Debunking the coconut oil fad in veterinary dermatology

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With today’s digital era facilitating the spread of misinformation, it is important for veterinary professionals to rely on evidence-based treatments. In a lecture at the 2025 American Veterinary Medical Association Convention in Washington, DC, Andrew Simpson, DVM, MS, DACVD, specialist at VCA Animal Hospitals, addressed a range of fads circulating in veterinary dermatology, one of which is the use of coconut oil for managing canine atopic dermatitis,¹ a trend that has persisted for at least a decade.

“I feel like out of all [the topics we will cover,] this may have been the first one to arrive on the scene years ago where everybody was putting coconut oil, either adding it to the food or slathering it on their beloved furry pets,” said Simpson.

In human medicine, coconut oil has been shown to offer benefits for treating xerosis (ie., dry skin) and atopic dermatitis.² However, in veterinary medicine, there is limited literature on the benefits of coconut oil, whether used topically or orally.¹

“What we're truly missing... [is] there [are] really no known placebo, controlled, randomized, double-blinded studies out there evaluating the clinical efficacy...or even potential adverse events of these [supplements],” noted Simpson.¹

A 2019 in vitro test assessing potential toxicity or oxidative stress from canine epidermal keratinocytes (the primary cell types in the epidermis) exposure to organic virgin coconut oil found that the coconut oil “induced an increased disruption of plasma membrane integrity,” compared to the control group.^1,3

“So, [the study’s results] did raise concern for the toxicity potential at the level of these building blocks, or keratinocytes within the skin, although there [were] no indications of oxidative stress measured by nitride production,” said Simpson of the study, which was conducted at the University of Florida.¹

Other in vitro studies have shown potential antimicrobial benefits from using coconut oil, Simpson explained, but there are no studies that assess the clinical response in dogs naturally affected by bacterial or yeast infections.¹

Moreover, studies have found that omega-6 fatty acids can help reduce clinical signs of atopic dermatitis in dogs in addition to “influencing” superficial skin lipids and improving coat quality. However, coconut oil has very small quantities of this omega-6 fatty acids, rendering it a poor choice for managing skin conditions or improving coat health.¹

During his lecture, Simpson reminded attendees that although the use of supplements like coconut oil may circulate social media, veterinary professionals must remain cautious and look for scientific backing.

“Probably 50% of my clients are coming in having heard something online, or it showed up in a reel, or... on TikTok or on other social media platforms,” said Simpson. “And... I wonder how much the general practitioners are also hearing, ‘Well, what about this supplement?’ or ‘What about this test?’ or ‘I found this online,’ or ‘I was in this Facebook group and everyone kept mentioning this particular product or diagnostic, and what are your thoughts on it?’

“But we have to step back and say, ‘Well, where's the science behind it? Where's the evidence behind it?’,” he stressed.

References

1. Simpson A. Debunking derm fads. Presented at: American Veterinary Medical Association Convention; Washington, DC; July 18-22, 2025.
2. Nadora D, Burney W, Chaudhuri RK, et al.
   Prospective, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study of topical coconut and sunflower seed oil-derived isosorbide. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(2):93-96. doi:10.36849/JDD.7694
3. Boyd M, Morris JM, Santoro D. Plasma membrane integrity and oxidative stress index outcomes of canine progenitor epidermal keratinocytes (CPEKs) exposed to virgin coconut oil (VCO). Vet Dermatol. 2019;30(6):553-e166. doi:10.1111/vde.12808