Coconut is a fruit commonly found all over the world, and it’s also used to make many different kinds of products. Coconut oil is used in cooking and cosmetics, and coconut milk provides a creamy texture for foods like ice cream or yogurt. But coconut flakes aren’t just for snacks! In fact, people sometimes use coconut flakes as a garnish on appetizers, where they can add their own extra flavor to the dish. Coconut cookies are just one of the many types of baked goods that contain this ingredient. These cookies have been deliciously on-trend for a while now, but did you know that dogs can enjoy these delicious treats too?
The answer to ‘Can dogs eat coconut cookies? is yes. In the broadest sense, dogs can eat coconut cookies. However, this simple answer belies a number of potential warnings that you need to consider before feeding your dog a cookie made with coconut flour. In order to help you make an informed decision about whether or not you should feed your dog this popular recipe, we will go over several things to take into consideration. Below you will find a list of considerations to make before feeding your dog coconut cookies.
Ingredients of Coconut Cookies
Before discussing the benefits and risks that come with feeding dogs coconut cookies, it is important to examine the ingredients in this cookie. This will help you understand why dogs should avoid certain ingredients in this cookie. Remember, since no two dog foods are alike, it is important for you to consult with your veterinarian before deciding whether or not this is a safe recipe for your dog to eat.
The first ingredient is coconut flour. Coconut flour is a byproduct of the process of making coconut milk. It has a high-fat content and low fiber content. Despite this, it provides certain benefits to your dog’s diet (like the presence of healthy fats and minerals).
However, unlike coconut oil which contains beneficial fatty acids that are easily digested by dogs, coconut flour’s fat content may cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs. This is because it does not contain fiber to help prevent stomach upset. This is why coconut flour is not recommended for dogs.
If your dog has a history of gastrointestinal upset when eating coconut flour, and you are concerned about her eating this cookie recipe, you may want to reconsider adding it to her food. In addition to this ingredient, there are one more ingredients that are problematic to dogs: guar gum.
Guar Gum (FDA approved)
Guar gum is a thickening agent that comes from the plant Cyamopsis Tetragonolobus. It acts as a stabilizer in foods, preventing ingredients from separating. Unfortunately, guar gum may be problematic for dogs with sensitive stomachs because it lacks the prebiotic qualities of coconut flour. This means that it may make your dog more susceptible to a bacterial and fungal overgrowth in the digestive tract.
Coconut cookies are traditionally made with coconut as the main ingredient, but they are also often made with other ingredients such as chocolate or peanut butter. Raisins and other dried fruits are also sometimes added as topping in these cookies. Keep in mind that all these ingredients are harmful to your dog’s health.
As you can see, there are few ingredients that are not safe for dogs to consume. If your dog has a sensitive digestive system or is prone to digestive upset when eating coconut flour, it is best to avoid feeding her this cookie. For dogs that are healthy and do not have a history of gastrointestinal upset when eating coconut flour, it is unlikely that these problems will occur.
However, you should still pay attention to your dog and check her stool. You should also make sure that your dog does not have a history of gastrointestinal upset when eating coconut flour before giving them this cookie recipe.
Benefits of Feeding Dogs Coconut Cookies
While the ingredients themselves may not be the most healthy option for your dog, there are many benefits to feeding coconut cookies to your dog. Coconut is a natural source of MCTs, which are medium-chain triglycerides. Medium-chain triglycerides are beneficial because they do not require digestive enzymes, like long-chain triglycerides. This allows dogs to digest them more efficiently and access their energy faster than they would if the same calories came in the form of long-chain triglycerides (i.e., things like dog treats made with wheat flour).
In addition to providing energy, coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids that are perfect for dogs with sensitive digestive systems or other health issues, like inflammatory bowel disease. So even if your dog does not have a problem digesting long-chain triglycerides, feeding her this cookie may still be beneficial to her overall health.
Although coconut oil is easily digested by dogs, it is best to avoid feeding dogs pure coconut oil (i.e. coconut oil that is not mixed with other oils). Like coconut flour, coconut oil is very high in fat content. So to avoid gastrointestinal upset (and also to enable your dog to get the benefits of the fatty acids in the coconut oil), it is best to mix it with other ingredients.
Another reason why it may be beneficial for your dog to eat coconut cookies is that sometimes raw honey is added to the ingredients mix, and raw honey contains a number of health benefits. For example, honey can help promote healthy skin and hair. It is also a natural antibiotic that fights infection, so it can be used to treat fungus and bacteria in dogs.
Well, coconut cookies are not something you should feed your dog on a regular basis, but when they like one, there is no reason to not let them have it.
Conclusion
Dogs can eat coconut cookies if you’re careful about portion sizes. It’s a great source of fatty acids, fiber, and protein – perfect food for man’s best friend! But too much of these cookies can cause digestive upset in pets such as vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Also, some dogs have had allergic reactions to coconuts. Be sure that your dog does not have an allergy to coconuts before giving them the yummy snack.
It is important to note that along with coconut cookies, dogs also tend to enjoy the other forms of coconut such as coconut milk, coconut oil, and coconut water. These are safe for dogs too and can be used as treats. Coconut meat is equally healthy for dogs too. Explore more coconut-related dog articles on coconut for dogs.
Have you ever tried sharing coconut with your dog? What was their reaction like? We would love to know. Please share with us your experience by leaving a comment below!