Do you give your dog coconut oil?

[murphys]

I was googling something else and stumbled across some advise for dogs with a bit of joint pain and itchy skin, to give the dog coconut oil each day.

My Lab is 8 now and is battling to get up and down (yes he put on quite a bit of weight recently as he was pining for our other dog who passed away). He has itchy skin and is on meds for this, which to be honest im not to keen on.

Just wondered if anyone else gives their dog the oil. Meant to help with weight loss, joint paint, skin issues - so really everything we need for our boy right now in a natural form.

No, but I do give salmon oil daily which claims all the same health benefits.

Coconut oil may be just as suitable, I haven't read up on it, but to me, salmon seems like a more obvious part of a dogs diet.

Raw Feeding UK and Tumeric User Group on FB are good sources of info. Some swear by coconut and tumeric to help skin/joints etc.
Interesting reading if you're interested in the whole raw/natural/healthy feeding for dogs (and humans!)
www.facebook.com/groups/rawfeedinguk/
www.facebook.com/groups/415313751866609/?fref=ts

I know people that use it and recommend it but I would look at his food to make sure he's on the best thing for him first. What does he eat usually?

He is on Eukanaba Dermatosis which is salmon and potato based, but he still suffers with itching. So he isn't on a cheap food. I have a tub of the oil here anyway so I will try it for a week and report back. My little newbie pup is on Hills Science Diet so our dog food bill is pretty steep each month.

THank you Ladyturmoil. I shall read these links.

Oh, your poor dog. I have a 13 year old boxer/labrador with skin allergies and joint pain and I tried to give her coconut oil, as I heard it would help (and I use it myself), but she didn't like it.

What did help was feeding her raw, and to my amazement it works out cheaper than feeding her dried food (I usually got Hills prescription diet, so not cheap, and then changed to a grain free dry food, and she never liked any dried dog food, but she loves raw food). I give her offal and fatty meat, from DAF and Bulmers. And then I always give her the olive oil from my tinned tuna/sardines plus I make sure she gets lard or similar as a treat, basically, she is well oiled ;) I wouldn't say she is cured, but she is much better.

I am not a fan of veterinary diets. You can get better foods less expensively. If raw feeding isn't an option (and I understand that it's not for everyone), I would suggest having a look at www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/ to see if you can find something better for your money.

No, raw food isn't for everyone, it's a bit difficult, I had to buy an extra freezer! And then I have to remember to take the food out of the freezer daily. Oh, and I tried tripe, most dogs' favourite, and it just stank too much! But one thing is for sure, and that is that dry dog food has a lot to answer for regarding dog health.

Fish oil is better than plant base oils as the omega 3 and 6 is more bio avaliable to dogs. So I would always choose a fish base product over plants, there is merging evidence that omega 3 maybe more important than 6 so sardine oil would be the very bet option.

mega 3 is deffo more important than Omega 6. But coconut oil is special in that it is a saturated but healthy fat, you can't really compare it to Omega 3 (not that I think you are, Lone).

I'm not, but for dog's skin omega 3 is coming forward as the truly important bit.

The ready mixed raw I use (Nutriment) has coconut and salmon oil in. I think raw works out cheaper than when I fed Eukanuba too tbh!

Thanks everyone. Just a weird turn of events I didn't give him the oil yesterday as about 4pm he starting vomiting which continued right through the night. Was at vet first thing this morning (he is a healthy boy and never known him to vomit in 8 years and we also have a 8 week old pup so taking no chances) and he has a bacterial infection in his tum. While I was there I chatted to the vet about the oil, she said that it can do no harm, but she felt that the plant based oil may not be sufficient for his skin.

So I have bough Mirra-Cote, the one with added zinc, which is salmon and flaxseed oil with added minerals, so once he is on the mend will start with this.

Just so pleased I didn't give it to him yesterday when I wanted to as I would immediately thought it was the coconut oil making him vomit.

So he is getting extra tlc today, and of course a ride in the car always makes a tail wag .

Any of you use turmeric too? Supposed to help to joints too.