Coconut Oil

[Sail_Away]

Hi everyone

I've been reading about the benefits of cold pressed coconut oil for both humans and fur kids - it seems like it can have great health benefits for dogs when added to their food and healing properties if applied topically to the skin and/or cracked pads… So I purchased some organic virgin cold pressed coconut oil today and was wondering for those who give it to their dogs, how much you give each day?

[Boronia]

The amounts on the bottle I have say 1-2 tsp daily, stupid amounts as it doesn't specify the weight of the dog. I just give the Westies about 1/2--3/4 tsp with their breakfast. I reckon if I gave them 2tsp it'll give them the squits

[sheena]

I used to give my two border collies 18 kilos & 22 kilos, both one tablespoon a day.

[Rascalmyshadow]

I give a bit over 1/2 tsp to my 8kg min poodle, 1/2 tsp to the toy poodle and shihtzu x both around 4.5 - 5kg and about a 1/4 tsp to the 1.7kg chi and 2.4kg chi x pom.

I give it every second day to avoid causing runny poo.

[Guest hankodie]

1 teaspoon a day for my frenchie (10 kilos) makes her coat very nice and shiny :) I've also applied it topically and it works wonders. It's a natural antiseptic if I recall correctly.

[Boronia]

I should add that Mac is just over 8kg, Penny 7.5kg and Daisy 7.25kg

[Airedaler]

I recently came across the following article in the B-Naturals Newsletter - August 2013. May be of interest to some of you. If nothing else it is another perspective on the effectiveness of the product. Cheers Sue

Is Coconut Oil Useful for Dogs?

By Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health

Is Coconut Oil Useful for Dogs?

I have gotten several emails recently asking about the effectiveness of Coconut Oil for dogs. Coconut Oil is certainly a product that has received a lot of Internet attention in the last 8 years. There are numerous websites promoting this product, as well as industry involvement in trying to draw attention to numerous claims, including many incredulous claims, of the health inducing properties of coconut oil.

I have watched these sites and read the claims with casual interest over the past few years, but to date I have not found any independent scientific research or clinical trials that show coconut oil would be of benefit to healthy dogs as a daily supplement.

First, let's look at the components of coconut oil. It is a blend of fats. Simply stated, 1 tbsp. of coconut oil provides 117 calories, 13.6g fat, 0g carbohydrates, and 0g protein. These fats are saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Saturated fats in coconut are comprised of caproic, caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acid. Lauric acid is the most dominant of this group. This is a medium chain fat, which may be of benefit to the user if the user has difficulty digesting of fats or needs to gain weight.

The monounsaturated fat in coconut oil is oleic acid. Some research has shown that oleic acid has some tumor suppression effects, based on studies regarding the Mediterranean Diet, but far more research needs to be done to prove this conclusively.

http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/12/5/211

The polyunsaturated fat the coconut oil contains is Omega 6 fatty acids. This is abundant in all foods, and when dogs get too much Omega 6, it can create inflammation, pain and increase cancer cell growth.

http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2005/08/5301/omega-6-fatty-acids-cause-prostate-tumor-cell-growth-culture-potential-n)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-6_fatty_acid

There are NO Omega 3 fatty acids in coconut oil and Omega 3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, is the important fatty acid needed by dogs (and humans) to support the immune system, healthy coat and skin, liver, kidney and heart function, as well as neonatal eye and brain development. Omega 3 fatty acids are also important to counter balance the large amount of Omega 6 fatty acids found in most foods. Omega 3 fatty acids are much harder to find in foods. Additionally, dogs need animal-based sources of this fatty acid, as they do NOT have the ability to convert the fatty acids found in plant-based oils (ALA) to a usable form.

I found claims that Coconut oil would kill viruses and bacteria however; the only research I could find was on the Coconut Research Center's home page, which is of course funded by the coconut industry. You can read in information, but most of the information is old, done in conjunction with feed livestock, or used in reference to helping with weight gain due to the medium chain fat composition of coconut oil. I could not find definitive research that coconut oil could kill bacteria, yeast, or viruses.

There are no current studies available from independent scientists showing these results to date. Additionally, I did not find any current or ongoing clinical trials on the benefits of coconut oil. I also did not find any of the health organizations, other than the coconut industry or retailers selling coconut oil recommend it as a healthy supplement for dogs (or humans) for any of these issues.

Some humans are interested in it for the benefit of heart and cholesterol issues; however, neither of these issues is a concern for dogs as they are carnivores designed to eat high fat, animal protein diets. Dogs do not get 'hardening' of the arteries or plaque in the arteries. Again, there are no independent studies to date showing this oil may be healthy for the heart.

There are some claims that coconut helps fight Alzheimer's disease. This has to do with the ketones found in coconut oil. There may be some usefulness in studying this further, but no definitive research has been completed to date to prove if this is true or not. Various Internet sites tell anecdotal stories. However, they are from promising to disappointing.

My personal take on coconut oil is that it makes far too many claims to be taken seriously. Claims of killing viruses, bacteria, yeast, curing Alzheimer's disease, being able to treat flu and pneumonia, thyroid disease, obesity and HIV make this a dubious product and these are claims most of us have seen in numerous 'Internet Sensations' over the past 20 years. No single product has this capability, although it may be helpful with proper research in a couple of these areas. Is it dangerous? Not really, however, although it is a saturated fat and is high in calories. While this is not an issue for dogs, it could create problems in humans with heart conditions or cholesterol issues. Does it have benefits? Yes, for dogs that may need to gain weight or have a temporary difficulty with digesting fats it can be beneficial. This is because it is high in calories and easy to digest because it is a medium chain fat.

Would I feed coconut oil to my dogs? No way! I would not waste my money. What dogs DO NEED is an animal-based fat containing Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids, which are backed by quality research, do help support the immune system, fetal eye and brain development, coat and skin health and help offset the over abundance of omega 6 fatty acids in the diet.

Dogs also require animal fats. Animal fats give dogs, which are carnivores, not omnivores, energy, help with the dog's ability to scent well, stay hydrated in the heat of the summer and the cold in the winter. Ask any dog sled professional or performance dog specialist. The best way to provide fat in your dog's diet is with fresh fat found in animal-based foods such as meat, eggs and dairy. Your dog will appreciate it, and their health will show it!

Edited August 24, 2013 by Airedaler

[Rascalmyshadow]

Whoops double pist

Edited August 24, 2013 by Rascalmyshadow

[Guest hankodie]

Very interesting Airedaler. I should have probably added to my post that my frenchie is on a homecooked diet due to her congenital liver disease, as such her animal fat/protein is limited which is why the coconut oil is added. The diet was formulated by specialists and coconut oil was one of the "optional" supplements listed :)

[Sail_Away]

I recently came across the following article in the B-Naturals Newsletter - August 2013. May be of interest to some of you. If nothing else it is another perspective on the effectiveness of the product. Cheers Sue

Is Coconut Oil Useful for Dogs?

By Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health

Is Coconut Oil Useful for Dogs?

I have gotten several emails recently asking about the effectiveness of Coconut Oil for dogs. Coconut Oil is certainly a product that has received a lot of Internet attention in the last 8 years. There are numerous websites promoting this product, as well as industry involvement in trying to draw attention to numerous claims, including many incredulous claims, of the health inducing properties of coconut oil.

I have watched these sites and read the claims with casual interest over the past few years, but to date I have not found any independent scientific research or clinical trials that show coconut oil would be of benefit to healthy dogs as a daily supplement.

First, let's look at the components of coconut oil. It is a blend of fats. Simply stated, 1 tbsp. of coconut oil provides 117 calories, 13.6g fat, 0g carbohydrates, and 0g protein. These fats are saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Saturated fats in coconut are comprised of caproic, caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acid. Lauric acid is the most dominant of this group. This is a medium chain fat, which may be of benefit to the user if the user has difficulty digesting of fats or needs to gain weight.

The monounsaturated fat in coconut oil is oleic acid. Some research has shown that oleic acid has some tumor suppression effects, based on studies regarding the Mediterranean Diet, but far more research needs to be done to prove this conclusively.

http://breast-cancer...ontent/12/5/211

The polyunsaturated fat the coconut oil contains is Omega 6 fatty acids. This is abundant in all foods, and when dogs get too much Omega 6, it can create inflammation, pain and increase cancer cell growth.

http://www.ucsf.edu/...ure-potential-n)

http://en.wikipedia....ga-6_fatty_acid

There are NO Omega 3 fatty acids in coconut oil and Omega 3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, is the important fatty acid needed by dogs (and humans) to support the immune system, healthy coat and skin, liver, kidney and heart function, as well as neonatal eye and brain development. Omega 3 fatty acids are also important to counter balance the large amount of Omega 6 fatty acids found in most foods. Omega 3 fatty acids are much harder to find in foods. Additionally, dogs need animal-based sources of this fatty acid, as they do NOT have the ability to convert the fatty acids found in plant-based oils (ALA) to a usable form.

I found claims that Coconut oil would kill viruses and bacteria however; the only research I could find was on the Coconut Research Center's home page, which is of course funded by the coconut industry. You can read in information, but most of the information is old, done in conjunction with feed livestock, or used in reference to helping with weight gain due to the medium chain fat composition of coconut oil. I could not find definitive research that coconut oil could kill bacteria, yeast, or viruses.

There are no current studies available from independent scientists showing these results to date. Additionally, I did not find any current or ongoing clinical trials on the benefits of coconut oil. I also did not find any of the health organizations, other than the coconut industry or retailers selling coconut oil recommend it as a healthy supplement for dogs (or humans) for any of these issues.

Some humans are interested in it for the benefit of heart and cholesterol issues; however, neither of these issues is a concern for dogs as they are carnivores designed to eat high fat, animal protein diets. Dogs do not get 'hardening' of the arteries or plaque in the arteries. Again, there are no independent studies to date showing this oil may be healthy for the heart.

There are some claims that coconut helps fight Alzheimer's disease. This has to do with the ketones found in coconut oil. There may be some usefulness in studying this further, but no definitive research has been completed to date to prove if this is true or not. Various Internet sites tell anecdotal stories. However, they are from promising to disappointing.

My personal take on coconut oil is that it makes far too many claims to be taken seriously. Claims of killing viruses, bacteria, yeast, curing Alzheimer's disease, being able to treat flu and pneumonia, thyroid disease, obesity and HIV make this a dubious product and these are claims most of us have seen in numerous 'Internet Sensations' over the past 20 years. No single product has this capability, although it may be helpful with proper research in a couple of these areas. Is it dangerous? Not really, however, although it is a saturated fat and is high in calories. While this is not an issue for dogs, it could create problems in humans with heart conditions or cholesterol issues. Does it have benefits? Yes, for dogs that may need to gain weight or have a temporary difficulty with digesting fats it can be beneficial. This is because it is high in calories and easy to digest because it is a medium chain fat.

Would I feed coconut oil to my dogs? No way! I would not waste my money. What dogs DO NEED is an animal-based fat containing Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids, which are backed by quality research, do help support the immune system, fetal eye and brain development, coat and skin health and help offset the over abundance of omega 6 fatty acids in the diet.

Dogs also require animal fats. Animal fats give dogs, which are carnivores, not omnivores, energy, help with the dog's ability to scent well, stay hydrated in the heat of the summer and the cold in the winter. Ask any dog sled professional or performance dog specialist. The best way to provide fat in your dog's diet is with fresh fat found in animal-based foods such as meat, eggs and dairy. Your dog will appreciate it, and their health will show it!

Very interesting post. My dog is fed a very well balanced RAW diet including sardines, salmon, raw eggs, flaxseed oil etc and she is in amazing condition her coat is very shiny and the vet & other people always comment on how great she looks. The coconut oil was just another thing I was thinking of to add to the diet in the thought it could only help… I will definitely be using it topically on her pads which are a bit dry at the moment and I'll look further into whether I should add to her diet. Thanks

[Dobecrazy]

I give coconut oil to my dobes.

I recently went on my hardcore showie/breeder dobe forum and it was suggested that coconut oil isn't as great for dogs and that fish oil is an all round much better choice. Both in moderation, just like with a human diet is my philosophy but I don't think its as amazing as its marketed to be.. (I'm a sucker for health food marketing).

[Sail_Away]

Here is some positive information on the benefits of coconut oil for dogs. This information is written by Dr Jean Dodds (A leader in vaccine research and thyroid disease): http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/47127324583/coconut-for-pets

Also an article in Dogs Naturally: http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/?inf_contact_key=c09c4441c1e9a2252acbff0eec3e1cdee042e8bb99bdd1d72f24e1fb4e647ec8

And some more advocating its use: http://www.dogdishdiet.com/2013/08/feeding-healthy-oils-like-coconut-oil-may-help-with-medical-problems/

[Maddy]

Here is some positive information on the benefits of coconut oil for dogs. This information is written by Dr Jean Dodds (A leader in vaccine research and thyroid disease): http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/47127324583/coconut-for-pets

Also an article in Dogs Naturally: http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/the-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/?inf_contact_key=c09c4441c1e9a2252acbff0eec3e1cdee042e8bb99bdd1d72f24e1fb4e647ec8

And some more advocating its use: http://www.dogdishdiet.com/2013/08/feeding-healthy-oils-like-coconut-oil-may-help-with-medical-problems/

I got as far as the part where she implies it can cure..

herpes, the measles, influenza, hepatitis C and HIV, ringworm and athlete’s foot

And couldn't take her seriously after that.

I know the woman is very well-respected around here but she's obviously a quack

[megan_]

Is she saying that or are the other articles?

[Maddy]

Is she saying that or are the other articles?

The first article, on her own site.