Is human coconut oil safe for dogs? How to use it orally or topically?

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.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach. You can use extra virgin coconut oil and give 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of bodyweight. This can cause diarrhea sometimes so if this happens, back down on the amount being given.

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.

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 !

Excessive amounts of any fat (such as coconut oil) can cause diarrhea, but coconut oil is not a problem for cats otherwise. In fact, many people recommend feeding coconut oil for a healthy coat since it contains good fats. I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. The problem with using oils on the coat is the residual greasiness. If you want to use something, use a leave-in conditioner made for dogs, either post bathing, or one of the mousse rub in ones. The best way to get oils into the coat is to feed Arjun omega 3 fatty acids, so a good fish oil supplement daily. I would administer 1 000-1200 mg capsule twice daily & in a couple of weeks, his coat should start looking a little better. The longer you give it, the better it will work. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. You can use coconut oil but it will likely not change the dandruff. For a dog Jett's size I would add 1/4 tsp to the food. Also, I personally like to use the Krillex Shed Free chews for dandruff and shedding, so if the salmon oil does not work, I would use the Krill oil chews. You can find these online quite easily. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!