To use coconut oil topically, apply it to the skin about once a week, and let it be absorbed for a few minutes. After five minutes or so, rinse your dog off. If he still feels excessively greasy or oily, you can follow up with a light shampoo and rinse.
Coconut oil is generally safe for dogs to eat in small amounts or have applied to their skin or fur.
Coconut Oil for Your Dog's Paws
If you find that your pup's paws are dry or cracked, you can use coconut oil to help soothe and heal them. Make sure to rub the coconut oil thoroughly into your dog's paws, or your dog will mistake this treatment for a snack and lick off all of the oil!
Coconut oil can help protect their paws from getting sore and irritated. It not only moisturizes the skin on the paws, but it can act as a protective balm, and create a barrier between your dog's paws, and any irritants.
Side Effects of Coconut Oil for Dogs
If you give your dog too much coconut oil, they can get diarrhea. Your veterinarian will let you know a healthy amount to give your dog. In some cases, your dog might have an allergy to coconut oil. Signs of an allergy include an upset stomach and itching.
To use coconut oil topically, apply it to the skin about once a week, and let it be absorbed for a few minutes. After five minutes or so, rinse your dog off. If he still feels excessively greasy or oily, you can follow up with a light shampoo and rinse.
While coconut oil is generally safe for dogs, some canines may have an allergic reaction to the supplement. Additionally, giving a dog too much coconut oil in the diet could result in diarrhea. Smith warns against giving coconut oil to dogs prone to pancreatitis, as it can be a risk due to its high fat content.
Coconut oil for allergies in dogs is an effective way to help dogs with skin allergies and infections. Many veterinarians, including holistic veterinarians, recommend this type of essential oil to help treat a wide range of skin ailments.
If your dog won't wear booties, try applying Vaseline or a paw balm to their paws. These are good salt barriers. Don't forget to wipe down their paws after being outdoors, even after short walks.
Apple cider vinegar is a great remedy for stopping dog licking paws. Because of its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, apple cider vinegar can help soothe the skin and eliminate possible irritants that may be causing the dog to lick.
“The most common cause of paw licking is generally environmental allergies, also called atopic dermatitis,” explains Dr. Flynn. “Other causes of licking paws can include ectopic parasites such as fleas or mites, referred pain from arthritis—licking the feet or limbs since they can't reach the painful joint.”
Shea butter: Derived from the fat of shea nuts, shea butter is well-known for its highly moisturizing properties. This ingredient can penetrate deeply into the paw pad and hydrate from within. Shea butter is not toxic to dogs, so if they lick it off their paws, it won't make them sick.
Coconut oil is considered to have natural antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties,8 so if your dog has cracked pads or other minor cuts or bruises, it can be safely used as a natural topical antibiotic to help heal and soothe those wounds.
Coconut oil does not kill fleas, but it serves as an excellent flea and tick repellant. One of the saturated fats that are found in coconut oil is called lauric acid, which is a critical ingredient in preventing fleas from feasting on the blood of your beloved pooch.
4. Coconut oil. Coconut oil has both microbial and antifungal properties that can help treat ringworm infections. It's an extremely effective topical home remedy for ringworm and infections with other fungi, like candida.
Treatments may include topical therapy such as shampoo washes, foot soaks, or wipes for secondary bacterial and yeast infections. Oral antibiotics and anti-fungals may be required for more severe cases.
Primary Cause
Swollen paws are often caused by a foreign object getting trapped between the pads/toes of the dog's foot. Insect or spider bites, puncture wounds, broken toes, fractured claws, and constant licking/chewing (as with allergies or other source of chronic irritation) are other common causes.
Chamomile and Herbal Tea Soaks
Chamomile, calendula, and green tea have properties that soothe and cool irritated skin and reduce inflammation, making them great additions in a dog bath for itchy skin. These soaks are best for dogs who have hot, itchy patches of skin that are at risk of getting rubbed raw.
In particular, coconut oil has been found to help relieve joint pain among canine arthritis sufferers, which is welcome news for many pet owners.
If you suspect that your pet has fleas, massage a generous amount of coconut oil onto the skin and hair of the animal, making sure to coat the skin well. Leave the oil on for at least 8 hours, then wash your pet with a natural, gentle shampoo.
Coconut oil can be applied topically to treat many skin conditions in dogs such as dermatitis from flea allergies and yeast. It speeds healing, disinfects cuts, hydrates dry skin, reduce flaking and it's antifungal properties will also eliminate yeast. It is also a natural deodorant and will reduce shedding.
Therapeutic coconut oil is different. It repels and kills fleas and ticks on contact – eliminating harmful side effects. Since therapeutic coconut oil is non-toxic, free of chemicals, and soothing to your pet's skin, it's the perfect solution to the pest problem.