Canine nutrition, like human nutrition, is highly susceptible to trends. In predictable cycles, specific ingredients get hyped as superfoods and make their way into formulations marketed as health foods for dogs – until the next superfood comes into focus and the cycle repeats itself. There’s significant overlap between the superfoods of human and canine nutrition, especially in the realm of fats and oils. Human nutrition has seen a major shift in its dominant messaging around fat in recent years. While decades of messaging have demonized saturated fat as dangerous to cardiovascular health, newer research suggests it can be a healthy component of a balanced diet when included in appropriate amounts. Conversely, sugar, processed grains, high-fructose corn syrup and many seed oils are under increasing scrutiny for their roles in destabilizing blood sugar and promoting chronic inflammation.
As human nutrition has made peace with saturated fat as an energy source and stable cooking fat, coconut oil has become a contemporary staple. Long used in traditional Asian diets, coconut oil was popularized in Western diets through its rock-star status in the Paleo movement, particularly in the form of extra-virgin coconut oil. Today, it’s well established as a superfood and a kind of panacea with a multitude of topical uses to boot: conditioning hair, moisturizing skin and supporting oral hygiene via oil pulling. It also carries multiple health claims: antimicrobial activity; a quick source of energy that may partially bypass digestion; and a reputation as a stable cooking fat. As with many nutrition trends, coconut oil’s star status in human diets has been carried over into the canine realm. What is it about coconut oil that lends it superfood status for humans and for dogs? Let’s explore this question in depth and get to the bottom of whether coconut oil is indeed a superfood for dogs (and humans), or whether its status is based on unfounded hype.
Coconut Oil’s Composition
Below is a table summarising coconut oil’s fatty acid profile per 100g of oil:
What you might notice from the chart is that the majority of coconut oil is saturated fat, which is important information that will become helpful as we stress test the hype surrounding two of coconut oil’s alleged health benefits.
Is Coconut Oil Antimicrobial?
Coconut oil is composed of about 90-95% saturated fat, nearly half of which is lauric acid (~47.5%). (Note: The USDA database lists coconut oil at ~83% saturated fat with a lower lauric acid value than many published analyses, which often report 90-92% saturated fat and higher lauric content. Figures vary depending on the source.) One of the predominant health claims surrounding coconut oil is its supposed antimicrobial activity, which is attributed to its high lauric acid content. It’s important to note, however, that lauric acid itself is a saturated fat without demonstrated antimicrobial effects. Under certain enzymatic conditions, lauric acid can be converted into monolaurin, a monoglyceride with proven antimicrobial properties. The issue is that while humans (and likely dogs) are capable of producing monolaurin from lauric acid, we don’t know how efficient this process is or what proportion of dietary lauric acid is successfully converted. Note that coconut oil itself contains no monolaurin – just lauric acid, which may or may not be converted into monolaurin in the body. Moreover, nearly all the research on monolaurin’s ability to destroy bacteria, viruses and fungi has been conducted in laboratory settings (“in vitro”), not within living humans or dogs (“in vivo”). Taken together, this important context challenges and largely undermines the popular narrative that coconut oil itself has reliable antimicrobial benefits.
Is Coconut Oil A Rich Source of Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs)?
While we’ve established that coconut oil is mostly saturated fat, it’s worth pointing out that one of the biggest health claims surrounding it rests on the idea that it’s a rich source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs are defined as triglycerides made up of fatty acids with chain lengths of 6 to 10 carbon atoms (caproic, caprylic, and capric acids). The lauric acid (C12:0) that is abundant in coconut oil, while sometimes classed as an MCT, is mostly digested as a long-chain fatty acid with only 25-30% of it being metabolized like an MCT.
So where does the confusion come in? MCTs are popular in sports nutrition because they provide a rapid source of energy. Unlike most dietary fats, MCTs are absorbed directly through the lining of the small intestine and transported via the portal vein to the liver, where they are rapidly oxidized and converted into ketones (an immediate energy source). By contrast, most fats, including the majority of lauric acid and the other longer chain saturated fats in coconut oil, are digested in the small intestine, where they are emulsified by bile salts and broken down by pancreatic lipase. The resulting fatty acids are then packaged into chylomicrons and transported through the lymphatic system before reaching the bloodstream and liver. This longer pathway explains why other fats are slower to metabolize compared to MCTs.
This efficient route of absorption is what makes purified MCT oil so attractive to athletes and nutritionists. It’s a targeted source of quick energy and research also suggests that it offers cognitive benefits. Here’s a study that links MCTs to cognitive benefits in senior dogs. But here’s the key distinction: coconut oil contains only a small proportion of true MCTs (caprylic, caproic and capric acids, totaling around 12%). That’s nowhere near enough to qualify as “MCT oil.” The majority of coconut oil, whether refined or virgin, is digested the standard way: through the small intestine just like other long-chain fats. The root of this misunderstanding likely comes from the fact that commercially available MCT oils are often produced from coconut oil, but consist exclusively of the fractioned MCTs in concentrated form. For example, the MCT oil in my own kitchen is labeled as being derived from 100% organic coconut oil, but consists of purified caprylic acid. Furthermore, research bodies that classify lauric acid as an MCT exacerbate the confusion. Ultimately, recognizing this important distinction helps us to see coconut oil for what it is, rather than how it’s often misrepresented in both human and canine nutrition circles. This doesn’t mean coconut oil is “bad.” It just means coconut oil is not MCT oil!
Is Coconut Oil Appropriate for All Dogs?
With a background in holistic nutrition for humans, I place a lot of emphasis on using natural, whole-food ingredients to support the health of both people and animals. Personally, I reach for coconut oil in a variety of situations – especially in its purest form as unrefined, extra-virgin coconut oil. If I have the choice between coconut oil and a commercial product made from synthetic ingredients, I’ll usually choose coconut oil by default. But is it always the better choice and is it appropriate for all dogs? Let’s get into it.
Topical Uses
Starting with topical applications, coconut oil is often touted as an effective skin and coat moisturizer, ear cleaner, toothpaste alternative and balm for dry noses and paw pads. Coconut oil is an effective emollient that can lock in moisture and form a thin protective barrier on skin and hair. Extra-virgin coconut oil contains polyphenols and antioxidant phytochemicals that may be anti-inflammatory. And of course, there are its alleged antimicrobial properties that we’ve already discussed. The added appeal is that coconut oil is generally safe if licked off, except in the rare case of allergy. Still, it’s worth remembering that coconut oil is essentially pure fat and every lick adds calories. With obesity being one of the most common health issues in dogs today, it makes sense to use coconut oil sparingly, or avoid it altogether in overweight pets. Fat provides about 9 kcal per gram, more than twice the energy density of protein or carbohydrate (~4 kcal/g), so even small amounts can add up. Beyond weight gain, added fat can be risky for dogs with a history of or predisposition to pancreatitis, which can be triggered by sudden or excessive fat intake. For this reason, it’s best to check with your veterinarian before feeding or applying coconut oil if your dog has relevant health concerns.
As a Cooking Oil
This brings us to dietary use. If you want to take advantage of coconut oil’s best qualities, I would recommend using it in moderation as a stable cooking fat in homemade diets: so long as your dog tolerates fat generally and coconut oil specifically (every dog is different). While most dogs do best having their meals prepared without cooking oils through steaming, baking, or poaching, if you’re going to use a small amount of fat or oil for cooking, coconut oil is a solid option. Its relatively high smoke point and high saturated fat content make it resistant to heat-induced oxidation. That stability is important because when fats oxidize, they become rancid and can generate free radicals, which contribute to inflammation and tissue damage. In contrast, coconut oil is far less fragile than many seed oils, which are prone to oxidative damage when heated. On top of this, coconut oil is usually palatable to dogs, so they won’t be put off by its distinct flavor. And of course, these same reasons explain why coconut oil is a great cooking fat for human meals, too. Note that refined coconut oil (called coconut oil) has a higher smoke point and more neutral taste compared to extra-virgin coconut oil and for these reasons is preferable for cooking. Choose organic if opting for refined coconut oil to ensure that no chemical solvents are used in the refining process, which could make their way into the fat!
As a Part of Canine Meals
In the vast majority of cases, fat is a healthful feature of the canine diet, providing energy and improving the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) that are critical to skin and coat health. And as a stand alone dietary ingredient, coconut oil, particularly unrefined extra-virgin coconut oil, is a high quality fat that can be used sparingly as a source of saturated fat when (and if) called for. For example, in homemade meals built around white fish as the predominant protein source, a targeted amount of coconut oil could be used to bring up the fat level and energy content of the otherwise low-fat meal.
It’s important, however, for the total fat in a dog’s diet to be thoughtfully selected so as to deliver essential fats. Coconut oil does not contain any fatty acids in meaningful amounts that are essential for dogs: the omega-6 oil linoleic acid and the omega-3 fats EPA & DHA (which while not considered essential, are recognized for their anti-inflammatory and neural and eye benefits to dogs). Because it’s easy for dogs to acquire saturated fat in their diets from animal proteins like beef, lamb, or dark poultry meat, it’s not likely that a dog would need supplemental saturated fat. The only example I can think of where saturated fat might be lacking is in a diet based on white fish or white skinless chicken meat. But before you take it upon yourself to start adding coconut oil to seemingly low fat homemade meals, be sure to first check with a canine nutritionist!
If you do go the route of including targeted amounts of coconut oil in your DIY meals, treats or biscuits (not as a cooking oil), opt for extra-virgin coconut oil as it contains a higher amount of beneficial phytochemicals such as polyphenols and antioxidants (both anti-inflammatory) compared with refined coconut oil. It’s also more aromatic than refined coconut oil, something that the canine nose will appreciate. In addition to choosing organic should your budget allow it, look for sustainability certifications (e.g., Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance) if you’re concerned about environmental impact, fair labour and biodiversity.
Less is More
It’s important to keep in mind that feeding too much fat, whether from coconut oil or other sources, can introduce the risk of potential illness for dogs. A common short-term consequence of consuming excess fat is gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea, soft stools, or vomiting. In dogs predisposed to pancreatitis, even modest amounts of added fat may potentially trigger this painful and potentially dangerous condition. In susceptible dogs, excessive fat intake can contribute to elevated blood triglyceride levels (hyperlipidemia), which may increase the risk of pancreatitis and place additional strain on the liver. (More reasons why, in most cases, “less is more” and why it makes sense to seek the advice of a canine nutritionist.)
In case it seems like I’m unduly bashing coconut oil, or fat in general (it’s nothing personal I promise), I want to point to a study that shows that coconut oil specifically has been associated with benefits to canine intestinal health. In one clinical trial, dogs fed homemade diets with 10% of their metabolizable energy from virgin coconut oil showed improvements in chronic enteropathy (intestinal inflammation), thought to be linked to shifts in their gut microbiome. If your dog has been diagnosed with chronic enteropathy, this study may be worth discussing with your veterinarian. And for dog owners generally, let’s hope for continued research into the potential impacts of coconut oil upon the canine and human microbiome!
That’s a Wrap
So there you have it: we’ve managed to debunk two of the biggest health claims often attributed to coconut oil: its supposed antimicrobial action and its status as an MCT-rich oil, while reinforcing its usefulness as a stable cooking fat! Along the way, we’ve also looked at how canine and human bodies metabolize fats in general and MCTs in particular. Hopefully we also better appreciate the importance of feeding targeted amounts of fat: prioritizing essential fatty acids first while mitigating the risks of overfeeding. Most of all, I hope you walk away with the awareness that every dog is unique and rather than applying blanket statements about the universal benefits of “superfoods,” it’s important to consider each dog as an individual and to approach nutrition on a case-by-case basis. Thanks so much for reading!