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Pet Corner
Tests on coconut oil's effect on dogs in clinical trials
are not readily available, but anecdotal evidence is impressive. Internet forums describe how overweight
dogs become lean and energetic soon after they begin eating coconut oil, or their shabby-looking coats become
sleek and glossy, and dogs with arthritis or ligament problems grow stronger and more lively.
Even some serious diseases have responded. In one case, a Doberman
Pinscher with severe Wobblers made a dramatic recovery in less than a week while taking coconut oil. Other reports involve itchy skin, cuts, wounds, and ear problems. Dogs with flea allergies, contact dermatitis, or other allergic reactions typically stop scratching soon after coconut oil is added to their food, and dogs treated topically for bites, stings, ear mites, ear infections, cuts, or wounds recover quickly. One dog was stung by a bee, causing her mouth to swell. An hour after her owner applied coconut oil to the sting and gave her a tablespoon to swallow, the swelling disappeared and the dog was herself again.
We were surprised a few weeks ago when a new customer phoned us to buy 5 litres as his first purchase.
We asked him if he did not want to buy a smaller quantity to start with.
"No, I need the 5 litres. I am a bit embarrassed to tell you this but it is for my two Collie dogs.
They suffered from bad breath, poor skin condition with some mange and their coats were not good. I had heard about
the health benefits of virgin coconut oil for humans and had bought some from the local Health Food Store.
More by chance than intent, I gave some to my dogs. They lapped it up so I began to give them a couple of
spoonfuls with each meal. The result has been remarkable: the bad breath has gone, their mange has disappeared
and their coats are glossy. The result has been quite astonishing and the VCO is much cheaper than veterinary medicines!"
Dr Bruce Fife, when speaking at the International Coconut Forum in Cairns in November 2005, said that the improved health of dogs which had VCO as part of their regular diet was testimony to the fact
that similar results with humans were not simply a "new fad with a 'bandwagon effect'".
If you have anything to report on your experience with feeding VCO to your pets, please
contact us and let us know.
So, some people have become Crazy About Coconut Oil because "Virgin" or
unrefined, this healthy oil has multiple benefits for your dog.
article by CJ Poutinen.
CJ Puotinen is the author of eleven books about
medicinal herbs for pets and people, including The
Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care, and
Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats, all published by Keats
Publishing. She writes the Question and Answer column for the Northeast
Herbal Association Journal ("Ask Goldie," by Goldie Oatstraw).
Virgin Coconut Oil is the richest natural source of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). Fed to pets it can have multiple benefits:
- Reduces or eliminates odour and bad breath in dogs
- Clears up skin conditions such as eczema, flea allergies, contact dermatitis, itchy skin, etc
- Makes coats become sleek and glossy
- Helps reduce weight, increases energy, improves digestion
- May help with arthritis or ligament problems
- Can also be applied topically to cuts, wounds, infected ears, bites and stings
- Read about dosage here
Smell you later!
This most enthusiastic report is from an internet forum and describes coconut oil's deodorizing effects.
Bob Ansley in Shallotte, North Carolina, started feeding his "incredibly smelly" black Lab, Smokey Joe, the coconut oil he drains from his wok after frying eggs, sausages, and other foods.
"Joe's coat shined up," says Ansley, "but the real surprise was that he stopped stinking.
He has always smelled really bad, and bathing was a waste of time. For years when I petted him, I had to hold my hands away from my clothes and go wash my hands soon and thoroughly. My wife and kids wouldn't touch him. Now I can pet him and rub him like he craves without having to run and wash up. The stench is gone and we didn't even change his bedding. I'm pretty amazed. The cure was cheap, too!"
In the months since he started giving Smokey Joe his leftover coconut oil, Ansley has often skipped a few days. As soon as he does, the odor comes back – and as soon as he resumes feeding coconut oil, the odor disappears.
Pam Gillmore of Austin, Texas, is a raw foods chef who teaches healthful food preparation. "I don´t have a dog of my own because I travel so much," Gillmore says, "but all my friends have dogs. I sell a high-quality organic raw virgin coconut oil from Mexico that has produced super results in people, and they're always asking me how to help their dogs, cats, or other animals. Coconut oil has done wonders with all of them, especially dogs."
Gillmore also reports that dogs who receive coconut oil stop itching and scratching and their skin clears up. "Their coats really shine after they have been on it for a while. Skin tags and moles disappear after a month or two. Their digestion improves. And they don't have a doggie odour - the coconut oil even takes away bad breath."
Gillmore suggests that the best way to give coconut oil is in small doses throughout the day, "a spoonful here or there depending on the dog's weight." She also says that she has not yet met a dog who does not like the oil – "They usually lap it right up," she says. "Some folks fry eggs in it and make a little extra for their dogs, or they put some in leftover oatmeal or add it to the dog's dinner, but many give it straight off the spoon."
Gillmore concludes, "I can't say enough about how coconut oil helps animals. During the last eight years, I've seen over a hundred dogs improve in all kinds of ways because of coconut oil. I've even had people give it to their pet snakes and birds!"
20 rounds of predisone/antibiotic for mange/skin oozing/smelly/bloody mess
I began using unrefined organic virgin coconut for me and for my mothers golden retriever. He is about 12 years old and the poor thing has suffered on at least 20 rounds of predisone/antibiotic for mange/skin oozing/smelly/bloody mess. Every time he has been off of predisone for a week all the symtoms come back including infected crusty ears. I have tried omega oils, tea tree oil, all kinds of skin and internal concoctions. The whole upstairs of the house smelled so bad I got ionic purifiers.
Literally after 2 days of external and internal coconut oil 1 1/2 treatments of teaspoons 2x day given to this dog it's gone. All of it cleared up and its gone. Really gone! The dog has settled down and is looking at me like, thank you, thank you, thank you. Truth be told , I was diagnosed with Epstein barr and have been building up my immunity with transfer factor, cellfood, vitamins, minerals and this is absolutely the fresh cream with stevia on the top of the whole grain cake. I know I am equally as joyfilled for Joey the lab as I am for myself.
Lorraine from South Carolina, USA
Coconut oil healed my dog's interdigital furunculosis!
Date: 12/9/2005 7:57:00 PM
http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=88&i=2425
My dog (a Rhodesian Ridgeback) has had furunculosis for years. Every autumn/winter when the weather made the ground wet and muddy from rain and snow he's had really bad furunculosis and has had to eat antibiotics a couple of times each year.
It's better for a while but a week or two after medication is stopped the problem is back. I felt horrible subjecting him to constant doses of antibiotics like that.
I was reading up on bio virgin coconut oil to learn more on its effect on Candida. I learnt that it had a good antibacterial effect and that even animals benefited from this oil. So I started giving my dog bio virgin coconut oil a couple of months ago and it only took about a week before the blisters started fading and in about two weeks he was completely healed.
So far the furunculosis hasn't returned despite heavy raining and lots of mud and wet grounds. I've been
giving him a large spoonful everyday. He loves it .
Hope this can be of help to some other dog with furunculosis out there!
Read Bruce Fife's latest newsletter.
Animals and the Healing Power of Coconut Oil
Download a printable version of 'Pet Owner Testimonies' here
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How to feed your dog or cat coconut oil
Download a printable version of 'Pet Owner Testimonies' here
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