Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT Oil)
Triglycerida saturata media
Also known as: MCT Oil · Alembicol D · Liprocil · Liquigen · Mytic 810 · Structolipid · Teceeme · Triglycerida saturata media · Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides
Reviewed by the VetSheet Veterinary TeamUpdated Apr 5, 2026Evidence-based veterinary reference
Doses are a clinical reference for licensed veterinary professionals. Always confirm against the current label and the individual patient.
Dosing by species
🌎 NA — North America🌍 EU — Europe
Dogs
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To offset caloric reduction when long-chain triglycerides are restricted | ½-4 teaspoons divided per day with food | PO | divided daily | — | 🌎 NA |
| To offset caloric reduction when long-chain triglycerides are restricted | 0.5-2 mL/kg per day added to food | PO | daily | — | 🌎 NA |
| To offset caloric reduction when long-chain triglycerides are restricted | 1-2 mL/kg per day | PO | daily | — | 🌎 NA |
Cats
| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base-vehicle to administer drugs | 0.1 mL/kg | PO | as needed | — | 🌎 NA |
- Base-vehicle to administer drugs: Owner-perceived acceptability by cats of MCT oil was significantly higher than gelatin capsules.
Doses are a clinical reference for licensed veterinary professionals. Always confirm against the current label and the individual patient.
Overview
Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) are specialized lipid fractions (primarily caprylic [C8] and capric [C10] saturated fatty acids) derived from coconut oil. They are utilized in veterinary medicine primarily as an easily digestible caloric source for patients with compromised gastrointestinal fat absorption.
Key Clinical Uses:
- Fat Malabsorption Syndromes: Used to provide calories to dogs with restricted long-chain fat intake due to conditions like protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), lymphangiectasia, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), or severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Drug Vehicle: Highly accepted by cats as a base-vehicle for compounding or administering oral medications.
Clinical Pearl: While MCT oil provides readily available calories, it does not contain essential fatty acids (like linoleic acid). Patients on long-term ultra-low-fat diets supplemented only with MCT oil may require separate essential fatty acid supplementation. Today, many clinicians prefer using highly digestible, ultra-low-fat commercial prescription diets over adding MCT oil to homemade diets due to palatability issues.
Mechanism of action
MCTs bypass the traditional, complex lipid digestion and absorption pathways required by long-chain triglycerides (LCTs):
Triglycerides → hydrolyzed by gastric and pancreatic lipases (requires significantly less bile acids than LCTs) → Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) → absorbed directly into enterocytes → enter the portal vein directly (bypassing chylomicron formation and lymphatic transport) → rapid oxidation in the liver for immediate energy.
Because they do not rely on the lymphatic system, they are ideal for patients with lymphatic obstruction or dilation (e.g., lymphangiectasia).
Safety & warnings
Contraindications
- Significant hepatic disease (e.g., portosystemic shunts, cirrhosis, hepatic failure)
Adverse effects
- Unpalatability (especially in dogs)
- Bloating
- Flatulence
- Diarrhea
- Food aversion (rare in cats)
Precautions
Hepatic Disease Warning: Use with extreme caution in patients with significant hepatic disease (e.g., portacaval shunts, cirrhosis). Because MCTs are rapidly absorbed via the portal vein, impaired hepatic clearance can lead to significantly high systemic blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of medium-chain fatty acids. This can precipitate or exacerbate hepatic encephalopathy/coma.
- Gastrointestinal Upset: Rapid introduction can cause severe osmotic diarrhea. Always start at the low end of the dose range and titrate up gradually.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Does not provide essential fatty acids. Fat-soluble vitamin supplementation is recommended if used as the primary fat source.
Drug interactions
MCT oil may decrease absorption, as griseofulvin requires long-chain dietary fats for optimal oral absorption.
Absorption may be impaired if LCTs are completely replaced by MCTs; supplementation may be required.
Monitoring
- Gastrointestinal tolerance (vomiting, bloating, flatulence, stool consistency)
- Efficacy (maintenance of body weight and body condition score)
- Signs of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with underlying liver disease
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
Rapidly hydrolyzed and absorbed directly into the enterocytes. Requires less bile acids for digestion compared to long-chain fats.
Distribution
Transported directly via the portal vein to the liver. Not dependent on chylomicron formation or lymphatic transport.
Metabolism
Rapidly oxidized in the liver to provide energy.
Elimination
Primarily utilized for energy; minimal elimination of intact MCTs.
Overdose
Overdosage primarily exacerbates gastrointestinal adverse effects, leading to bloating, flatulence, and severe diarrhea.
Treatment:
- Discontinue or reduce the dose of MCT oil.
- Treat severe diarrhea supportively (e.g., fluid therapy to correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalances) if necessary.
Available products
Formulations
- Oral oil liquid
Human-labeled
- Medium Chain Triglycerides Oil: in quart bottles; MCT (Mead Johnson Nutritionals); (OTC)
Regulatory status
No regulatory data for: 🇺🇸 US · 🇪🇺 EU · 🇬🇧 UK · 🇭🇰 HK · 🇹🇼 TW · 🇯🇵 JP · 🇰🇷 KR · 🇦🇺 AU
Storage & stability
Unless otherwise noted by the manufacturer, store at room temperature in glass bottles.
Client information
Important Administration Note: MCT oil can be very unpalatable to dogs. To improve acceptance, mix it thoroughly with small quantities of highly palatable food before offering it to your pet.
- Start Slow: To prevent stomach upset, gas, and diarrhea, your veterinarian will likely have you start with a very small amount and gradually increase it over several days.
- Watch for Diarrhea: If your pet develops loose stools or diarrhea, contact your veterinarian. The dose may need to be reduced.
- Not a Complete Fat Source: This oil provides calories but lacks certain essential fatty acids. Do not use it as the sole source of fat in a homemade diet without consulting your veterinarian about vitamin and fatty acid supplements.
VetSheet drug reference is intended for licensed veterinary professionals as a clinical decision-support aid, not a substitute for professional judgement or the manufacturer’s current label.