Is this bit of dog grooming and care news all bark, no bite? Could coconut oil help your pet fight fleas, or will your pet simply end up smelling like a walking Hawaiian vacation?
Coconut oil isn’t new, but its rise in the world of pet wellness has become meteoric. Dog parents and Denver pet care professionals are applying coconut oil to dry noses and paws, flaky skin, and some claims purport it to be a cure for halitosis – or maybe we should call it howlitosis.
With pet loving humans on the look-out for safer, more holistic, and readily available treatments for our four-legged friends, coconut oil is having a major moment!
Why Coconut Oil, Why Now, and Does it Really Work?
As with many home remedies, you might have friends that tell you about their positive experiences controlling fleas with coconut oil. And it’s not that it doesn’t work at all. Here are three potential positive uses!
1. Short-term flea control (perhaps): It can potentially produce short-term results controlling fleas, as lauric acid is believed to suffocate them.
2. A No Vacancy sign for fleas: There is also the notion that the effects produced on your dogs’ skin will make their coats less hospitable – where, by the way, fleas lay their eggs.
3. Therapeutic flea bite or skin irritation remedy: For minor flea bites or other types of skin irritation, coconut oil might provide therapeutic relief. Do not apply to open wounds.
This is all good news. No harm given and potentially healthier skin for your furry friend.
However (and there’s always a however in these cases), we at Woofie’s would be remiss to not mention that coconut oil is simply not an ample replacement for your pets’ veterinarian-recommended flea regimen. This is especially true if you live in a flea-prone area, or often visit areas where fleas are prevalent.
And for infestations – coconut oil is an absolute no-go. Actual infestations should be tended to by a Denver pet care professional, period.
Additionally, if your pet does end up infested, and scratches their skin so much that lesions develop, do not use any topical remedies that your own veterinarian does not recommend. They know your pet’s health history and they will be able to make the right decisions to treat any ailments caused by flea bites and irritated or lacerated skin.
Flea Bite (Not-So-Fun) Facts for Fido
Did you know that fleas are not just an annoying insect for our pets? They aren’t just itchy and uncomfortable. They aren’t just little insects that multiply at lightning speed. In addition to potential flea bite dermatitis, fleas can transmit diseases to your pet through their bites. These include:
- Murine typhus
- Tapeworm
- Plague (rare, but not impossible)
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