Dog not eating, losing weight. Is coconut oil causing pancreatitis?

Yes, I would recommend that you feed and administer insulin on Lily's normal schedule. Coconut oil is not toxic to dogs, but in large quantities, it can cause an upset stomach, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and possibly even pancreatitis. Pancreatitis in diabetic dogs can sometimes require hospitalization. If Lily is not eating her food like normal, discontinue her insulin and call her veterinarian for instructions on how to proceed. If she starts vomiting, then discontinue her insulin and she should be checked out by a vet since she may need anti-nausea medications. Any coconut oil that is not absorbed by the GI tract will come out the backside, so be prepared for greasy, loose stools. If she is having diarrhea, this may need a vet checkup.

Considering your description, I think there is nothing wrong with him and you could try to change his food (you may try with chicken and rice for a week time for example). Coconut oil or peanut butter are very fat and, although increase palatability, they can result in some sporadic diarrhoea episodes. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Poor guy. An obstruction is something to consider; however uncommon in older dogs. I would be inclined to look at all the lab findings in detail to give you more specific recommendations on what is likely your next best step for Barrington. If he does have pancreatitis then he may need to be hosptilalized with I.V. fluids, antinausea medicaitons antibiotics and pain meds given as an injection to help get him back to healthy status. I hope this helps and feel free to request a consultation to discuss his case in more detail. I hope that Barrington is able to make a full and speedy recovery. Best wishes and take care.

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.

Hello, thank you for your question about Nannu. If he is not used to getting coconut oil as part of his normal diet it is possible that it is causing GI upset, which could explain the vomiting and the noise that you are hearing in his stomach. I would recommend offering him other dietary options that he is used to for the next 3-5 days. If there is no improvement I would recommend having him examined by a veterinarian to ensure that there is nothing else more serious going on. Hope this helps, good luck!

You have all my simpathy as I have a naughty Basset Hound too. Coconut oil is very rich in fat, so I would suggest that you have him checked over as he could be developing pancreatitis . Best sooner rather than later.

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.