Mmmm…Coconut oil! There’s always a jar of it sitting on my counter, and the mere sound of the lid being unscrewed from the jar, gets me zooming to the kitchen for a spoonful!
There are many products and foods that include coconut in various forms, but coconut oil is one of the most popular uses. It is as an excellent source of nutrients for your dog, and diseases or ailments like yeast infections, smelly coats, hot spots, infected cuts, and even cracked paws, can all be helped with the use of coconut oil.
I like organic, cold-pressed virgin coconut oil, which has not been hydrogenated, bleached, refined or deodorized. If coconut has been refined in some way, which could include processes such as bleaching or deodorizing, it becomes much harder on the liver.
The optimum dose for dogs is about 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight daily, or 1 tablespoon per 30 pounds, but make sure to introduce coconut oil gradually. Start by dividing your dog’s intake between two feedings per day in small amounts while building to the daily dosage. The reason for this is because coconut oil kills harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, yeasts, and fungi. If too much is consumed initially, your dog may respond negatively and the burden of removing dead organisms too quickly can cause symptoms of fatigue, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms. If your dog has any of these reactions, temporarily cut the daily amount back to allow your dog’s system to gently adjust.
Need more reasons to give your dog coconut? Check out the benefits:
-Coconut oil provides support for a healthy skin and coat and clears up skin conditions like eczema, flea allergies, contact dermatitis and itchy skin. It can give your dog a smooth glossy coat, while adding moisture to make skin healthy and supple. It’s a tremendous emollient!
-When applied topically, coconut oil supports the healing of dry skin, hot spots, rashes, wounds/cuts, insect bites, and stings.
-Reduces doggy odor with its antibacterial and antifungal properties.
-Aids digestion and helps with digestive disorders.
-Promotes normal thyroid function.
-Helps balance metabolism for healthy weight, and arthritis.
-Prevents and treats yeast and fungal infections.
-Reduces risk of brain lesions in older dogs.
I like to gobble mine right off the spoon, but most of the time enjoy it mixed with both of my daily meals. Heck it’s even great if you’ve got one of those “picky eaters”, so try adding some to their meals as a healthy way to entice them to eat. I’m pretty sure that you’re dog will love you for it! It’s lip-smacking, great stuff! 
