Last updated

Can Dogs Eat Coconut?

Dalmatian carries a coconut in its teeth.

If you are yet to know, dogs can eat coconut oil. It’s not new that dogs can have a little bit of coconut oil added to their meal or taken plainly. But can dogs eat raw coconut? There are still controversies about whether or not a dog can or should eat coconut flesh. Some people have said that the flesh is too hard for a dog to chew, and the bits could choke the dog. Others have said that there is nothing bad about giving a dog raw coconut. The real answer will shock you.

Is Coconut Bad For Dogs?

No, coconut is not bad for dogs. On the contrary, they are pretty good and beneficial. Many veterinarians advise that coconut should be added as part of a dog's diet because of how beneficial it is. However, this doesn’t mean that you should overload your dog with a whole dish of coconut every day. It is also in the note that you should feed a dog too much coconut. Coconut contains medium-chain triglycerides, and it can cause bloating or some minor gastrointestinal upset. So keep things minimal - use it as a snack rather than a main course.

French bulldog eats from a blue bowl.

What Part Of The Coconut Can Dogs Eat?

We know your dog can eat coconut but what about coconut milk, dried coconut, coconut water, and other products from coconut. Dogs can have coconut milk but also in little amounts because too much of it can lead to loose stooling or diarrhea in your dog. For dried coconuts, they would have been another great food for your dog but most dried coconut contains too much sugar. So it is not a very safe option for your dog.

However, coconut water is a better option - even better than coconut milk. Coconut water helps to boost a dog’s energy level, keeps them hydrated, and provides many needed nutrients for them like iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and good enzymes. However, major no-nos for your dog are the shell. Not only is this part super hard for your dog to bite through, but the hair texture can also choke the dog or block and affect his bowel movements. So can dogs eat coconut? Depends on what form you give him.

Benefits of Coconuts for Dogs

Below are the reasons you should start feeding your dog coconut.

  1. Great skin: Who said your dog's skin doesn’t matter. Yes, it does and coconut can help give your dog great and healthy skin. You can use coconut oil to massage his fur and skin and see the results. Also, if your dog snacks on coconut regularly, there would be skin improvements. Things like dry, itchy skin, flea allergies, hot spots, tick bites, and so on would be healed. Also, your dog's skin would remain hydrated and healthy.
  2. Boosts the immune system: Coconut is filled with antioxidants and this helps to boost your dog's immune system. So that means that your dog would be provided with additional defense to fight against viruses, bacteria, and any other disease. So Is coconut safe for dogs? We’ll have to say it damn well is.
  3. It decreases Inflammation: Coconut flesh is highly rich in Lauric acid. Lauric acid helps fight off viruses, treat infections, and most of all have inflammatory properties. Therefore by taking coconut, you are exposing your dog to an acid that helps to reduce swelling. The acid is also responsible for fast healing (especially from cuts and open wounds) and arthritis (usually caused by inflammation).

A dog eats out of hands.

Conclusion

A healthy dog is a happy dog. That’s why we are always concerned about what they eat and what they ingest. So we hope that this article has helped you choose your dog’s meal better especially when it comes to coconuts. Also if you want to know more about healthy dog care, don’t pass by our best pet product review . We have everything that fits your taste and budget.

Tags: pet care supplies reviews, funny dog bandanas, comfy cone for dogs, cat lion costume, cat ears hot, black leather dog collar, dog behavior collar, white dog bowl, best dog bones, sunglasses for blind dogs