MCT Oil for Dogs

Thanks to the popularity of the Keto diet, you’ve probably heard about Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCT) oils. In fact, people everywhere are going crazy for this all-natural dietary supplement. Now, while the research in animals is less extensive, there is still some evidence to suggest that dogs may enjoy this supplement. 

That’s especially true as they age since studies show that supplementing MCT may counterbalance age-related changes. Likewise, research indicates that MCT oils may help manage canine epilepsy. But to understand how MCT oil for dogs could affect your pet, we must first learn more about MCTs. 

What Exactly Are MCTs?

MCTs are fatty acids derived from various plant-based oils, including coconut oil. In fact, most fat present in coconut oil comes from an MCT concentration. Studies suggest that MCTs can boost metabolism in humans. So these fatty acids be a nice counterbalance to the carbohydrates you find in store-bought dog food.

Since dogs don’t require carbohydrates to survive, yet most dog food manufacturers pack their products with low-cost, nutrient-poor carbohydrates, many pets experience unwanted weight gain. Therefore, adding MCT oils to their food may be worth exploring. 

What Are the Potential Benefits of MCT Oil for Dogs?

Skin Health

Incorporating MCT oil into your dog’s routine could improve his/her skin. You can provide your pet with this boost by adding MCT oil into his/her food or by rubbing it on your dog’s skin. If your dog suffers from hot spots or skin allergies, topical MCT oil might minimize their scratching and irritation.

Improve Digestion

MCTs are easily digestible fats, which means they work very differently than other fats. Your liver breaks them down, not your intestines. Because of this, many vets believe that the MCTs in coconut oil can aid pet digestion. 

Improve Energy

As dogs get older, they lose the ability to efficiently metabolize glucose. This can decrease their physical energy levels, mental acuity and decision-making abilities. But research suggests that the MCTs found in coconut oil can improve energy and mental function in older dogs. 

Helping your aging dog is important since evidence suggests that diet and lifestyle issues contribute to their decline. So, by adding this supplement to your aging dog’s diet, you may help their body adjust to changes in how they metabolize glucose. It could also help them convert to ketone use for energy production. In this way adding MCT oil to your dog’s diet offers a more sustainable way for older dogs to produce and maintain higher energy levels.

Decrease Obesity

Obesity is a major problem for animals in this country. As of 2018, about  56% of dogs in the United States were either overweight or obese. As we mentioned earlier, dogs’ poorly optimized diets, full of carbohydrates and lacking in healthy fats like MCTs, are partially to blame. By supplementing dogs’ diets with MCTs, you may improve their metabolic function. This could change the way their bodies produce energy; it could also help your dog lose weight. In turn, your pet may reduce his or her risk for bone health concerns, arthritis, and other conditions tied to obesity. 

CBD Oil and Dogs

Not sure where to source MCT oil? It’s often combined with Cannabidiol (CBD) oil in hemp-extracted. Now, if you’re not certain about CBD’s origins, here’s a quick refresher. CBD is one of the many compounds that form naturally in cannabis plants. Today, it’s a popular supplement for many humans. And for plenty of pets as well. That’s why, if you want to try MCT oil and source it from a CBD product, you may want to ask your vet if adding CBD to your pet’s routine would be a good decision. 

CBD With MCT Oil

Now, remember, we started off this post by talking about MCT oil for dogs. And now you know that many pets also try CBD extracts. So, you may not be surprised to learn that, many pet owners try combining the two, to maximize their supplementing routine without trying to get too many additions into their pets’ diets. 

But why do so many CBD products include MCT oil? Well, CBD isn’t so easy for your body to digest. That’s why it works best alongside carrier oils, such as MCT, arguably the most effective and best carrier oil for CBD. 

As you can see, there are so many different reasons to thinks about MCT oil supplementation for yourself and for your dogs. This is especially true as pets and humans age. Because, while there is still a lot of research needed to be done, there is enough evidence to suggest that using MCT oil as a supplement for dogs should not cause them harm. 

Still, MCT oil isn’t the only fat your dog needs: it doesn’t contain enough omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids to sustain your dog’s health. Therefore, you should think about adding a high-quality fish oil supplement to your pet’s diet. You may even switch to a high-quality, fatty fish formula like salmon in addition to giving them MCT oil. Just speak to your veterinarian before making any changes or additions to your pet’s existing diet. And be careful not to add too much MCT oil to your pet’s diet, since this could lead to stomach upset or messy diarrhea. 

How to Supplement with Pets

Many companies combine CBD and MCT oil into a tincture that makes it easy to help your dog supplement, and comes with a longer shelf-life than a CBD-tincture alone. This way, you are not only getting CBD oil for your dog, but you are getting high-quality MCT oil that won’t expire for an extended time period. Plus, in this form, it’s easy to use the included dropper to add a supplement to your dog’s daily meals. 

Of course, there are so many different product forms available on the market to choose from. So if one dosing method doesn’t agree with your dog, it’s easy to find a more convenient option. Just be sure to look for a manufacturer or a brand that is not looking to cut corners. You want to be sure you are getting only the essential ingredients needed in the tincture. Also, keep an eye out for products and companies that have a strict quality assurance and offer a third-party, lab-tested certificate of analysis. This should give you the peace of mind you need to know that you are getting accurate dosing each and every time. And to know that you’re giving your pet a safe and high-quality supplement.