In a recent thread, Nikita mentions reading about the benefits of using coconut oil to help with dogs whom suffer with repeat yeast infections, including in their ears:

"And - I'm reading all about coconut oil at the moment and read yesterday about a dog with years' worth of yeast infections all over and including his ears, who only finally started to recover when the owner started to use coconut oil.  So maybe something worth looking into? "

I wonder if Nikita could give us any more information or if anyone else has heard of this and, more importantly - has anyone actually had any success with it themselves?

Havant used it myself but coconut oil is good for all of us. it is also and excellent  for cooking if somewhat expensive. Our bodies process coconut as agood fat although one of the few vegetable fats that are saturated fats. I guess its the same for dogs.
Def worth following up

I've only ever used it externally as a hair conditioner!

We use it for our raw fed dogs. I get it from coconoil. TBH I don't know if it's any good for specific conditions like yeasty ears, but they look good on their diet so I'm happy with it.

Coconut oil was also half price at Holland & Barrett last month, don't know if it still is.

I've used it to clean my pugs yeasty ears, it does seem to reduce the yeast build up and reduce the redness, leaves the skin nice and moisturised too.  I've also used it to moisturise my toddlers slight eczema he always seems to get on his face when he gets a cold.

The following is TMI of a personal nature so decide now if you want to read....

During my normal monthly cycle my PH balance seems to go out of wack right after I ovulate leaving me with a horrible itch that will clear up when my period starts.  It is not an infection of any kind and it happens every month.  The coconut oil stops this itch within a day of use when other personal care products have made no difference.  It's so much nicer being able to use a natural product too. 

This article makes a case for various benefits of giving coconut oil. Hope that helps.

Anecdotally, when I took on my rescue Eurasier she had very bad skin and her coated was horrendously matted, after having posted on here ( was around about 2005 ) asking grooming advise, I fell into conversation one day with a Caribbean lady who had stopped us in town to ask what type of dogs I had ( was the Eurasier a mini Husky? ;-)) I was explaining the differences even down to coat differences which led to me bemoaning the mats! She said she had the same with her kids! (human!) and she rummaged in her bag and gave me a tin of hair cream which she swore by!
    Anyway, all I can remember is it was a coconut oil and it was brilliant!! It did the job in terms of helping me work through the matts and her skin was much better ~ at the time I presumed the fact that the yeast infection cleared was down to the fact that I feed raw, and the supplements I used .. But now on reading this I wonder?

Can't reply re yeast infection, though my dog's output has much improved with no more mucousy poos since being on coconut oil. So I have certainly had good experience in that respect.

>no more mucousy poos

Coconut oil is known to be good for Colitis :-)

Coconut oil is known to be good for Colitis

It works. LOL

It is so hard to find stuff for my spaniel that both works and agrees with his system as he is allergic to so many foods. His body handles coconut oil well and it seems to help him a lot. :-)

Interesting post, our two suffer from yeast & the odd bout of colitis - though much much better since feeding raw - think I will try coconut oil. Can I ask how much to give for around a 30 kilo dog. Thank you.

Can I ask how much to give for around a 30 kilo dog.

I'd say a table spoon per day... though it's a bit hard to measure exactely as the oil is solid at normal room temperature. LOL Make sure you get extra virgin oil though, not refined.

> the oil is solid at normal room temperature

Yes, had forgotten that!!

i use The Groovy Fodd Company Coconut oil for cooking 0% Colestrol.

> Coconut oil is known to be good for Colitis

Indeedy, this is one reason I started looking at it - for Raine's delicate digestion issues.  I just noticed the yeast testimonial while looking :-) Granted, normally her enteritis is triggered by actue stress but she has the odd sicky spell that I think is more of a chronic problem derived from the acute episodes, so I want to try it for that.

It's also supposed to be good for yeast as I mentioned on the other thread, arthritis/joint pain, dandruff, bad breath, inflamed/itchy skin, thyroids (not sure how though), weight control (also lowering cholesterol in people so maybe similar in dogs), flea treatment and soothing hot spots, and I think more besides - each time I look I find more uses.

I want to try it for Remy as a joint supplement too, that was my other reason for researching it but everyone will be getting a little bit at least :-)

Getting the right oil is important though - some is refined and almost all the good stuff in it (mainly lauric acid) is stripped out.  You want to go for virgin cold-pressed if possible.  The cheaper stuff will still help but not as well - the lauric acid level in refined is 3-4%, in virgin cold-pressed up to 57%.  So quite a difference!  For cooking the refined stuff is fine though - but if it's the health benefits you're after like I am then the unrefined is the best choice.

Someone found some in Sainsbury's, I've checked on their site and it's listed on there, £6.99 for a 250ml tub I think.  I'll be getting some of that to test it out, if it helps then I've found a 1.53kg tub for £25 elsewhere :-)

Coconut oil is useful for the multiple purposes like cooking, body massage and hair oil.

Don't know now what the price will be but Amazon has some Coconoil on it's Lightning Deals at 12.59pm :

Coconoil - Organic Virgin Oil

Price will be shown then - current price £10.08 for 460g, so will be cheaper than this. Offer will only last for an hour or two.

I wonder if it would help with tear staining, as people often suspect yeast problems with that?