Is coconut oil safe for dogs? What type and how much to give?

You can use straight coconut oil to help with the coat, either applied to the skin or given orally. However, it should be used in moderation as too much can cause digestive upset such as vomiting or diarrhea. Do also note that pets tend to lick their fur, so any oil applied to the fur and skin may be licked off and part of the amount ingested orally. There isn't any difference in oil as long as you are using 100% pure coconut oil, and not another product that may have additional ingredients added to it.

There are no proven benefits of administering coconut oil to dogs orally or topically. However, there are risks of feeding dogs additional fatty foods and oils, such as the development of pancreatitis and anecdotal reports of causing coronary artery disease. I never recommend feeding coconut oil in any volume due to the risks and lack of benefit.

Yes, it is fine and might help his immune system and digestion too. The key is to start by feeding a tiny amount to start with, as dogs’ tummies need to adjust to digesting the oil. Let’s say you start with the tip of a teaspoon per day for the first three days, and if Phoenix body motions are fine, you can increase it to half for another 3 days. If no tummy upsets are noticed then you can gradually increase it to 1 teaspoon per day, you could divide it into his two meals or just give it first thing in the morning. I would say to continue for a couple of months and then discontinue and start again when the season changes or moulting occurs. Extra virgin olive oil is also very good for the dog’s health but I would not mix the two together, as we risk giving too much fat in one go. I would stick to coconut oil for the time being.! Hope this helps !

I would say no on the coconut oil. It is very high in fat and can cause pancreatitis. I really wish they would not market these things to pet owners. Coconut oil is not a cure all for everything. Just because it is marketed for dogs does not mean it's not harmful - veterinary supplements are not regulated by the FDA so I typically don't recommend any products unless they are veterinary formulated and have had some testing done. I would stick with the Missing Link. It is an amazing product. I think you will be happy with it.

Great question! You are correct that too much saturated fat is unhealthy for dogs, and it's awesome you are checking this out before giving it to Sadie. As long as it's a small amount, say a teaspoon to a tablespoon per serving, then it should be fine to give to her :-)

Hi, thabks for using PetCoach! I would avoid cooking oil. Every dog is different on how they handle extra fat. It can cause pancreatitis or GI upset. If you are interested in something to help the coat I would recommend an Omega 3 fish oil like the one in the link below. Have a good day! https://m.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=19121

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Yes, turmeric is safe for dogs and can be mixed into their food. You can give 1/8-1/4 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight, per day. I hope this is helpful!