Let Your Canine Go Crazy For Coconuts!

For centuries, coconuts have been a staple ingredient in tropical cuisines and cocktails around the world, especially in the Pacific Island regions because of its unique flavoring. However, it's not only the taste or smell of the coconut that makes this hard shell fruit unique. For holistic healing doctors, for thousands of years, it has been merely an effective and "natural medicine in a shell" for them to prescribe. For patients who have followed a traditional coconut-based diet, surprisingly, do not suffer from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other illnesses that modern Americans are plagued with each year.

Coconuts being known to be rich with medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), is a lauric acid used by the body to make the same disease-fighting fatty acid derivative "monolaurin" that babies make from the lauric acid they get from their mothers’ milk. The monoglyceride monolaurin is the same substance that keeps infants from getting viral, bacterial, or protozoal infections. Therefore, it's the only natural compound known to fight both viral and bacterial infections internally and externally; unlike antibiotics that can only be used for bacterial infections.

Within the past decade, unrefined coconut meat and oil has been introduced to canine diets who suffer from varies health issues and surprisingly, pet owners have been seeing incredible, positive results just by adding unrefined, organic coconut oil to their dog's diet.

As I mentioned in my previous blog, coconut oil is one of the supplements that should not be overlooked, especially when you have a dog that is prone or diagnosed with cancer. What many people don't realize is that this "super food" is highly packed with other amazing health benefits that are now being recognized to holistically heal pets that face many other medical problems as well. And, to boot, dogs go crazy for coconut!

So, what can coconut oil do for your dog when added to their diet, you ask?

• Reduces the risk of cancer and other degenerative conditions as it is considered a very alkaline food source.

• Helps fight heart disease

• Improves digestion and nutrient absorption

• Heals digestive disorders like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and colitis

• Contains powerful antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal agents that prevent infection and disease

• Relieves arthritis

• Prevents and treats yeast and fungal infections

• Prevents and treats viral infections

• Helps balance the body’s metabolism and ph levels

• Promotes normal thyroid function

• Helps prevent or control diabetes

• Rejuvenates the skin

• Reduces allergic reactions

• Supplies fewer calories than other fats

• Is 400 times more powerful than vitamin E.

Additionally, coconut oil can be applied topically and offers the healing benefits of:

• Disinfects cuts

• Promotes wound healing

• Improves skin health and coat condition

• Deodorizes whatever it touches (bad breath, yeasty smelling ears, etc.)

• Clears up warts, eczema, flea allergies, contact dermatitis or other allergic reactions, ear mites, ear infections, ringworm, yeast infections, skin fungus and other skin disorders

• Is an excellent moisturizer for cracked paws and noses

Personally, I have seen the amazing results that coconut oil does (topically) on one of my pets. Years ago, one of my pet's, a teacup yorkie named Mia, developed a strange, small black mole on her stomach. Within a week, it grew significantly that it started to cover one of her nipples. I took her to my vet who could not determine what it was, but wanted to surgically remove it. Since her liver enzymes were elevated and knew a local numbing agent was not going to be enough for removal (as she was so small and such a wiggle worm) she would have been put under anesthesia. That certainly was not going to be an option. It wasn't until the next day that I personally came across information pertaining to how coconut oil can be used for such things. I immediately started applying an organic version of coconut oil to her belly three times daily. Within one week, it simply fell off; leaving no scar or mark. It has been three years since that strange growth appeared and has never grown back. This is just my personal experience with it, but have read countless testimonials on such similar situations with pets who have naturally healed with the use of coconut oil.

When buying coconut oil, ensure that:

• It is unrefined or “virgin”, which is made from fresh coconuts. Pressed by hand using traditional methods or manufactured in state-of-the-art factories, virgin coconut oil retains most of the nutrients found in fresh coconut

• It is in a glass jar, not a plastic one.

• It's colorless when liquid and pure white when solid, never yellow or pink and it should not contain any off color residue at the top when solid. Coconut oil will liquidly naturally when its in an environment above 75 degrees F.

How to administer to your pet:

Solid or liquid coconut oil can be added to food at any meal or given between meals. The optimum dose for dogs is about 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight daily, or 1 tablespoon per 30 pounds. These are general guidelines, as some dogs need less and others more. But don’t start with these amounts. Instead, introduce coconut oil a little at a time in divided doses. Because coconut oil kills harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, yeasts, and fungi, the burden of removing dead organisms can trigger symptoms of detoxification. Headaches, fatigue, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms are common in humans who consume too much too fast and similar symptoms can occur in dogs. Even in healthy dogs, large amounts of coconut oil can cause diarrhea or greasy stools while the body adjusts. Start with small amounts, such as ¼ teaspoon per day for small dogs or puppies and 1 teaspoon for large dogs. Gradually increase the amount every few days. If your dog seems tired or uncomfortable or has diarrhea, reduce the amount temporarily.

Coconut oil isn’t the only coconut product that’s good for dogs. Fresh or dried coconut is an excellent source of dietary fiber, and dogs enjoy and benefit from the same coconut flakes, coconut flour, coconut cream, coconut milk, shredded coconut, and coconut spreads used by their human companions. Just be sure the products are unsweetened and free from chemical preservatives.

A 14 oz. jar of organic virgin coconut oil will be re-stocked by Friday, August 24 in our store for $19.99.