FYI To All: Coat = Sunglasses

[Raven]

In an earlier thread, coconut oil was mentioned. Thor was getting salmon oil, grain-free Canidae and lots of raw veggies. Ran out of the salmon oil (too expensive for the budget right now) so he's been getting pure coconut oil, extra-virgin olive oil and ground flaxseed. I know fish oil has better omega chains, but WOW--his coat has become SUPER soft and SUPER shiny (you need sunglasses when you look at him!).

His coat was never "soft." Christie knows...not sure how to describe it....What a difference. Don't know if it's helping with his feet injuries on frozen ground/icy divets; there's been nothing but a lot of mud.

Now I reeeeeeeaaaally have a hard time keeping my hands off him. Love rubbin' and messin' with that fur!

[Lauren]

Oooh, that sounds wonderful! I too have just run out of salmon oil and am waiting for another order. I do have coconut oil (soap making). Do you use just a tablespoon a day? or twice daily with meals?

[Sugars Mom]

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Now I reeeeeeeaaaally have a hard time keeping my hands off him. Love rubbin' and messin' with that fur!

Nice! I just started adding coconut oil to Sugar's food too...we'll see what happens. Her coat is already pretty soft/shiny.

Glad to hear its making a diff with Thor!

[Schlussdibusti]

I like switching food and supplements around. Beside being really boring to eat the same day in, day out, even if it is raw, organic, whatever, the nutritional needs change with the season, environment, age, activity level, exposure to virus/bacteria the body needs to deal with. Rotating and switching around might be the best way to compensate for this. Just my

[alspyce]

Eva

[Raven]

Lauren...how much depends upon who's feeding which meal. It's supposed to be his Dad's domain to feed the meals, but he doesn't like horsin' around with the coconut oil (solid at 76-degrees and below). So the dad-guy reaches for the easy fix: EVOO. I do see that he gets coconut oil everyday...at least once a day...a tablespoon. (Thor will do cart-wheels for it. It's sooooo hard for him to mind his manners when I'M slathered in coconut or EVOO oil!) Between the two oils, three or four TBS a day. And two TBS of ground flax daily.

I really am stunned at the difference. He was shiny before--just didn't have a very soft coat all over. But, man, the shine now is just remarkable. And the feel of his fur now is like a rabbit's. I thought the texture of his coat was destined to be as it was...genetics. Wrong!

[Schlussdibusti]

Wow, that's a LOT ! 3-4 tablespoons of oil and 2 tablespoons of ground flax! But he must have needed it otherwise the stool would be very soft.

My guys like to peel and crack coconuts they find and eat the white meat. But I learned to stay away during the "peeling" process. Watch out for low flying coconuts!

[Raven]

Coconut shells would be short work for the big guys, I suppose. No one has ever suffered a cut from the shells?

I was worried about his stools: it took a long time for his to get and stay well-formed (or not go splat once they hit the ground), but so far, so good.

[Schlussdibusti]

Coconut shells would be short work for the big guys, I suppose. No one has ever suffered a cut from the shells?

No cuts in last 14 years suffered. The coconuts my guys find are usually fresh off a palm tree with the green plant matter on it they peel off by getting a little nibbled off, hold it by it and shake the hell out of it. When the plant matter peels off during the process, coconut goes flying - watch out ! The coconut shell underneath the plant matter is usually not so hard that it does splinter into sharp pieces because the oily white meat inside is attached to it and the coconut water keeps it moist. We are not talking about the coconuts you see in the grocery store which are already a century old and dry.

[Dutchringgirl]

hmm, Ill have to try coconut oil. I have never thought of feeding coconuts though! although it would be quite hard for me to get them

[Raven]

I fear, Lisa, that you and I are destined for the century old nuts. (Hmmmm, sounds like a couple of neighbors....)

[Schlussdibusti]

hmm, Ill have to try coconut oil. I have never thought of feeding coconuts though! although it would be quite hard for me to get them

Fresh coconuts are some of the few perks of living in 80 + % humidity with alligators, moskitoes, fire ants amd "purple heads" driving their Lincoln Towncars out of drive ways and side street without looking.

[Dutchringgirl]

Fresh coconuts are some of the few perks of living in 80 + % humidity with alligators, moskitoes and fire ants.

hmm,, Ill take no coconuts over alligators and fire ants.

[Sugars Mom]

The extra virgin coconut oil you can find at any health food store. Sugar loves it!

[alspyce]

Start slow and build up to desired amounts with the coconut oil. (I feed 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds body weight.) If you start with too much you can have a detox reaction/diarrhea, etc.
Lots of dogs have allergies to Flaxseed/Linseed, so if you have allergy problems I'd stay away from that.

[kchristy]

I think I will try some of the coconut oil too. I give Merlin vitamins in his food daily, but I bet the oil would really make his coat shine I wish I could find him a coconut, I will have to try, he would love it! I think even the century old ones, he would be amused with getting into the coconut!

[Sugars Mom]

Here is a link about coconut oil

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/th ... conut-oil/

[kchristy]

wow, that makes me want to start taking it lol

[Schlussdibusti]

Although I agree 100% with the great health benefit of coconut oil, disclaimer like this at the end of the article make me always chuckle: "Sponsored by our friends at CoCoTherapy – an all-natural and earth conscious company". Chocolate companies "sponsor" the research of the health benefits of chocolate and voila, it's a health food. Hill's teaching the nutrition course at vet schools, voila most vets selling it.

How about taking the coconut oil in form of Pina Coladas? The alcohol in there is also anti-bacteria, -virus and -fungal.

[felixone123]