MCT oil for dogs is a potential game-changer for canine brain and heart health. Initially, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) were used in a dog’s diet due to their presence in coconut oil. However, recent research indicates that the specific type of MCTs we provide to our dogs is crucial.
What Is MCT Oil For Dogs? Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are fatty acids found in coconut oil, palm oil, and some dairy products. They are termed “medium-chain” due to the length of their carbon atom chains. MCTs have exactly 6 to 12 carbon atoms linked in a chain, distinguishing them from short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and long-chain triglycerides (LCTs).
There are four kinds of MCTs, and MCT oil differs from coconut oil in that it is made from 100% pure MCTs. The right brand of MCT oil can be entirely composed of capra fatty acids, unlike lauric acid found in coconut oil. Lauric acid, which is close to being an LCT, is suggested to be pro-inflammatory. The health benefits of MCT oil for dogs are not associated with lauric acid but with capra fatty acids like caprylic fatty acid, which may help in burning fat and reducing inflammation.
The Benefits Of MCT Oil For Dogs: Research into MCT oil for dog nutrition is still in its early stages, but the initial findings are promising, particularly for a dog’s brain and heart health. The benefits are seen in three main areas:
1. MCT Oil Slows Dementia In Aging Dogs: MCT oil may significantly improve the condition of senior dogs suffering from canine cognitive disorder (CCD), also known as doggy dementia. Studies consistently show that it enhances memory and learning in older dogs.
MCT oil increases total phospholipids in the brain, which are fats that protect brain cells. It also aids in the transport of the omega-3 fatty acid, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), across the blood-brain barrier. DHA is essential for brain function, and high levels are crucial for the brain health of developing puppies and aging dogs. MCTs, unlike LCTs, easily pass through the gut wall, diffusing directly into the blood and going to the liver, where they are converted into ketones. They also increase lactic acid levels in the blood. Both ketones and lactic acid serve as alternative energy sources for the brain. As dogs age, they struggle to use glucose in their brains, leading to cognitive decline without this essential fuel.
Ketones easily cross the blood-brain barrier, providing much-needed energy in place of glucose.
MCT Oil For Dogs With Seizures. Studies show that MCT oil significantly reduces seizures in dogs with epilepsy. In 2021, Berk et al did another study on epileptic dogs. Dogs eating a diet of 9% MCTs were more trainable, had better memory and problem-solving abilities. Medium-Chain Triglycerides Benefit Canine Heart Health And Slow Heart Disease. The most common form of canine heart disease is myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Some breeds have a high chance of developing this by age 10. Luckily, MCT oil slows the progress of MMVD significantly. MCTs and ketones from MCTs give the heart an alternative fuel source and reduce damage by free radicals. What To Look For In MCT oil For Dogs. Look for an oil without lauric acid, a blend of caprylic and capric acids seems most digestible. Choose sustainably sourced oils. Avoid powders with carrier starches. Read the label and avoid artificial flavors, colors or additives. Avoid cheap and unreliable brands with too much lauric acid. Research the brand and look at reviews. How Much MCT Oil Should I Give My Dog? Add MCT oil slowly to prevent runny tummies. Generally, 6% to 9% of a dog’s diet can safely be MCTs. Keep total fat content at around 10%-15% or lower. You can use a chart as a guideline to add 5% MCT to the diet. Final Thoughts. Early research on MCT oil for dogs shows promise. It can help brain function of older dogs, improve heart health and reduce seizures. Sprinkling a safe amount of MCTs over dog’s food is good for overall health, but don’t overdo it. References: Roguero MM, Calder PC. Obesity, Inflammation, Toll-Like Receptor 4 and Fatty Acids. Nutrients.Several studies have demonstrated the impact of specific dietary interventions on the health of dogs, particularly focusing on cognitive dysfunction and cardiac health. A prospective double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical study by Pan Y, Landsberg G et al., published on March 24, 2018, in Frontiers in Nutrition, evaluated the efficacy of a therapeutic diet on dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). The study, conducted in December 2018, showed promising results regarding the diet’s ability to improve cognitive function in dogs. Rutz, GM, Steiner, JM, Bauer, JE, and Williams, DA further explored the efficacy of a therapeutic diet on dogs with signs of CDS in a similar double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical study published on December 12, 2018, in Frontiers in Nutrition. Taha AY, Henderson ST, and Burnham WM investigated the dietary enrichment with medium chain triglycerides (AC-1203) and its ability to elevate polyunsaturated fatty acids in the parietal cortex of aged dogs, which has implications for treating age-related cognitive decline, as published in Neurochemical Research in 2009. Berk BA, Law TH, Packer RMA, et al. conducted a multicenter randomized controlled trial on the effects of medium-chain triglyceride dietary supplementation on epilepsy in dogs, as detailed in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine in April 2020. Molina J, Jean-Philippe C, et al. reported on the efficacy of medium chain triglyceride oil dietary supplementation in reducing seizure frequency in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy without cluster seizures in a non-blinded, prospective clinical trial published in the Veterinary Record on June 12, 2020. Berk BA, Packer RM, and colleagues found that a medium-chain triglycerides dietary supplement can improve cognitive abilities in canine epilepsy, as published in Epilepsy & Behavior on January 15, 2021. Li Q, Heaney A, Langenfeld-McCoy N, et al. conducted a blinded randomized controlled study in 36 dogs, demonstrating that dietary intervention can reduce left atrial enlargement in dogs with early preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease, as reported in BMC Veterinary Research on July 22, 2019. Laflamme DP discussed key nutrients important in the management of canine myxomatous mitral valve disease and heart failure in an article published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association on October 8, 2022.
