Beautiful Fur Biotin & Coconut Oil
We all love our pets and there is nothing more mindful and relaxing than stroking their soft healthy warm fur! Ensuring that your dog has all the nutrients necessary for a shiny, beautiful coat is essential and that is where Biotin comes in. A quick search on skin and hair supplements for humans shows that Biotin and Zinc are essential components for healthy, shiny hair.
Our protein packs are full of healthy Zinc from the marine phytoplankton, the yeast supplement and the wonderful Vegdog supplement. It may seem to be in excess, but as we are using legumes (lentils and lupine protein powder) as our main protein source and they are high in phytates that bind Zinc and limit its bioavailability (16.), it is important to add in a bit extra as it is such an important component of the fur and nails of our pets.
Biotin is a water soluble vitamin and one of the B complex vitamins, so any excess is simply excreted in the urine so it cannot be overdosed. It is found in eggs and organ meat (liver and kidneys) so ordinary dog food usually made of animal by-products is never lacking in Biotin. We have added it in to our protein packs as we feel it is important for your pet’s shiny coat.
Lintbells makes a supplement that I have often recommended to clients with dogs with scaly dry fur or huskies suffering from a zinc-responsive dermatosis. It is a meat flavoured powder (made of soy, not meat) that is full of Zinc and Biotin.
Why use coconut oil as a supplement?
Ruff weighs 14kgs and he loves his quarter of a teaspoon a day of coconut oil. He takes it off the teaspoon. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, stearic acid (also found in dark chocolate), capric, and caprylic acid.
Unlike palmitic acid and myristic acid (the saturated fat culprits found in meat, butter and cream) these acids behave differently in the body, and research shows that they don’t increase the risk of heart disease. In fact, the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil have been proven to benefit overall health.
The most abundant saturated fat found in coconut oil is a medium-chain fatty acid called lauric acid. Sometimes referred to as a “super ingredient”, lauric acid is responsible for many of coconut oil’s health benefits including its immune-supporting, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
The only time we advise against giving coconut oil as a supplement is if your dog has suffered before from pancreatitis or if they are overweight and at risk of developing pancreatitis. A low fat diet is needed in these cases without the addition of any extra oils.
