Coconut oil comes from the inner pulp or the meat of the coconut. Because of its high saturated fat content, it is slow to oxidize so has a considerable shelf life. Saturated fats have been given a bad reputation by being lumped with trans fatty acids and fried vegetable oils. The saturated fats found in coconut oil however, are mostly beneficial lauric acid which is a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) which studies show puts less strain on the pancreas and is more digestible. Sat fats actually increase the healthy (HDL) cholesterol and lower the bad (LDL) cholesterol. It also lowers triglycerides in the blood.
You can cook with coconut oil, condition your hair and whiten your teeth, but it’s awesome for moisturizing your dog’s paws and a bunch of other things too:
Digestion
So as mentioned above, coconut oil is highly digestible and it also has powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. If your dog suffers from any type of bowel issue, chances are his intestines are inflamed, so a little coconut oil can soothe his intestines.
Nutrient Absorption
When your pooch suffers from poor digestion, he can’t absorb all of the important nutrients in his food, but by improving your dog’s digestion and gut bacteria through the use of coconut oil, he can more readily absorb the nutrients into his bloodstream.
Keeps Bad Bacteria at Bay
Inside the digestive tract live bacteria – most good, some not so much. In order for your pet’s body to function properly, researchers say their gut bacteria needs to stay in and 80/20 balance. Poor diet, antibiotics, deworming and lifestyle can kill your best pal’s good gut bacteria. Coconut oil has anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties, so if bad bacteria begins to spread through the intestines, coconut oil might kill off the bad guys and feed the good ones.
Symptoms of an unbalanced gut can include:
- Digestive issues
- Skin problems; inflammation
- Weakened immune system
- Illness or general malaise
Over-Weight
Coconut oil has been found to effectively boost metabolism, blast fat, burn calories and satiate appetite. Since 2/3 of our dogs and cats are classified as overweight or obese, coconut oil could be a life saver, and you know The Pet Safety Crusader™ likes the sound of that!
Oral Health
Since coconut oil has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties, it kills any harmful substances in the mouth. By doing so, it can:
- Improve bad breath
- Prevent plaque
- Heal gum sores
- Whiten teeth
How Much & What Kind?
A ½ teaspoon for every 10 lbs. of body weight is a good measure but you can start with a little less until they adjust. Even good things sometimes require getting acclimated to. You can add it to food or let your pup lap it up. Organic extra-virgin, unrefined and cold pressed are best.
More uses…
Skin & Coat
In addition to making coconut oil a part of your pet’s diet, it can also be applied topically. Dry skin, bites & stings, burns and allergic reactions often are soothed by an application of coconut oil directly on the skin, even on superficial wounds! Rubbing a little coconut oil into your pet’s coat 20 minutes before bath time, can keep fur silky and shiny! The benefits seem unending.
Nose & Paws
Dryness caused by lack of humidity or too much sun and create tiny cracks in your canine’s sniffer. Gently rubbing a little coconut oil could prevent them from occurring but can also heal once they have formed. As for the paws…they are not tough as nails and can crack, blister, cut and bleed! A little coconut oil paw massage at night can keep four-paws soft and help your pooch drift off to sleep.
See the treats and learn more on my VLOG: https://youtu.be/DraIA9b1yjQ
Dog Treats!
Peanut Butter/Coconut Oil No Bake Dog Treats
Ingredients:
1/3 cup Coconut Oil
3 T Peanut Butter (xylitol & “sugar alcohols”free)
2 ½ cups Rolled Oats
½ cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- Add Coconut Oil, Peanut Butter and Rolled Oats to food processor and mix until well combined.
- Scoop out bite sized pieces with a spoon and roll into little balls.
- Gently roll each ball in the shredded coconut.
- Place on a flat tray lined with baking paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes till firm. Store in refrigerator.
Sweet Potato/Coconut Oil Baked Cookies
Ingredients:
2 Medium-size Sweet Potatoes, cooked & cooled
½ cup Coconut Flour
½ cup Coconut Oil
1 Egg
1-2 tablespoons of water as needed for texture
- Preheat the oven to 350° F
- Combine all ingredients and mix well, adding a little extra coconut flour to get a dough slightly thinner than Play Dough.
- Form into 1-inch balls and flatten with hand then flatten with damp fork (like for human peanut butter cookies).
- Bake for 20 minutes until slightly browned on the edges and cool.
- Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for several weeks or freeze for several months.
Frozen Blueberry-Banana/Coconut Treats
Ingredients
Small silicone heart, paw or bone mold
1/2 cup Coconut Oil in solid form
Fresh or frozen blueberries
Banana (cut into slices or pureed)
- Place a blueberry into each heart in the silicone mold. If larger enough, also add banana, if not…a few drops of banana puree.
- In a small saucepan, warm coconut oil until liquefied.
- Let oil cool for just a few minutes, then carefully pour oil into heart molds.
- Place in freezer until solid, then pop out of mold.
- Store treats in a zip lock baggie or container in the freezer.
