I have been researching the benefits of coconut oil in dogs but would like a second opinion from a vet

Coconut oil does has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and some Veterinarians suggest it can help with gut inflammation.

The main problems associated with feeding coconut oil to dogs, are due to the not surprisingly, very high level of fat in it! It can lead to weight gain and even trigger pancreatitis in some dogs. It may also cause diarrhoea. More info from our blog here. 

If you choose to try coconut oil as a supplement to your dogs diet, it is best to start slowly and in very small amounts, such as 1/2 a teaspoon daily.  Then you can see how your dog responds to that over a month and go from there. There is no published dose and there are no studies on it’s efficacy.

Also be sure to monitor their weight and stools closely. It may be necessary to reduce calories elsewhere in the diet.

If you’d like to chat in person, you can get a vet on a live video call or start a chat to discuss in more detail now.

We’re here to help!

Chat soon,

Dr Claire