{"id":8211,"date":"2021-02-16T20:00:11","date_gmt":"2021-02-16T20:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/petdedicated.com\/?p=8211"},"modified":"2021-02-16T20:00:11","modified_gmt":"2021-02-16T20:00:11","slug":"can-coconut-oil-help-a-dogs-itchy-skin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petdedicated.com\/?p=8211","title":{"rendered":"Can Coconut Oil Help a Dog\u2019s Itchy Skin?"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

The post Can Coconut Oil Help a Dog’s Itchy Skin?<\/a> by Marybeth Bittel<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n

These days, most people have heard about the natural goodness of coconut oil. But up until a few years ago, I never realized I could use coconut oil for dogs<\/a>, particularly that I could use coconut oil for a dog’s itchy skin. Sure, I knew plenty about the health advantages of products such as\u00a0safflower and olive oils<\/a>. But then coconut oil entered my life in a hugely helpful way, thanks to our rescue pup Maizy.<\/p>\n

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Coconut oil for a dog’s itchy skin? Here’s how it works. Photography \u00a9R.Tsubin | Getty Images.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Using coconut oil for a dog’s itchy skin \u2014 one success story<\/h3>\n

Due to her hound<\/a> heritage, Maizy is what I like to call a serial sniffer. She dissects the dog parks every spring, following the scents of squirrels, rabbits, other canines, and who knows what else. Often, she gets so enthralled with this activity that she barely responds to her own name.<\/p>\n

One day, Maizy\u2019s investigations led her straight into an overgrown thicket of weeds and wildflowers \u2026 and that led to an angry-looking rash along her ears and neck. The medication used to treat her skin left it overly dry, and I guess overly itchy as well. Because she scratched, and scratched, and scratched. After several sleep-deprived weeks of this prickly, pervasive problem \u2014 and after trying a series of medicated ointments and shampoos, to no avail \u2014 we finally visited a holistic vet.<\/p>\n

Related: The Benefits of Cinnamon For Dogs<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

His suggestion for using coconut oil for a dog’s itchy skin surprised me. Treat this issue from the inside out, he said. That meant easing up on carbs and grains to minimize the yeast on Maizy\u2019s skin. It also meant feeding her a serving of pure, virgin coconut oil every single day, and rubbing some onto her skin and fur. We tried this for a few weeks, and WOW. Not only did Maizy lose that yeasty, bag-o-Fritos \u201cdoggie\u201d smell<\/a>, her skin cleared up and her coat looked glossier than ever. Of course, the moment our other rescue pup, Grant, smelled the coconut oil, he wanted in on the action. So now they both reap coconut oil\u2019s tasty benefits on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

Why coconut oil for dogs? And why coconut oil for a dog’s itchy skin?<\/h3>\n

So, what are the benefits of coconut oil for dogs, and coconut oil for a dog’s itchy skin? According to integrative pet care expert Dr. Karen Becker<\/a>, natural virgin coconut oil has antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiprotozoal properties. That means it can reduce yeast<\/a> and fungus on contact, both inside and out; and it\u2019s also very healing for irritated skin, hot spots<\/a>, abrasions and cracked paws<\/a>. The “virgin\u201d variety typically starts with fresh coconut meat, so it\u2019s not subjected to chemical processes such as\u00a0bleaching or filtering. This makes it safe for dogs, cats, and humans to ingest in appropriate amounts.<\/p>\n

My vet cited Dr. Becker\u2019s work, explaining that coconut oil is rich in a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) called lauric acid. This substance is most commonly found in the milk of mother mammals, and one of its primary functions is to boost the immune system. That\u2019s why coconut oil is so effective at helping to clear up bacterial and viral infections. Like pumpkin<\/a>, it can also soothe digestion and upset stomachs. And just as the vet predicted, it\u2019s given both my dogs super-soft fur.<\/p>\n

\"Coconut<\/p>\n

Now that we know that coconut oil could work to help a dog’s itchy skin, how do we give it to our dogs? Photography by Africa Studio \/ Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

How to use coconut oil for a dog’s itchy skin \u2014 and other ailments<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s always smart to start small when feeding your pup anything new \u2014 especially coconut oil, which my own dogs would gobble up without proper supervision. At my house, we began with about 1\/4 teaspoon and increased gradually to 1\/2 teaspoon per dog, once or twice per day.<\/p>\n

You can also:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Drizzle a bit over your pup\u2019s food, because coconut oil liquefies easily at room temperature.<\/li>\n
  2. Mold a small blob around pills or tablets your pet might be otherwise tempted to refuse.<\/li>\n
  3. Rub a little between your palms, run it over your pet\u2019s fur, and brush lightly. Work the rest into your own hands for serious skin-softening benefits.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \"Coconut<\/p>\n

    Nutty Nuggets. Photography by Marybeth Bittel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    Nutty Nuggets* \u2014 a treat featuring coconut oil for dogs<\/h3>\n

    And here\u2019s an easy recipe for a no-bake treat that\u2019s a huge hit with Grant and Maizy because, naturally, it contains \u2026 coconut oil. You can refrigerate these yummy bites or freeze them and thaw as needed. They\u2019re even safe for pet parents to sample. Ummm \u2026 not like I would know anything about that.<\/p>\n

    INGREDIENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n