Can pets eat coconut and coconut oil?
Coconut and coconut oil
Fine in small amounts
Dogs: In moderation · Cats: In moderation · Birds: Safe
By animal
| Animal | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | In moderation | Not toxic. The medium-chain fats cause loose stools in quantity. |
| Cats | In moderation | Same. |
| Birds | Safe | Well tolerated. |
What it actually does
Coconut flesh, milk and oil contain nothing toxic to dogs or cats, but the medium-chain triglycerides act as a laxative and a generous serving reliably produces diarrhoea. Coconut water is high in potassium, which is worth knowing for an animal with kidney disease. The husk and shell are a mechanical hazard.
No reliable dose threshold has been published for this. Anything presenting a specific safe amount is extrapolating.
Body weight decides almost everything here, so what is trivial for a 40 kg dog can matter for a 4 kg one, and a bird is smaller again. Where a real published threshold exists this page gives it; where none does, it says so rather than inventing one.
Fruit
| Food | Worst verdict | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Avocado | Toxic | Risky | Risky |
| Apple | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Banana | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
| Blueberries and strawberries | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Watermelon and melon | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Cherries, peaches, plums and apricots | Risky | Risky | Risky |
| Oranges, lemons and limes | Risky | In moderation | Risky |
Common questions
- Can dogs eat coconut and coconut oil?
- Fine in small amounts. Not toxic. The medium-chain fats cause loose stools in quantity.
- Can cats eat coconut and coconut oil?
- Fine in small amounts. Same.
- What does coconut and coconut oil actually do?
- Coconut flesh, milk and oil contain nothing toxic to dogs or cats, but the medium-chain triglycerides act as a laxative and a generous serving reliably produces diarrhoea. Coconut water is high in potassium, which is worth knowing for an animal with kidney disease. The husk and shell are a mechanical hazard.
Related pages
- Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants? Toxic — treat as an emergency
- Can pets eat avocado? Toxic — treat as an emergency
- Can pets eat apple? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat banana? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat blueberries and strawberries? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat watermelon and melon? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat chocolate? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar? Also an emergency
- Everything, for dogs 46 foods
- Everything, for cats 46 foods