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A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts!
By Lynn Whittaker
Owner, Bow Wow U
Who would have thought that an oil could actually be good for you, never mind for your dog. Well Coconut Oil has become quite popular among dog fanciers, including myself.
Coconut Oil is made and extracted from a coconut. The coconut is chopped and sun dried or cold pressed, and the oils extracted. There are two types of coconut oils manufactured - Refined and Virgin.
Most Refined oils are manufactured from copra (the dried kernel, or meat of the coconut). There are several ways this type oil can be made, either by smoking, drying, sun or kiln drying, or a combination of these. If copra is used as a starting material, the unrefined coconut oil that is extracted is not ready for consumption. It must be refined, bleached and deodorized (known as RBD). A high heating process is used to deodorize the oil and then filtered through bleaching clays to remove all the impurities. Sodium hydroxide ( a strong alkaline used to make soaps hard, or also known as lye) removes the fatty acids and acts as a preservative to give the oil a longer shelf life.
My own personal preference, is the Virgin Coconut Oil. There are no real industry standards for Virgin Coconut Oil, as there are for Virgin or Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Virgin Coconut Oil is made from fresh coconut meat or what is referred to as non-copra. There is no use of chemicals or high heating for further refining as virgin coconut oil is very stable and has a very long shelf life.
One of the greatest differences between refined and virgin coconut oil is taste and the scent. Virgin coconut oil has a distinct scent of coconut and has a pleasant smooth and creamy flavor and texture. Refined coconut oil is virtually odorless and tasteless.
Virgin coconut oil contains a high amount of lauric acid, a medium chain fatty acid found in mother’s milk that supports a healthy metabolism and is also being studied for its anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Coconut oil contains about 92% saturated fats and only 1% Omega-6, the fat that Americans get way too much of.
Despite the wonders of this miracle oil, tests of the oil’s effect on dogs in clinical trials is not readily available. There have however, been studies performed with rats with specific tumors, that were fed coconut oil and the tumors were significantly reduced.
This oil has a wide variety of canine as well as human uses. It can help reduce arthritis or ligament issues, helps allergies, may help prevent and control diabetes, and is great for the skin. It also is great for breath, assists in digestion, and helps in the reduction of weight. Topically this oil may be applied to cuts, wounds, bug bites, infected ears, and stings. Although my perception is anecdotal, I have fed this to my four dogs for years and have received numerous comments on how beautiful their coats are. One of my boxers was plagued by chin acne and could not grow any hair on her chin, she has managed to grow hair and has had no flare ups of acne since. So next time you are at your local health food store, consider picking up some of this wonderful oil for you and your pet.
As with any product please consult with your veterinarian before using.
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