Can Dogs Eat Olives? Are Olives Toxic to Dogs?

Can Dogs Eat Olives?

Olives are just like pineapple and ham pizzas – you either love them or hate them. And if you are a dog owner who loves eating this tasty and nutritious fruit with your pup, it may be a common scenario to see him staring at you with his pleading eyes? Shall you give in or hold back? Can dogs eat olives?

As pet parents, we are often placed in this predicament. And if we are not extra careful with our actions, we might end up putting our canine companion in a difficult situation.

So, as always, when in doubt don’t do it.  And don’t hesitate to ask for help from a professional so you will know what to do next time.

As for olives and canines, yes, you can feed your dog olives, but there are some guidelines that you need to follow to keep your pup safe and healthy.

And before we delve deeper into the details, it won’t hurt to learn some good-to-know information about olives.

Everything About Olives 

While popularly known as fruits with Mediterranean roots, olives were originally native to Asian Minor before spreading throughout the Mediterranean with the rise of civilization. The olive trees are also considered as one of the oldest cultivated trees in the world.

Looking at its tiny size, one may never imagine that it has been over 6,000 years ago since it was first discovered. But olives are not just rich in history and cultural significance, they are also packed with nutrients, which make them valuable for human health.

There are over 2,000 varieties of olives worldwide, though the most popular are black and green olives. And though they look like cherries and other tiny fruits that are edible even when raw, olives are completely different.

They have an extremely bitter taste that requires a curing process to make them edible and palatable for us, humans.

Are Olives Good for Dogs? 

While olives can’t be considered superfoods for dogs, they are also not bad when taken in moderation. Olives can be a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals for your canine companion. In particular, olives are rich in protein, vitamin A, vitamin E, and K, as well as antioxidants, oleic acid, and calcium.

These vital nutrients can help strengthen your dog’s immune system, combat heart disease, reduce inflammation, prevent cancer, reduce cholesterol levels, improve bone health, and a lot more. And though olives are high in fats, you should not worry because these are good fats, which are healthy not just for humans, but also for dogs.

The bottom line, these tasty fruits are highly nutritious. But, why should you give your dogs olives only in moderation? And why are there some guidelines that need to be observed when adding these fruits to your dogs’ diet?

Are Olives Toxic to Dogs?

Olives are good for dogs because of their high nutritional value. However, when you give your canine buddy huge amounts of olives, he may experience an upset stomach, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, especially if he has a sensitive tummy.

And while the flesh of the fruit itself is not toxic to dogs, olive pits can also cause gastrointestinal upsets when taken in huge amounts. Moreover, the pit may also be a choking hazard, especially for smaller dogs.

The pits may not just block your pup’s airway, but also lodge in his intestinal tract and cause obstruction. Also, with the hard consistency of the pit, it may have the capacity to break your dog’s teeth.

Are Olives Safe for Dogs?

By this time, we’ve established that olives are not toxic to dogs and they can also be beneficial for their health. But, as mentioned earlier, there are guidelines that you need to observe to prevent some health issues. And part of these measures is to remove the pit before offering olives to your pup.

Also, as with any dog food and human food, it’s never a good idea to give your dog olives with molds as they contain a harmful substance that can cause seizures or tremors.

Nevertheless, dogs may have different reactions to the foods that they eat. And that’s why when introducing any food to them, you should do so in a small amount and don’t forget to observe how your dog will respond before adding more. If he exhibits any abnormal symptoms, take him to the vet immediately.

The Dangers of Feeding Olives to Your Dog

Olives are a perfect addition to our salad, and they can serve as healthy treats for your dog. However, they can also cause some problems to your canine friend, especially if you’ll just disregard, or if you don’t know the things that need to be avoided.

Drizzling olive oil into your dog’s meal is fine and it has been proven to be beneficial for your dog’s health. However, if you’ll add canned or pickled olives, it’s a different story. By all means, you should avoid giving these types of olives to your dog because they are extremely high in sodium.

And we all know that salt is toxic to dogs. Increased sodium intake in canines can cause several health problems, including dehydration, acute and chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure, pancreatitis, and seizures just to name a few.

In addition, a lot of products sold in the market and grocery stores contain additives and seasonings that are harmful to dogs.

Hence, make sure to always check the label before giving any stuffed olives to your dog. You should watch out for ingredients that are bad for canines such as garlic, anchovies, and blue cheese, or feta cheese.

Health Benefits of Olives to Dogs

As mentioned earlier, olives are good and safe for your dog if only given in moderation. In addition, make sure that your dog only eats the flesh of the fruit without the pits, and only give him plain, unsalted, and unseasoned olives. 

Of course, you should never tease your dog with the olive that came from your martini or any alcoholic beverage. Alcohol is extremely toxic for dogs that even a small amount can cause coma or even death.

If you observe all the guidelines on how to safely feed olives to your pup, then, he won’t just enjoy them, but he’ll also reap the benefits of these healthy treats.

Olives offer a multitude of nutritional benefits for dogs. They are a great source of oleate, a healthy kind of fat that helps promotes heart health and cognitive functions.

The monounsaturated fatty acid in olives also helps break down fat cells, thus, making these fruits ideal for weight loss. And this fatty acid is also believed to aid in reducing inflammation and preventing age-related arthritis in dogs.

The nutrients in olives may also help improve your dog’s brain function; oleic acid is said to prevent cancer, and the oil that is produced from olives is believed to help protect your dog against diabetes.

Other positive health benefits of olives in dogs include the promotion of healthy skin and coat, improved circulation, better digestion, and improved vision.

Finally, if you are concerned whether green or black olives are better for your pup, it doesn’t really matter. Instead, just focus on feeding your dog one or two pieces of plain and unsalted olives without pits about twice a week. Start from there and see how it goes.

Bonus Recipes

Below are easy, homemade dog food recipes that utilizes Olive oil. Enjoy!