Should You Feed Olives to Your Dog?

Did You Know?
Olive oil is known to act as a natural laxative. This can actually be quite helpful in treating constipation in dogs.

Consider this. You are having a snack of olives in your dining room. Your pet dog notices what you are eating, and yearns for that snack. In such circumstances, can you share your snack, which is generally considered as a 'people food' with your pet?

The answer may seem straightforward, but surely there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. The following sections in this Story shall discuss the safety aspect of feeding olives to dogs. Have a look...

Yes, you can! Olives have long been recognized as a healthy nutritious food. They are excellent sources of phytonutrients; substances known for their high antioxidant activity. Oleopurins, important constituents of olives, are also recognized for their anti-inflammatory action.

Moreover, olives also contain high amounts of omega-3s; nutrients that can keep your dog's fur healthy and shiny. To put it simply, olives offer the same benefits to dogs as they offer humans. So there is absolutely no harm in giving olives to your dog.

Black olives that contains slightly higher amount of fat are ripe, whereas, the green ones are plucked before they become ripe. Either of them can be given to dogs.

Although feeding olives (black or green) to your pet is permissible, make sure that they are fresh and unprocessed. Giving canned or marinated olives should be strictly avoided, due to their high concentration of sodium. They are canned in salty brine, and moreover, preservatives are added to increase their shelf life.

This is a major nutritional drawback of canned olives, making them bad to include in a dog's diet. In simple words, the safety aspect of olives comes into picture when you feed the salted variety of olives to your pet. So, make sure that your dog nibbles on plain olives only.

Keep in mind that olives are not an actual dog food, so your pet may suffer from stomach discomfort even after feeding in small quantities. In such situations, you should never feed olives thereafter.

Be it green or black olives, feeding them with the pit (seed) is a strict no-no. This is because, the seeds are hard and difficult to chew, and can damage your pet's oral cavity.

Moreover, there is a possibility that the seeds may get stuck in your dog's throat, which can cause severe breathing problems. So make sure that the seeds are removed when giving olives to your pet.

While olives are good for dogs, that does not mean emptying a bowlful of olives into your pet's mouth in one go is a good idea. That is actually overfeeding, which can cause digestion problems, as olives contain a great deal of omega-3s and omega-6s.

Too much of fat in your pet's diet can make it susceptible to pancreatitis, a condition that results in inflammation of the pancreas.

So, feeding in moderation is the key to ensuring that the olives do not damage your pet's health. The number of olives that you can feed per day will vary depending on the weight and size of your dog. The likely quantity is 1 olive for every pound, two times a day.

As dog owners, you should allow your pet to consume olives occasionally. Olives are no substitute for healthy meals that are specifically formulated for dogs, nor are they a major portion of your pet's diet.

If your dog likes olives, you can use them as treats or a reward during its training session. In fact, they could be one of the healthiest dog treats around.

Olive oil extracted from freshly plucked ripened olives can also be beneficial to your pet. It can aid in digestion, boost immunity, as well transform the dry skin of your dog to a healthy looking, well-nourished coat. The size and the weight of the dog matters a lot in determining the dosage of olive oil.

A medium-sized dog, having a weight of around 50 lb, is usually given a teaspoon of olive oil daily. Large dogs may be given a tablespoon. For small dogs, you can give a quarter of a teaspoon daily. If your dog is not taking it by the spoon, just mix it with his daily meals or treats.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a veterinarian.