We all know that dogs are omnivores. They are always interested in a wide variety of foods, but some can be toxic to dogs so that their owners must be careful in choosing the foods to feed them.
In addition to the main meal, it is advisable to add fruits to the dog’s diets. So, can dogs eat coconut? Is it ok to feed your pooch some coconut? The brief answer to this question is yes.
Does coconut have any benefit for dogs?
Coconut is a popular type of fruit that has plenty of beauty benefits as well as nutritional values for humans as well as dogs.
The coconut is not only safe for your dog but also accommodates much health benefits when properly fed and in moderation.
Decrease Inflammation
Coconut flakes contain high level of lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid has some significant anti-inflammatory properties.
So, can dogs eat coconut flakes? Well, coconut flakes are not toxic to your dog.
Lauric acid is easily absorbed into the body and then converted into monolaurin compounds, which have antibacterial effects and are resistant to viruses with lipid crust.
Studies showed that lauric acid can prevent bacteria, thereby fighting yeast infections and reducing inflammation effectively.
Besides, it also helps speed up the healing of cuts, bruises, and other wounds by speeding up the repair of injured tissue.
Moreover, coconut can reduce symptoms of arthritis, which is caused by inflammation. Thus, giving your pup some pieces of coconut flakes might calm its joints pain since the inflammation settles down.
Boost the Immune System
Ingestion of coconut provides antioxidants to slow down the aging process and support the body’s immune system. It helps them to fight off influenza and other infections.
Along with that, coconut flakes can improve the digestive system, reduce the risk of intestinal irritation. It means eating coconut will help treat parasites, ringworm, and fungi.
Boost Energy and Rehydration
Aside from coconut flakes, can dogs eat other parts of coconut? Can dogs eat coconut water?
Coconut water has valuable nutrients and health characteristics. So obviously, coconut water is safe for your fluffy.
Coconut water is rich in potassium and other minerals so it’s very good at providing hydration and refreshment to your dog. You can use this type of water to treat dehydration every time your pup has diarrhea, flu, and electrolyte balance.
Due to the rich of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, coconut water is a great energy drink.
You can feed your dog coconut water after each training session. It will boost your pet’s energy and make it feel relaxed.
Benefit the Skin & Hair
The most popular product made from coconut is coconut oil. We all know that it brings a lot of benefits for human. But how about dogs? Can dogs eat coconut oil? Is coconut oil safe for dogs?
As for the safety aspect, coconut oil is dog-friendly. And of course, they can eat it. This natural oil can be used for external the dog like a balm too.
Applying coconut oil on pet hair will help them to have a smooth coat, fight off flea allergies and itchy skin. When rubbing coconut oil, you should comb the dog’s hair, which is also a way to massage them.
The coconut oil contents the powerful antioxidants that protect skin and hair from aging. So, feeding dog with coconut oil also has the same effect, it helps your pet to be really healthy from the inside.
How much coconut can I give my dog?
It is undeniable that coconut brings a lot of benefits for dogs. However, overeating will harm them.
Coconut contains medium chain triglycerides, which may cause your dog to encounter digestion problems such as gastrointestinal upset and bloating. You need to be careful and don’t feed your dog so much coconut.
Furthermore, coconut has high-fat content and calories. If you overfeed your dog, it can cause unnecessary weight gain, and the high-fat content in coconut can make it fall into bad situations such as obesity or blood fats.
So, how much can dogs eat coconut? If you want to make sure that “Are dogs allergic to coconut in the long run?”, you should consult the veterinarian about feeding your beloved dogs coconut in their daily diet.
Coconut for pets comes in many forms such as stable, dried, fresh, and water. You can feed your dog fresh coconut or mix it with their food.
As usual, for the coconut oil, the dosage should be one teaspoon (4 g) of coconut oil for each 4.5 kg of weight, then you can undoubtedly increase the amount gradually. Giving dogs too much coconut oil from the beginning can cause dogs to have diarrhea or indigestion.
Another thing you need to pay attention is never to give your 4-legged friend a coconut in its shell. Because the shell can become lodged in its esophagus. So, eating pieces of coconut shell will undoubtedly result in an intestinal obstruction for your dog.
Conclusion
Coconut is a nutritious food for dogs. So that the answer to “Can dogs eat coconut?” is Yes. Whenever you have a coconut, just feel free to share it with your pooch.
