3/4 of our dogs are now considered Seniors - which I really can't believe and it kind of hurts my heart! Marley is turning 10 in July, Mayson is turning 9 this December and Ripley is now 7! Where does the time go, seriously?
When I took Mayson in for a senior check up one of the main things I discussed with my Veterinarian was the importance of Cognitive Health as my dogs age. Dogs are prone to many conditions that we are such as dementia and cognitive decline can make dogs very uncomfortable even in their regular surroundings. It's brain fog and confusion and it's something that is heartbreaking to watch your dog go through.
The absolute BEST way to keep your dog's brain in tip top shape as they age is to never stop training. Specifically trick training, which also builds confidence, teaching your dog new things keeps their mind sharp. Throw the saying "Can't teach an old dog new tricks" right out the window!
From a nutrition standpoint, we can also introduce things that will slow the cognitive decline in your dog and one of the best ways to do that is with MCT oil.
MCT oil a type of healthy fat called medium-chain triglycerides. MCT has smaller molecules than long-chain triglycerides, making them easier to digest. The body can absorb MCTs faster than LCTs (long-chain triglycerides), bringing energy to the body more quickly. MCT oil is produced using coconut or palm kernel oil. The process of breaking down the fat is fractionation. Fractionation separates the MCT from the original substance, leaving only the concentrated MCT. MCT oil differs from coconut oil in that MCT oil only has medium-chain triglycerides, while Coconut oil contains both MCT and LCT.
MCTs are digested differently than LCTs. Once MCTs are broken down by lipase, they can cross into the circulation through the enterocytes. They travel directly into the blood and go straight to the liver. The liver then quickly converts them to ketones.
The liver can use ketones to fuel its own cells, help it detox or digest other foods. And the rest of the ketones go back into the blood where they’re used for fuel in the brain and the body.
What MCT Oil does for your Dog:
Improves Digestion
MCTs are easily digestible fats. That means they work differently than other fats and get broken down in the liver, not the intestine. As a result, MCT oil can aid digestion and help heal digestive disorders. MCTs can help boost gut contractions to keep things moving in the digestive tract. The fatty acids in MCTs also aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and other nutrients.
Improve Brain Function
As dogs get older, they lose the ability to efficiently metabolize glucose. This can result in changes to their physical energy levels and their cognitive skills. Once again research suggests that the MCTs found in coconut oil can be effective at improving both brain energy and mental function in older dogs. By adding MCT Oil to your ageing dog’s diet, you may help them to produce and maintain higher energy levels.
A study showed that Dogs fed 6.5% MCT in their diet showed significant improvement over baseline in all 6 categories of CDS signs including three categories related to brain cognitive functions (disorientation, altered social interaction, and loss of house training)
There is limited research on MCT and dogs directly, but there is evidence found in humans. In this study, Medium Chain Triglycerides Increase Brain Energy Metabolism in Alzheimer's Disease Patients. A second study concluded that the MCT formula had positive effects on working memory, short-term memory, and processing speed in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's.
Reduce Inflammation
MCT oil possesses anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce chronic inflammation, the ingestion of medium-chain triglycerides reduces pro-inflammatory immune cells' production and increases anti-inflammatory immune cells' production.
Inflammation in senior dogs can come in many forms, from joint pain to ear infections and skin problems.
A 2015 study reveals that MCT oil might work better than some other types of oil for preventing an inflammatory response in babies. This study involved 60 preterm neonates with gestational ages ranging from 26-32 weeks. This showed MCTs can help reduce the body’s production of inflammatory proteins called cytokines.
Lastly, it can help your senior dog maintain a healthy weight or even aid in weight loss if needed! MCT oil has been shown to increase the release of two hormones that can promote the feeling of fullness in the body: peptide YY and leptin in this study in humans.
All of these benefits and more make this the perfect supplement for Senior dogs!
The general dosage 5ml (about 1 teaspoon) per 10lbs of body weight.
We have been using and like the brand Nutiva Organic MCT Oil from Amazon!
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