Can Dogs Eat Olives?

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If you are the type of dog owner that loves olives, you probably caught yourself thinking, “Can dogs eat olives?” You probably already know your dog will want to eat everything you are eating. They don’t really care if you are eating something toxic to them; they just want a piece of your food. Luckily, olives are safe for dogs. Dogs can eat olives, but there are a few things you should know about giving your dog olives.

Are olives safe for dogs?

Like with anything else you want to add to your dog’s diet, the key is moderation and portion control. If you wondered - can dogs have olives, the most precise answer would be - yes, but in moderation. Make sure you do not give your dog too many olives.

Health benefits

Olives are packed with healthy nutrients. They can offer our dogs plenty of beneficial vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and even proteins. However, if you give your dog a healthy and balanced diet, there is no need to give them additional fruits or veggies. Some of the best nutrients in olives are;

• Vitamin A - Vitamin A is one of the essential vitamins. It boosts the immune and reproductive systems and helps the brain, lungs, kidneys, and heart to work properly.
• Vitamin E - Vitamin E is beneficial because it boosts the natural body’s defensive systems. It also helps maintain healthy eyes and skin.
• Vitamin K - The body needs vitamin K for blood clotting and wound healing. It also helps maintain healthy bones.
• Antioxidants - Olives act as antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight off free radicals that cause cancer in dogs and humans.

Olives are known to boost cognitive health. They can boost the dog’s immune system, lower their cholesterol, and reduce inflammations.

Bread is the most popular type of food in the world. If you want to know more about bread and dogs, check out this article - Can dogs eat bread?

Can olives be bad for dogs?

Unfortunately, olives can be bad for dogs, especially if they eat too many. Olives are not toxic, but olive pits can cause different health issues. They can cause constipation in dogs, and your dog can easily crack a tooth on the olive’s hard pits.

Simple, fresh, plain olives will not cause your dog any problems; in fact, the oil contained in this fruit might promote a healthy coat. However, seasoned, canned, or pickled olives might present some health hazards. These types of olives usually contain a lot of salt, and dogs have delicate sodium levels. You should avoid giving those to your dog. Others can contain different seasonings like garlic or oils.

Olives from a martini

If you are having a martini and it comes with olive inside it, you should never feed it to your dog. That olive is soaked in alcohol, and alcohol is toxic to dogs. Make sure your dog cannot reach that piece of fruit and avoid a potentially serious health concern.

As a dog owner, you should know how to react if your dog drinks alcohol. Check out this article for more information - What if my dog drinks alcohol?

Can dogs eat black olives?

Many dog owners have wondered, “Can dogs eat black olives?” The truth is - the same rules apply. Black olives are the same as green olives. The only difference is - green olives are not fully ripened yet. If you are adamant about giving your dog black olives, follow all the same rules you would if you were feeding your dog green olives. Make sure you make it an occasional snack, and never feed them more than appropriate for their size.

How to safely give your dog olives?

The safest way to give your dog olives is to choose plain, unseasoned olives and remove the pit. Make sure you start slow and give your dog only one olive. Check their reaction and make sure they don’t have a bad reaction to them. If everything goes right, you can give your dog 1 olive two times a week. After that, see how it goes.

Make sure you talk to your vet before deciding to introduce anything new to your dog’s diet. Plus, your vet will let you know what the better alternative is.

Another popular summer treat is cantaloupe. Check out this article for more information - Can dogs eat cantaloupe?

World Dog Finder team