The benefits of coconut oil for dogs – we know coconut oil is great for us to eat and use on our skin, but did you know that using coconut oil for dogs can provide many of those same benefits? Read about what coconut oil can do to improve your dog’s health!
One thing you can’t deny is the healing properties of coconut oil for dogs. It’s not just beneficial for skin issues but can help with fleas and even digestion.
It might seem like one of the hottest nutrition and beauty fads for humans, but there are lots of benefits of coconut oil for dogs too. It can actually aid in healing a number of ailments for your furry friend.
What is Coconut Oil?
Before we break down how good coconut oil is, it’s important to understand what it is. Most of the coconut oil you will find in the store is going to be expeller-pressed coconut oil. It is sold in a glass jar and looks like a solid you can scoop out with a spoon.
But if you hold it in your hands it will melt, almost instantly.
There are two ways to make coconut oil – from fresh coconut meat, which is labeled virgin coconut oil. The other way is by pressing dried coconut meat called copra. This is usually labeled as refined.
One version isn’t any healthier than the other. The main difference comes down to the smoke point if you use coconut oil for cooking.
Is Coconut Oil Safe for Dogs?
Yes, coconut oil is safe for dogs. It’s great for their fur and skin. It’s actually even perfectly OK for your dog to eat coconut oil. There are lots of internal and external benefits of coconut oil.
It’s not just a fad, it’s actually a pretty fantastic tool to use for your furry friend.
Benefits of Coconut Oil for Dogs
There are lots of benefits of coconut oil for dogs. And the best part? These are backed by science. Check this out, there are so many good things it can do for your pet.
Increased Energy Levels
Coconut oil is a form of healthy fatty acids called Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). Most of the health benefits stem from these MCTs.
MCTs provide fuel and energy. They are so easy to digest, that the energy becomes readily available. In fact, it can have a beneficial impact on your dog’s thyroid, helping sedentary dogs feel energetic and actually want to get up and play.
Improve Skin and Coat
You’re probably super familiar with how amazing coconut oil is for your skin. But the same is true for your dog’s skin and fur.
The healthy fats in coconut oil nourish your dog’s skin. This is because it has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. Plus, it helps itchy skin receive the nutrients it needs. Plus it moisturizes and hydrates dry skin too.
Improve Digestion
Another lesser-known benefit is that coconut oil helps with digestion. It helps the body take in fat-soluble things like vitamins and magnesium. It also fights the causes of stomach issues in dogs – toxic bacteria and candida.
Reduce Allergic Reactions
Since coconut oil moisturizes skin it can help reduce allergic reactions on your dog like itchy spots or hives.
It is so naturally soothing that it plays a vital role in calming irritated skin. The lauric acid in coconut oil has antimicrobial properties. This helps it fight all sorts of things on your dog’s skin, like bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Increased Cognitive Function
The MCTs in coconut oil is amazing for your dog’s brain. When your dog eats coconut oil, he is eating medium-chain fatty acids. These are digested in your dog’s liver and changed to ketones. These ketones are linked to so many fantastic things for your dog’s brain, including better overall function.
Help Dogs Swallow Pills
Finally, if you have ever had the joy of trying to help your furry friend swallow a pill, you know what an amazing benefit this one is!
Just coat the pill with coconut oil. It will go down smoother, faster, and your dog won’t fight it as hard. Plus, he will get all these health benefits from eating coconut oil too.
Coconut Oil for Dogs’ Fleas
Perhaps one of the most popular uses of coconut oil is to help kill fleas on dogs. You already know it has all those other benefits, right? But add killing fleas to the list, and it’s almost a must.
This is such wonderful news! So many conventional flea and tick treatments have harmful chemicals in them that could cause scary reactions. If you can, always choose as natural solutions as possible.
How does coconut oil kill fleas?
Coconut oil both kills and repels fleas thanks to the lauric acid. This acid kills the bugs on contact and helps keep them off your dog.
Dog Skin Conditions
Have you noticed your dog scratching or biting themselves? They might have some kind of allergic reaction or just have dry skin from the weather. It’s always best to take your dog to the vet if you are worried they have any kind of skin condition.
But the good news is after you find out what is wrong, coconut oil is a natural solution that can help.
Is coconut oil good for dogs itchy skin?
Yes, coconut oil is one of the best things you can put on your dog’s itchy skin. It will rejuvenate it and hydrate it with essential fatty acids that it’s lacking.
How do you know if your dog has dry skin?
You can tell that your dog has dry skin often by looking at their skin. Are they scratching a lot? Is it red and flaky? It could just be simple dry skin.
What causes a dog to have dry skin?
Lots of things can cause dry skin on dogs. Here are the main causes of dry skin on dogs:
- Allergic reaction
- Parasites
- Bacterial reaction to the environment
- Nutrition reaction
- Yeast infection
How To Use Coconut Oil On Your Dogs
The best way to use coconut oil on your dog is by putting it directly on their coat and rubbing it into their skin.
Our Muttscrub products all have coconut oil in them. Rub the Pawsitively Soothing All Natural Healing Lotion directly on itchy red spots. It will calm the redness and help them stop itching.
Or you can spray the Pawsitively Soothing All Natural Soothing Spray all over your dog’s coat to improve overall itchiness and allergies.
Can you put lotion on dogs?
Yes, you can put lotion on dogs. Just be careful and only use lotions made specifically for dogs. You want to avoid using fragrances that could irritate their skin even more. Our healing lotion has the following ingredients in them, which all help your dog’s skin heal from the inside out:
- Coconut oil
- Almond oil
- Peppermint oil
- Vitamin E
- Chamomile
And many more!
Use Coconut Oil for Dogs for Healthy Skin
It’s such a mild and rejuvenating ingredient. Coconut oil has been around since the dawn of time, but we are just now starting to realize just how healing it is. If your dog has itchy, scratchy skin, look for pet products with coconut oil in them. And try to use as many all-natural products as you can. Your dog is worth it.
If you enjoyed the information in this blog let us know over in our MuttScrub Community and share the image below over on Pinterest for us! 🙂
Awsome! Coconut oil is a staple in my home! But please tell me what I can use on my patio and balcony to repel flying bugs! My dog is a “drive me crazy” bug chaser!