Can Dogs Have Coconut Water? Coconut Facts for Your Canine

Is coconut water good for your dog? You may have heard that it is from another dog parent and are curious about these health benefits. The simple answer is that yes, it is. Coconut water can have many different health benefits for your dog. Not only this, it is a great source of hydration for your pup. Often, water just is not enough to hydrate, particularly on a hot summer’s day. The same goes for your dog! Filled with electrolytes, coconut water is a super great way of replenishing electrolytes in your dog, which is particularly important if they have done lots of exercise on that day. This is the complete guide to explaining the potential health benefits coconut water can have for your dog, along with some facts you should be aware of! Keep reading below to find out more!

Table of Contents

• What Is Coconut Water?
• Can Coconut Water Be Given To Dogs?
• What Are The Benefits Of Giving Your Dog Coconut Water?
  • Electrolytes
  • Immune System Boost
  • Skin and Coat
  • Ligaments and Joints
  • Dogs and Food for Humans
• Different Types Of Coconut Water
• Can Dogs Have Coconut Water – Answered!
• FAQs

What Is Coconut Water?

Firstly, we’ll start off with what exactly coconut water actually is!

Coconut water is just the water which is found within a fresh coconut. As suggested by the name, the drink is primarily water. Approximately 95% of it is made up of water, and the other 5% is composed of many different important nutrients and vitamins. Mostly, it is made up of carbohydrates, but it also contains many B vitamins, Vitamin C, potassium, and thiamin.

Coconut water is different to coconut milk. This is more cream-colored and thicker than coconut water. Coconut milk is created from grinding the pulp of a coconut. This is an important distinction to make because coconut water is much more mild and a low-fat drink, while coconut milk can be high in saturated fat and oil. It is more decadent and overconsumption can be unhealthy.

Can Coconut Water Be Given To Dogs?

Coconut water can in fact be given to dogs without causing any harm to your pooch. In fact, it can actually have many different health benefits thanks to the vitamins and minerals which are found in coconut water.

Coconut water has some great health properties, such as important immune boosting properties. Often, pet owners will use coconut water as a way to help their dog recover from a surgery after they have undergone any procedures.

Saying this, you don’t need to wait for your dog to undergo a procedure for them to reap the benefits of drinking coconut water.

Coconut water has also been shown to help fight off viruses faster! It contains lots of electrolytes which are great for hydration and replenishing them. Therefore, coconut water is a great treat for your dog after doing some rigorous exercise, so you could give it to them after a big day out, such as a hike or long walk!

On the other hand, coconut milk is not very good for your dog. Therefore, it is essential to highlight the difference.

Coconut milk is quite high in calories and if you were to regularly give your dog coconut milk, this may cause them to gain extra weight. There is a high number of oils in coconut milk also. This is not good for your dog if overconsumed (nor is it good for you, in fact!)

The overconsumption of excess oil can actually have a poor effect on your dog’s digestion and may likely give them an upset stomach. They may also suffer from bloating, vomiting, or diarrhea, which can be a big hassle for you to clean. Not only this but your poor pooch will be feeling the painful effects of this. This is especially true for dogs that have more sensitive stomachs.

Overall, you are better off sticking to coconut water for your dog.

What Are The Benefits Of Giving Your Dog Coconut Water?

As I have briefly outlined, coconut water can have some positive health benefits for your dog. It can also serve as a refreshing drink you can give your dog during the hot summer months as a little treat.

Below I will explain further some of the great health benefits which coconut water can offer to your dog.

Electrolytes

There is a multitude of electrolytes found in coconut water which are minerals that are essential for dogs just as they are in humans. These minerals which are found in coconut water are sodium, vitamin C, potassium, and calcium and all play vital roles in your dog’s overall health. They are also important in replenishing your dog’s energy stores, and aid full absorption of the nutrients in their food.

These are important in ensuring that your dog can maintain hydrated. This is particularly important during the summer months, which is why I recommend this as a good drink to give your pup during this time period.

Immune System Boost

The vitamins and minerals which I have previously mentioned also provide a great immune system boost for your dog. If your dog has recently undergone any surgery, it can be a great addition to your dog’s diet to aid them towards a speedy recovery. It can be good for dogs who have parvo (or got parvo again). It’s also good for those who are just generally unwell because it can also help them to fight viruses.

Skin and Coat

Coconut water can also help to improve your dogs skin and coat. Particularly if your dog suffers from irritated skin, the health benefits of coconut water can help to provide your dog with the nutrients that will aid the irritation to be more calmed down. It has also been said that coconut water can help to improve irritations which have been caused by insect bites or fleas.

The vitamins and minerals foud in coconut water are also very good for providing your dog with a healthy shine to their coat.

Ligaments and Joints

If your dog suffers from any joint or ligament pain (dog hip pain sound familiar?), it may be worth adding coconut water to their diet. The added mineral and vitamins are great for ligaments and joint and is highly recommended to give to dogs who are getting older. This can help to ease their pain.

Dogs and Food for Humans

As a dog parent, you will likely know the struggle it can sometimes be to know what kind of foods that they can and can’t safely eat.

It is essential to know that there are some foods which are highly toxic for dogs. These include chocolate, alcohol and spicy food. It is important you give the right volume of food also. This way, your dog can maintain a healthy weight without being over or underfed.

Different Types Of Coconut Water

Next, you may be wondering which type of coconut water you need to buy for your dog. You will be glad to know that there isn’t much restriction when it comes to ensuring that you are purchasing the right one. Some pet stores and supermarkets will actually sell specific coconut water for dogs.

These are guaranteed to be safe choices for your dog, but also you can just purchase normal human-grade coconut water. There are many different brands of coconut water which are produced nowadays. If you have tried them yourself, you may have noticed that some are sweeter than others. Some just taste completely different. It is worth having a check of the sugar content of the coconut water before you make your decision. This will prevent giving your dog too much sugar. Prolonged regular use of a high sugar content type of coconut water may have some negative health effects on your dog.

The most ideal coconut water you could buy for your dog is one that has no additives. High sugar content may also cause adverse reactions. A lot of sugar has the same negative health effects on dogs as it does on humans.

Can Dogs Have Coconut Water – Answered!

Coconut water is a great way to ensure that your dog is receiving a wealth of different vitamins and minerals. Adding coconut water to your pooch’s diet can help to boost their immune system.

Among the other benefits are:

• improve their skin and coat
• look after their joints and muscles
• provide them with many electrolytes

It is important that you do not confuse coconut water with coconut milk. Coconut milk is a much less healthy drink which could potentially have negative health effects if given regularly.

If you think that I have missed anything or have and questions or queries, please let me know in the comments!

FAQs