bound up pretty bad. Like could die bad. The vet tried a few things and said all was left but surgery to remove a large portion of his intestines. I said no. I felt that kind of surgery would kill him. We did many things at home and he finally pulled through and I feel the coconut oil was the kicker. I keep him regular with the help of that. I do many holistic things and all is in moderation but yes, coconut oil for me will stay. I make slightly cooked carrots with coconut and ginger and tumeric. They love it. He is 19 now! Yes 19 and still hanging pretty good! I just had a dog wound I put Purslane mixed in coconut oil on and use it for myself as well. Keep doing research and think outside the box and do the best you can! Always.
I didn’t realize too much coconut oil did that; I just heard that it could cause loose stool. I’ll have to look that up. Thanks.
My older, 30 lb over weight terrier was scratching and biting herself raw. Used Apoquel for months, expensive vet purchased medicated shampoos, premium dog food. Nothing helped! After 1 dose, tsp., coconut oil, she stopped biting and scratching herself. Just 36 hours and 2 more doses into this …hope it wasn’t a coincidence! Will back off amount and increase amount slowly after reading that too much coconut oil too soon can cause flu like symptoms. Fingers crossed!
Your response made me cringe as well. What you fail to understand is that this is all a learning process for me and many others which is why I started this personal blog. I don’t think I’m alone when I say that it ticks me off when people dismiss me when I’m trying to engage in a dialogue. It’s fine that you only want to explore science, however, if that means that you’re closed off to the experience that others have and will not take that into consideration, then there is no point in us having a discussion. What you miss in your haste to call me immature, weak, and dangerous is that we are not able to learn and grow when we fail to have a back and forth discussion on the issues.
What I appreciated about SkepVet and others is that these people took the time to share their knowledge, causing me to take a step back and realize that I was doing something without a clear understanding of why. Had these people not shared their information, had they simply dismissed me thoughts and experience because it wasn’t “science,” then how am I to learn. And at no point do I pretend that my way is the only way.
Many pet parents like myself are turning to the Internet to learn how to feed our dogs better. That makes respectful discussions more important than ever. Google searches for “raw feeding” are growing. If people continue to choose to dismiss strangers who are genuinely seeking to learn, how are we supposed to get better?
This is such a cringey response. Anecdotal evidence is not valid evidence, period. You’re free to feed your dog whatever you want, but your beliefs should be dismissed if they’re not based on valid evidence. I’m sorry that “ticks you off”, but your emotions are irrelevant when it comes to which claims are strong and which are weak. “B-b-but my lived experience!” is such a dangerous fad right now. It’s like living by confirmation bias is something to be proud of. It’s not.
There’s nothing wrong with having an opinion in lieu of valid evidence, but pretending it’s anything but a guess is intellectual dishonesty. Phrasing it as “belief” and getting angry when someone correctly points out the weakness of that position reveals your ignorance of epistemology as it relates to the scientific method and your capitulation to bias.
Pretending you know something when you do not is immature and dangerous.
Please be careful with fish oil! It might be very bad!
“an experiment with dogs showed that it could increase their cancer mortality from the normal 5% to 100%”
From
http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/fishoil.shtml
The tricky thing with polyunsaturated oils is they can temporarily give the illusion of improvement. Apparently, the skin improvements are actually a result of their ability to mask b6 deficiency. Whilst, allergy issues can seem cured because they suppress/ damage the immune system! This is why a temporary reduction in inflammation is seen, but
Please look deeper into fish oils and consider w
Until recently I would have taken fish oils place as a healthy supplement for granted, but I have been convinced otherwise. In fact it seems that they, along with all polyunsaturated oils are one of the major health hurdles facing human and our animal companions alike and should be avoided as far as possible (anyway; without the addition of poly oils to the diet the rda for humans is achieved easily as they are difficult to avoid completely).
If you aren’t convinced about avoiding them, vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) can help against the oxidative damage they can unleash in the body.
Please don’t take fish oils supposed healthiness for granted!
Ray Peat MD has A lot to say about the dark side of polyunsaturated fat/fish oil in the case of humans. There is reason and evidence to suggest the polyunsaturated oils are a similarly sinister force In a dogs diet.
Essentials oils do not kill dogs. It’s important to buy oils from a reputable source that knows what they’re doing so I don’t buy my oils from beauty supply or soap stores. I go directly to a family run company that has years of experience in producing quality and safe essential oils.
It’s also important to know how much you can use and to dilute the oils. When using essential oils on my dogs, I mix them with fractionated coconut oil, shea butter, almond oil, or other mixtures. I never ever put essentials oils directly on my dogs because of the risk of injury.
The natural shampoo that I buy, the natural flea and tick repellents that I buy, and the coat deodorants that I buy all have essential oils in them. The important thing is that we need to trust our sources.
Omg!!!! Lavender etc oils added…..kill your dog….poisonous if you didn’t know
Thanks for your comment and sharing your experience. I don’t feel good about my habit of jumping on bandwagons without educating myself because many times I could have caused harm to my dogs by listening to strangers and failing to do my research. I’m thankful that I haven’t done any harm and that I’ve learned the value of taking a beat and learning more about my dogs’ health and nutritional needs before making changes suggested by others.
Hi.. as stated by others i can only comment on experience. I have had dogs all my life.. my last one lived till he was 16.. a good age and only poorly due to age related conditions! He had tinned food and run of the mill dry food. However.. my current soppy mixed breed is a Rescue.. with poor skin and an irritated ear.. blocked canal..over producing wet stuff.. due to numerous treatments he had whwn rescued (very badly abused chained up outside) .. i thought i needed to do my homework as ‘run of the mill food wasnt going to be good enough. So i did a bit of reading.. well quite a lot actually and started giving Rocky Extra Virgin Coconut oil in his dinner. I use a 90% meat dinner tray but not raw. I will never look back now and always give him 2 tsps a day in his main meal. I know he has put on weight but he needed to when we got him.. its been progressive though so Vet is happy about it. He has great teeth, extrememly active..shiny coat and hasnt needed me to clean his ear for 5 months!! ( although check them weekly!!) My message to all is I dont think we should guilt ourselves with ‘jumping on any band wagons’.. i think we just need to do our own research and do what we think is best individually for our pets. if it means buying the latest fad then so be it.. as long as what you have chosen is for the right reason and choice for your Fur Ball.
Heidi
I started giving my dogs fish oil because one of them was having horrible stomach issues. After MONTHS the vet was getting nowhere, and in researching stomach troubles myself, I stumbled across several articles stating the benefits of coconut oil. Within a few short weeks, Lulu’s condtion was significantly improved. Coincidence? Maybe, but I don’t think so. Anyway, I will continue to give it to both dogs – can’t hurt.
No, no, no! Absolutely feed your dog coconut oil in place of all the highly toxic polyunsaturated oils that are claimed to be “healthy”, and are in an abundance in dog food because it’s cheap. Fish oil is one of the most toxic oils out there. Highly polyunsaturated!
There is a reason why replacing other oils with olive oil has proven to be beneficial to health. It’s MORE saturated (=not as reactive) than the polyunsaturated oils. Olive oil is monounsaturated. To make it one step better, go for a saturated fat, where coconut oil is on the top of the list. Even Weston Price, who have his patients cod liver oil for its vitamin D value, stated that he only gave small amounts because the oil in itself was problematic. All polyunsaturated fats (such as fish oil) oxidizes in the body and causes all kinds of problems, and plays a huge roll in diabetes.
Don’t fall for the fish and nut oil trend! Coconut oil, tallow and butter is the healthy fats, but should only be a small part of the diet either way.
From some studies I have seen it may help with the health issues mentioned.i.e., GI issues. As other fats can be difficult with certain issues, MCT seems to be tolerated.
As the to the other purported claims . I couldn’t say.
Ron, can you explain that more? I’m not understanding. Are you saying that MCT oils help dogs with these health issues by helping them digest fats? Or are you saying that MCT oils aren’t helping these dogs because they bypass the digestive process and dogs aren’t gaining the benefit? Thanks. I’m so fascinating by the back and forth on coconut oil – I can’t get enough 🙂
Most MCT oils that are incorporated in foods are for the reason that some Dogs have a hard time digesting fats,i.e. EPI, IBD, Megaesphougus, etc.The MCT oils seem to be able to bypass the normal digestive process in the absorption process.But there is some debate on this.
I agree, like humans, animals are not all the same. I don’t use coconut oil as a supplement, but I do use it topically and as a toothpaste for my bulldogs. It helps tremendously with doggy breath and does reduce dry skin and itching due to allergies. There are no studies because who is going to fund them and why. There isn’t any money to be made off of the studies. I haven’t read anything that says it will harm my boys or has done harm to anyone’s pet. I will continue to use coconut oil as I do, I feel it is a beneficial part of their routine.
It’s so frustrating sometimes because the Internet is so vast and it’s easy to find tons of benefits and then tons of risks and I don’t know which to believe. Come back and let me know how your dog is doing on the coconut oil. I give it to my dogs as a treat and I also use it on their coat. We have ponds on our property and I use the coconut oil to kill the pond smell instead of bathing them all the time.
I just started feeding my old mutt coconut oil for dandruff and eczema a few days ago. He likes it, but it’s too early to say it has helped. It certainly has not hurt him, however. Any treatment, even those proven with scientific method, is not 100% effective – so the scientific must be accompanied by a similar grain of salt as the anecdotal.
I did find it amusing contradictory that there were unreferenced scientific studies pointing to weight problems due to coconut oil, yet claim there is no research indicating any health benefits (so there must not be any, of course). This is the classic lie and deny tactic of big pharma.
worked for a friends eczema. Better off using colloidal silver or very diluted grape seed extract to only! take care of eye infections. topical use only
The point of the blog post isn’t to tell people to feed fish oil – coconut oil and fish oil aren’t interchangeable. The point is to encourage people to do their homework before making a choice about what they feed their dogs instead of following people blindly.
Hmmm – Is this another band wagon? Don’t feed coconut oil.. but feed fish oil.. which itself is also subject to criticism due to oils oxidising due to unstable omega 3’s, containing too much unhealthy fat..
Worth a read;
http://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/dr-coates/2014/august/using-omega-3-fatty-acids-effectively-and-safely-31972
Thanks, Jessi!!!
Also, Kim, coconut oil I have found, is fattening. But I have used this to my advantage. I live in Minnesota, so this winter I bumped up their dosage by just 1 or 2 tsp to give them a little fat, seeing as they love being outside.
Once spring and summer come around, I will knock it back. I only feed 1tsp normally, and do not follow the dosage, as it works plenty good, and then of course it lasts longer.
Hi Kimberly,
The dosage recommendation is 1tsp per 10 lbs. Or 1tbsp per 30lbs. It says start slowly and then you can work up to the recommended dosage.
As of today, I am still feeding our dogs the coconut oil, and their coats are still healthy, silky soft, and skin is still healthy.
Here is the link to the coconut oil I buy. http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/CocoTherapy-Organic-Virgin-Coconut-Oil-for-Pets/629001.aspx
Hope this helps Kim.
Thanks for sharing. By chance, do you recall the dosage recommendations on the product you used? Thanks!
I am just a passer by, but I just wanted to respond with my experience. I am not claiming anything, just expressing.
I have 3 dogs, Dali (75% Rough Collie, 25% Aussie), her son Bullet (37.5% Colie, 37.5% Aussie, 25% Border Collie), and Honey (100% Rough Collie).
We raise our own chickens, Rhode Island Reds, with certified organic layer feed, and filtered water. We also allow them to free range on our 15 acres.
We have been feeding our dogs 1 egg a day for a year now and have noticed soft fur. Now, I noticed some dandruff and I can’t say for sure if it was the kibble I was feeding or the discontinued treats I had picked up that were supposed to be natural. I discontinued use of both when I noticed dandruff and Bullet who started biting and gnawing on his legs.
I switched their food and stopped with the treats. I had heard about extra virgin olive oil and fish oil of course. But on OnlyNaturalPet.com I came across coconut oil. At that point in time, about 3 months ago, I had no inkling or clue it was the latest fad. I just researched it some and decided to give it a go, since I couldn’t find anything horrible with it.
Within 3 weeks (still giving 1 egg a day) the dandruff was completely gone, the skin looked healthy, and their coats were 10x softer than with just the egg alone.
Now, granted, I adhered to the directions on the glass jar to a ‘T’. The coconut oil I purchased is certified USDA organic and 100% all natural. The directions state no more than 1tsp serving a day. And so, for the past 3 months I have mixed in 1tsp into their food (Infinia Salmon for natural fish oil) once a day.
I have not noticed anything that would be considered dangerous. In fact, Bullet stopped gnawing and biting his legs.
Like I said, I am not claiming anything, I am just sharing my experience with coconut oil. For anyone else who is interested.
Guilty of bandwagoning! I’ve been feeding our 4 dogs coconut oil for at least a year, probably more. Every day. Not in place of salmon oil; in addition to it. Fish oil in the morning meal; coconut oil in the evening. It’s seemed to be working well, but what really caught my eye is how dogs have to convert the ALA into EPA and DHA, so it’s not a natural chemical make up for dogs. That, in addition to no concrete medical evidence, is making me rethink this. With Jasper and Anabelle also having gained weight, perhaps cutting down to a couple of times a month is a better idea.
I’m going to look into the Bonnie & Clyde fish oil; I’ve been using Dr. Harvey’s Health & Shine capsule, which is pure salmon oil, but not sure what grade. For coconut oil, found a great one from Cocotherapy. The sisters that started the dog fashion brand, Oscar Newman, are Filipina, which coconut is king. They own a farm where they control the growing, processsing, everything for Cocotherapy, which is cold pressed and organic, virgin coconut oil. It actually tastes different than the organic, virgin oil we used to buy from Whole Foods. You can get it on Amazon. Thanks so much for this comprehensive piece, Kimberley! Appreciate it!
I was told a while back it was good for their digestion. Then I was told it had to be the high grade cold pressed extra virgin version. They won’t even eat it anymore.
George is getting salmon scraps, so he’s good. Gracie’s eating pollack and cornish game hen. I am just keeping an eye on the petite flower’s digestion.
I am in high moving drive and her belly gets stressed.
Harley’s had coconut oil added in his food his entire life. Initially, to help with his intestinal issues. It’s not bothered his weight at all, and I believe it’s helped his coat and skin especially because he’s bathed so much. the Boys get melted coconut oil with their breakfast and Omega 3 oil with their dinner. I also use it topically. Adding coconut oil to their food (small amounts) is Doodle Vet approved!
We fed Freighter coconut oil the entire time he was in the show ring. It did help his coat. If he lived outside he probably would not have needed it, but he is an inside dog.
It’s not too much fat for Sydney, but I worry about it making her fat when she’s on a weight loss program. I am ordering liquid coconut oil today to make a few products at home. I’m going to become a DIY queen aka too cheap to buy it when I can make it.
That reminds me of the veterinarian schools who talk about there not being studies about raw feeding and when you ask if they plan to investigate the diet, they say “no.” What helps me is finding all of the best information possible and using what I think is right with my dogs. And, like you said, it can’t hurt. Except with Sydney and Zoey; I think it’s counter-productive to their weight loss goals. My girls are working on their bikini bods.
I include coconut oil in my dogs’ diet…but not as a substitute for fish oil, as it has different properties.
I use it in their veggie mix, in their toothpaste and I mix cinnamon and fresh mint with the coconut oil and drop a teaspoon worth on their evening meals…and, of course, I use it topically on their paws, skin and noses. I believe feeding coconut oil boosts their immunity by eliminating the bacteria in their systems. Does it? I don’t know for sure, but my reading lead me to believe it would help my IBS/D boy…and nothing I read said coconut oil would hurt him.
There are very few formal studies done on the benefits of coconut oil for our dogs. Is this by chance? I don’t think so…I’m of the mind that Big Pharma wouldn’t like the results of the studies…so the studies never take place.
That’s so interesting! I admit that I jumped on the bandwagon with coconut oil too. I had to stop giving it when Leroy was sick because it was too much fat for him. I remember reading that it was good to give dogs with IBD MCT’s because it was easier for them to digest, I think? I’m not sure. I’d have to go back and read the articles!
I still use it on my face in the summer 🙂
yw and thankypu for an excellent blog.
Sadly, I have the tendency to jump on the bandwagon of anything that makes sense in the moment and it’s a habit that I’m breaking. People can talk “sense” into anything, I have to be smarter and do my own homework.
My issue lies with the term “anecdotal” and it’s common use to disregard the experiences of thousands of pet owners. What you shared is valid and what I would call the literal definition of the word. My comment is using the word to belittle raw feeders and anyone who questions traditional veterinary practices in an age when dogs are living shorter lives and developing serious illnesses.
As a layman, when someone dismisses my beliefs, it ticks me off. I would prefer that people engage in a dialogue with me about our beliefs; what I’ve experienced, however, are veterinarians and pet food executives who are condescending and disdainful with regard to my experience, what I’ve learned, and the questions I have about my dogs’ nutrition and health.
Regarding anecdote and personal experience, it is a frustrating and disappointing fact that these are not reliable guides to what is true or false in healthcare, but it is a fact nonetheless. Admitting this is true, about myself as much as anyone else, isn’t arrogance, it’s humility. Every idea, and certainly every medical therapy, including those that have turned out to be clear failures, has been supported by anecdotal evidence. Thousands of people over thousands of years would have sworn to you that bloodletting cured all sorts of disease, yet science has shown us conclusively it didn’t work and in fact did more harm than good.
Anecdotal evidence is a test nothing ever fails. Even when there are competing anecdotes with different conclusions, it doesn’t help us because everyone just pays attention to the stories that support what they believe and ignores those that don’t. Relying on scientific evidence instead of anecdote is how we have doubled our life expectancy, eradicated disease we suffered from for millennia, dramatically reduced childhood mortality, and accomplished all of the other improvements in health that have made us the longest-lived and healthiest generation in human history.
I’m neutral on the claims for coconut oil specifically because there isn’t much evidence. But what’s more important is that we understand why science is more reliable than our own trial-ad-error experiences in evaluating this and other nutritional and healthcare practices. Here are a few articles discussing this subject in more detail.
Why We’re Often Wrong
Testimonials Lie
The Role of Anecdotes in Science-Based Medicine
Why We Need Science: “I saw it with my own eyes” Is Not Enough
Don’t Believe your Eyes (or Your Brain)
I have to admit, I’m usually a little cautious about jumping on whatever food or supplement is hot at the moment and I’ve always wondered about feeding coconut oil since ten years ago health researchers were telling people to avoid foods with coconut oil because of the high fat content.
I guess that kind of stuck in my head, so I’ve always opted to give Haley fish oil instead. I do love it for skin and paw issues though, like you mentioned. I sure wish we had better ways to measure the effectiveness of nutritional supplements with us humans and our pets.