For the last year and a half, we had the benefit of a large donation of Colostrum, which we began to feed all the hounds at Daphneyland with. The donation was so large that we were able to share with adoptive families, network with neighboring rescuers as well as feeding the daily population of rotating bassets (60+ Daily) this amazing supplement daily. In Spring we began to run really low and thus I started doing some research on alternative supplements that would help digestion, heart health and over all health status.
What I came up with time and again, was the use of Coconut Oil.
Reading about Coconut oil and the processing of it, I discovered that many varieties exist, yet as long as coconut oil is "cold pressed virgin" the process is what you are looking for and the label really means not much at all. (I do have to share that an exporter in the Philippines shared a hilarious story of a P/R rep with less than great translation skills - whom was a fan of Rachel Ray and the phrase EVOO. Thus, an entire manufacturer mistakenly sent out labels entitled "Virgin, Virgin". Which means nothing, you cannot make a virgin product more pure by doubling the word virgin.). Our local Costco sells a large tub by HAIN for about $15. This might just be our affordable answer. I purchased a couple tubs.
Our first case was an emergency case, a hound who tore a hole in the middle of his ear. Smack dab in the middle - I could put my hand through it. Naturally this issue arose at night on a holiday. Cleaning the area and wound the veins were intact, but what a nightmare. Using the tech skills my vet so wonderfully has taught us, we cleaned, disinfected and applied glue for bandaging and trip to the vet in the early a.m. The glue would not hold! Finally, I packed the wound with coconut oil, bandaged it up and sang the hound to sleep. First thing in the a.m. we were off to the vet. Unbinding this wound after a mere 10 hours - we had tissue connection. We were all shocked. We decided to continue to coconut oil, and within 4 days the wound disappeared. Complete healing.
I shared this with a friend who was frustrated over a small growth on her hounds rear end. Normally we apply powdered spirulina with a small dab of water to warts and external mast cell areas. Due to the location of this growth, she was having a hard time keeping the mixture on. She decided to use coconut oil as a carry oil for the spirulina and mixed some up. While applying she used her ungloved hands. Suffering from sun poisoning yet loving to garden, she was in a flare up at the time. Finally getting this mixture on the growth, her hands covered with spirulina and coconut oil - she decided to leave the mixture on her hands, glove up as she normally does at night, and fell asleep. I got the shocked call first thing in the morning - her sun poisoning was completely GONE! Something that normally would take a week or more to ease the pain and rash of - gone in a nights sleep.
Within a few days of this; another late Sunday night - another emergency case arrived at Daphneyland. Emaciated, suffering from mange, hot spots, poor nutrition this little girl was COVERED in holes she had chewed that were 1/2 - 1" deep. Talk about serious bacterial infections! We did all the typical protocol's we use for these conditions, yet there were so many apparent. Mange, ringworm, bacteria and infection, open wounds and hot spots. After the typical Murphy's Oil bath, gentian violet application and neck wrapping - she was so miserable! We massaged coconut oil into her skin as a test, used lavender oil to get her to sleep.
The next morning she was wagging, bright eyes and the holes in her skin were completely covered by tissue! She was an extreme case, and we began adding coconut oil to her diet. Within the typical 30 day detox period, this little girl although obviously suffering from immune related issues, was a whole new girl!
I probably have another 30 cases - but I will spare you the telling of them now.
Now came the hard part. If this works so great externally on bacteria and wound issues, we were ready to try it as a supplement for ALL the hounds. Reports the world over claimed it was the miracle oil. Having over 60 basset hounds in various stages of rehab on a daily basis, we were ready to test it - and of course the question was how much? Various websites gave differing amounts. The general consensus was; no one knows for sure. We began at 1 teaspoon daily for a month, our average weight on a basset is 50-60 pounds..
Our ranch is located at 3800 feet elevation in the Sierra Palona Mountain Range on a southern facing slope. When Santa Ana wind events kick up, our wind can become sustained at 90 mph for several days. This brings pollens, dust and debris down upon us from the top elevations and the desert communities. Allergens from Colorado hit us hard! Hot spots are common during these events. This years weather patterns has the winds more frequent than in the past. Since June we have only had 3 incidents of hot spots. JUST THREE!!!! That's unheard of!!
Hounds arriving in emaciated condition are regulating their weight much faster.
Hounds arriving obese (Bubba came in at 98 pounds and was unable to lift his body weight for any period of time) Ros-Cow, Clayton, Daisy to name but a few, all rapidly regulated and lost weight at a faster pace than pre-coconut oil. Rosie arriving with severe nasal dermatitis was recovering within a week of rubbing it on her nose as well as a food supplement.
As of this blog post (October 15, 2013) we are feeding 1 tablespoon daily to each and every hound here at Daphneyland. Using pure honey and Coconut as the supplements to our regular diet, the hounds are happy, healthy and sustaining energy throughout their day of sunshine, exercise and bellyrubs. Despite a season change that came in like a lion - we do not have the typical issues many kennels faced; no outbreaks of kennel cough, no hot spots, no hair loss, itching, chewing and depression.
I think that speaks highly for the use of Coconut oil.
I give it 5 stars and we will be continuing it with our daily protocols.
Anyone have a few cases of coconut oil to donate?
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