The coconut tree is known as ‘tree of life,’ and coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut itself are no less than a wonder. Coconut oil is a popular home remedy for various human and pet health issues.
Coconut oil has medicinal advantages for us because of its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. The miracle oil benefits us in skin care, hair care, yeast infections, digestive health, and dental health.
When the medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) of human breast milk and coconut milk were matched, they were both found similar in structure and composition. Moreover, coconut oil is added in infant formulas as a major ingredient. This dictates the health benefits of coconut oil and coconut milk for humans and animals.
As much as omega-3 fatty acids (the fish oils) are essential for dog’s health, coconut oil has beneficial ingredients for the dog’s wellbeing. Even though coconut oil is not essential for the body, but it has amazing health benefits for dogs.
Why is Coconut Oil a Super Food?
Over 1500 studieshave proven the health benefits of coconut oil for humans. Coconut oil contains useful saturated fatty acids known as Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) or Medium-Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs). MCTs, help to boost cognitive functions of the brain and improve weight management power of the body. Coconut oil has 62 to 65 percent of following easily digestible fatty acids:
1. Lauric acid (48%)
2. Caprylic acid (8%)
3. Capric acid (7%)
Lauric acid has the medicinal properties which boost our immune system and benefits us against disease. Capric and caprylic acid have strong anti-fungal properties that make coconut oil useful for yeast infections. MCFAs are easy to metabolize and digest by the body and provide an instant source of energy to us. Therefore, it’s an effective home remedy used for weight loss and for boosting athletic performance.
Similarly, coconut oil balances out the thyroid levels in dogs suffering from hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. It assists in weight loss of the obese dogs and helps inactive dogs to get an energy boost.
MCFAs are easy to metabolize and antibacterial as well as antifungal in effect. They are rarely stored as fats. They provide instant energy boost because of their ease to travel across cell membranes of body cells. Moreover, they are processed in the liver that changes them immediately into an energy ball rather than an ounce of fat.
Coconut oil, the super food, has plentiful benefits for the skin, metabolism, immune system, digestion processes, allergies, etc. Dr. Bruce Fife, a certified naturopath, and nutritionist as well as the president of Coconut Research Center, reveals that coconut oil enhances the metabolism of the digestive system, creates immunity against common diseases, accelerates the healing process, and provides a great energy boost to the sick or exhausted. Would you still prefer energy drinks over coconut oil?
Coconut oil is no doubt a health booster for us. Do you know of any other food that nears the beneficial capacities of coconut oil? Mention in comments.
5 Amazing Health Benefits of Coconut Oil for Dogs
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Coconut oil is an essential food for the pups and senior dogs. It supports the dog's health completely. You might supplement the dog food with this superfood after knowing the following incredible benefits of copra oil:
1. Healthy Dog Skin:
Coconut oil prevents the dog from infections, allergies, ticks and flea infestation, eczema, dermatitis, etc. Moreover, it maintains a healthy dog skin especially for the dogs having dry skin.
Following are the top advantages of using coconut oil for skin:
2. Overall Body Health
Some of the advantages for body health of dogs are:
3. Digestive Health:
Digestion processes are enhanced by using coconut oil in dog food.
4. Strong Immune System:
Coconut oil will make the immune system of dogs strong against illnesses.
5. Optical, Auditory, and Dental Health:
Coconut oil can also cure eye, ear and teeth problems.
You can save on the monthly veterinary visits by investing in this superfood. Coconut oil will save your expenses on medicines for fleas, ticks, allergies, digestion issues, anxiety issues, arthritis, diabetes, etc.
How Safe is Coconut Oil for Dogs?
Coconut oil is safe for not only dogs but also for all kinds of animals such as rabbits, horses, birds, cats, etc.
The best part is that it’s not proven to be toxic even when eaten in excess. If the dog has dived into a jar of coconut oil, he will only suffer from diarrhea at the maximum.
Coconut oil is safe even after being heated to high temperatures. Other oils do become toxic, but coconut oil is tolerant to excessive heat. It’s due to the low rate of its oxidation and chances of turning rancid that it has a storage life of around two years.
Note:The quantity and recommendation of coconut oil should be asked for by the holistic vet to avoid any health risks. Why health risks despite being very safe oil? Because, if the dog is suffering from a medical condition, he may not be able to tolerate the coconut oil supplement, so it’s best to keep the vet in the loop.
The Dosage of Coconut Oil:
You can add one tsp of coconut oil per 10 lbs of dog’s weight. In the beginning, add 1/4th of the amount to avoid the overdose. Get a specific recommendation from the veterinary to prevent any health issues and cure medical conditions.
If you are using the coconut oil as flea or tick repellent, just rub it into the dog’s coat before you go out. It will also help your dog’s coat to become shiny and healthy.
Coconut oil and dried copra, together, help in the removal of worms inhabiting the dog’s digestive system.
For yeast infections, follow the procedure: Add ten drops of lavender essential oil to a little quantity of melted coconut oil. Add two drops of lemon essential oil. Mix it well and rub it into the dog’s coat well to get absorbed properly. The mixture can be stored for few months.
Conclusion
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After using this panacea-like cure for a lot of health issues, you will save all those hectic visits to the veterinary once or twice a month. This health-promoting supplement has excellent vitality not only for you but also for the dogs, cats, and other house pets you may have.
Share your experiences of using coconut oil remedies in the comments below.
Bella Medhurst V
An Australian Registered Veterinary Surgeon and Practitioner, Bella Medhurst V earned her Bachelor of Animal Science at Adelaide University before going on to study Veterinary Medicine at Melbourne University, from which she graduated in 2017.She has collaborated on honours and PhD projects, and she is working to complete a publication for the Veterinary and Agricultural Faculty of the University of Melbourne.Email: [email protected]
Really enjoyed your advise and knowledge. Thank you