Are you searching for healthy dog treats and came across olives? Well, it’s good you asked, “can dogs eat olives?” because the answer is a bit tricky!
In short- Yes, olives are safe for dogs in moderation. BUT, not all olives can be fed to dogs. With so many options in the market, we are here to answer your questions about the benefits and risks of feeding your dog olives.
So, let’s start!
Are Olives Bad For Dogs?
No, olives are not bad for dogs. Plain olives are safe for dogs as a treat as it does not contain any toxins that can be deadly to dogs. Instead, olives have multiple nutritional benefits for dogs. Here are the benefits:
1. Vitamins and minerals
Olives are packed with vitamins and minerals that are essential for your dog. While some help your dog with vision, others help boost immunity. Your dog should have all the nutrients from meals, but for a healthy snack, olives can also provide:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Iron
- Calcium
- Magnesium
2. Reduce inflammation
Olives are also rich in antioxidants that help to fight off infections in the dog’s body and improve immunity. This can be a great way to reduce inflammation in dogs. Unless your dog is allergic to olives, you can use olive oil for its antioxidant properties.
3. Shiny and healthy coat
Another benefit of feeding your dog olives as a treat is that olives contain omega-3 fatty acids. This fatty acid and Vitamin E can make your dog’s skin smoother and softer. If your dog often gets dry skin, consider serving them plain olives as a treat or a small part of their salad.
4. Better than other unhealthy treats
There are so many dog treats in the market. Why olives? This is because commercial dog food or treats may contain harmful ingredients or preservatives. We recommend giving your dog human food treats or homemade dog treats to avoid such possibilities. In this case, olives may not have many nutritional benefits but are non-toxic and way healthier than sweet treats like marshmallows.
Can Dogs Eat All Types of Olives?
Here are the five types of olives dog owners mostly stay confused about if they should feed to their dogs or not! So, below are your answers:
1. Olive oil
Yes, dogs can have olive oil. It is better than other oils that add too much fat. Like sesame and coconut oil, olive oil also serves its own benefits. Primarily, Olive oil is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants. You can use small amounts of olive oil to cook foods like crabs, scallops, brussels sprouts, etc.
In fact, quite a few dog food brands also use olive oil as their ingredients. Which means that it can show beneficial effects if consumed in moderation.
2. Black olives
Dogs can eat black olives safely after removing the pit. It is essential to know that just because black olives are suitable for dogs does not mean you should add them to all dog meals. It still does not have all the nutrients to fulfill your dog’s requirements. Hence, feeding black olives as a little topping on kibbles or a treat would be best.
3. Green olives
Just like black olives, you can feed your dog green olives safely. The only catch is to serve both of these olives plain and pitless. You can chop the green olives into small bites and add them to your dog’s meal for extra flavor.
Also, if you make your dog a dog salad with blueberries, avocado, lettuce, and apples– you can top it with a few small pieces of green olives.
4. Kalamata
Kalamata olives are also safe for your dog. So, if you want to make your dog’s treat healthier, you can serve them kalamata olives during training or as a good behavior treat. You should ensure that the olives are pitted and unsalted.
5. Stuffed olives
Dogs cannot and should not eat stuffed olives at any cost. These olives not only contain harmful spices like garlic or onion but also they are stuffed with blue cheese. This is a recipe for disaster for a dog as none of the ingredients in the stuffing are good for dogs.
In fact, garlic can be poisonous to dogs as it has a compound called Thiosulfate (article). Similarly, blue cheese also is formed with molds, which is highly toxic to dogs.
Things to Keep in Mind When Feeding Your Dog Olives
Now that you know olives are safe for dogs, it’s time to look at the risks that come with them. Overfeeding anything without its proper knowledge can lead to hazards for your dog. So, to avoid that, here are the things you must keep in mind when feeding your dog olives:
1. Do not use olive oil on their skin
We recommend adding olives to your dog’s diet, but when it comes to their skin- you should not hurry and pour olive oil on them. Olive oil is made for oral consumption only and can instead cause skin problems. If you want to slather your dog in oil to keep them moisturized, you should use coconut oil. This has antibacterial properties that help to cure wounds and skin infections in dogs.
2. Moderation
When feeding your dog olives, you should ensure that you are maintaining moderation. Olives are healthy for dogs but cannot fulfill your dog’s nutritional needs. For example, a dog has several requirements like fiber, hydration, fats, proteins, etc.
Olives do not have all the benefits, and they should only be a part of the “treats menu” of your dog. You can give them about 1-2 olives a day.
3. Seasoned olives are a BIG NO
Humans love olives for their health and “a blast on taste buds” benefits, and over the years, humans also fell in love with olive pickles. It is strictly a BIG NO for feeding your dog seasoned or pickled olives. Most seasonings include spices like garlic, onion, or other harmful herbs. The pickling process also means a lot of vinegar and chemicals that can even be deadly to dogs.
Hence, it would be best if you served your dog plain.
4. Choking hazards
If your dog is an eager eater, you must monitor how much olives they eat and if they are swallowing the pits. This is because of too many olives at a time can lead to choking hazards. The seeds and olives can get stuck in their throats and may make your dog breathless.
Also, the pits can harm dogs and lead to digestive obstruction. If you are stuck in any such situation, please contact your veterinarian instead of making your dog puke.
Conclusion
Our final thoughts on “Can dogs eat olives?” are YES. Dogs can eat olives safely, but they should be fed only as a treat. Plain and prepared olives can benefit your dog’s health in several ways, but they should not become a daily meal. The moral of the story is that you should feed your dog olives in moderation and one by one. If your dog is an eager eater, you better watch out for choking hazards.
Rest assured, if you keep all the essential things in mind, you and your dog can enjoy olives without fear!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, dogs can eat green or black olives as they both are safe for dogs. The only catch is removing the pit and washing it thoroughly before tossing it to your dog. They both are beneficial if fed in moderation.
Dogs can eat pimento olives safely. You must ensure that pimentos are inside the olives that are washed thoroughly, pitless, and unsalted. Otherwise, salted pimento olives can be harmful to dogs.
Unfortunately, dogs cannot eat pizza. Adding olives to the pizza; it will not make any difference. Be it as a treat or a main meal, olives on pizza will not make pizzas less dangerous for dogs.
Yes, dogs can eat olives without the pit. It would be best to prepare olives before serving them to your dogs. After removing the pit, thoroughly wash the olives under running water and feed your dog plain, unsalted olives only.
Dogs cannot and should not eat olive seeds. The seeds can be toxic to dogs and can cause severe choking hazards. If your dog is an eager eater, please ensure they have not eaten too many pits, as it can lead to emergencies. Please seek veterinary help in the hour of need.
