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Can Dogs Eat Olives? Benefits, Types & Recipes

Olives are fantastic additions to human diets. They are excellent sources of healthy fats, vitamins, and antioxidants. But, can dogs eat olives safely? Yes, you can feed your dog olives. However, you should only provide your dog olives as the occasional snack and not as a part of your dog’s regular diet!

We will answer questions about whether dogs eat olives safely and other questions that you might have about feeding olives to your dogs! This article will answer your questions about feeding olives to your beloved furry pet.

Facts About Olives

While olives make for very interesting and enjoyable ingredients in your pasta, did you know that olives also have a fascinating history? Here are some facts about olives that you should know!

  • Although many people believe the olive tree originated in Mediterranean nations, it actually originated in Asia. However, olives are an essential part of the Mediterranean diet.
can dogs eat olive
  • They are known to be high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats, all of which are beneficial to human health. Olives are grown in about 2,000 different types worldwide, but green and black olives are the most common.
  • Having said that, how are the two colors of olives different from the other? Black olives are typically allowed to ripen on the tree itself, whereas green olives are plucked while still raw.
  • Regardless of which color your olives are, they are put through a curing process that makes them edible and removes their natural bitterness. 
  • The olive tree is amongst the world’s oldest known trees.
  • Olives have even been discovered in Egyptian tombs dating back over 2,000 years.

Can Dogs Eat Olives?

While dogs can eat olives safely, this comes dependent on the fact that you exercise moderation while feeding them to your pet dog. Further, plain, unsalted olives are the ideal sort to feed your dog, and they should always be given in moderation.

We understand that organic olives are typically the pricier option, but then again, we don’t want you to compromise on the overall health of your pet dog based on price only.

Therefore, answering the question, ‘can dog eat canned black olives,’ they can, as long as they are organic canned black olives.

Having said that, if olives aren’t something you want to replenish every other week or month, that’s perfectly healthy for your dog too. Olives, while they can be a good source of nutrition in small quantities, they are not essential to your dog’s health. 

To avoid injuring your dog’s teeth, you must first remove the pit altogether. It might cause choking or intestinal problems if the dog chews on it. Begin by giving your dog a little piece of olive and watching for any adverse reactions, such as a dog allergy.

Are Olives Bad for Dogs?

No, olives are not bad for dogs per see. But, that does not mean your dog can eat olives safely in excessive quantities. The fact is that overeating olives are the perfect recipe for a slew of digestive issues such as diarrhea, stomach aches, and further complications.

Even when you feed olives to your dogs as a snack, you must exercise moderation, and you should stick to wholly organic olives. Due to high quantities of salt in canned and inorganic olives, which studies show is particularly harmful to dogs, you should avoid them.

A dog can quickly become dehydrated if they consume too much salt, and overeating sodium can contribute to high blood pressure. Many items contain flavors and chemicals that are toxic to dogs, in addition to salt.

Before giving your dog any stuffed olives, always read the ingredients to ensure no harmful items to dogs, such as feta or blue cheese or anchovies. Stuffed olives are also likely to contain preservatives and other additives like garlic, which is notoriously harmful.

As we said, olives aren’t bad for dogs per see. But can dogs eat olives safely? Only when you feed it to them in limited numbers and when the olives are organic and plain.

Are Olives Good for Dogs?

Olives are beneficial for humans, but can dogs eat olives safely while sourcing the same, or any benefits that can we source from it? Dogs can benefit from the various health benefits of olives if they are fed in moderation.

  • Olives are abundant in vitamins A, K, and E and different potent antioxidants and minerals.
  • Moreover, olives are an excellent source of protein for your dog. These nutrients can aid your dog’s immune system, prevent heart disease and cancer, improve eyesight, mitigate inflammatory symptoms and boost bone health, among other things.
  • While olives are known to have a high-fat percentage, these include the healthiest sort of fats for dogs – monounsaturated fatty acid, that aids in the breakdown of fat cells, making it a perfect food for them.
  • Further, feeding your dog olives helps its skin and coat stay healthy by lowering cholesterol levels.
  • Olives are also helpful for your pet’s cognitive health and brain function, making them ideal treats for intelligent breeds like Border Collies.

Is it safe for dogs to consume olives?

Yes, olives are safe for dogs, as long as you follow the guidelines laid down in this article. You must exercise moderation while feeding olives to your dogs, and you must stick to organic options.

Moreover, treat olives like occasional snacks that you can provide your dog. It would be best if you didn’t make them a part of your dog’s daily diet.

Can Dogs Eat Green Olives?

The answer to ‘can dogs eat green olives?’ is relatively straightforward. Dogs can eat green olives safely. However, since this type of olives contains slightly higher amounts of sodium naturally, you should prefer black olives and that too, in restricted quantities.

green olives stuffed

Can Dogs Eat Black Olives?

Yes, dogs can eat black olives. In terms of nutrition, black and green olives are roughly the same, with one of the only differences is that green olives contain higher levels of natural sodium than black ones. Therefore, you should choose black over green olives in general.

black olives

How To Safely Feed Your Dog Olives?

The potential dangers that arise when you want to feed olives to your dog are those of choking, inorganic products, and the presence of flavoring ingredients such as salt. As long as you can address these potential hazards, your dog can eat olives safely.

Purchase natural olives rather than brine-packed olives, as the sodium content of brine-packed olives, is substantially higher. These olives, while healthy for you, may not be for your canine companion.

Crop black couple eating food on sofa near dog

Olives prepared with other ingredients, such as cheese, peppers, or garlic, should be avoided because they can be hazardous to dogs, even in small amounts.

Remove the pits and seeds before giving your dog olives to avoid choking hazards and probable tooth damage.

No matter how convenient a solution it seems to be to avoid wasting food, never offer your dog olives that are past their best-by date. The reason is that if the olives have mold on them, they could contain tremorgenic mycotoxins, which can make dogs very sick.

Some olives that are safe for dogs to eat?

There are essentially two criteria that decide whether your dog can eat olives safely or not. They are –

  • The olives should be unflavored and plain
  • The olives should be organic

In addition to that, you should avoid feeding your pet dog olives with the pit. This is a potent choking hazard for them, owing to their size and hardness.

Can dogs eat green olives with pimentos?

Yes, dogs can eat green olives with pimentos. But, this is safe for your pup only if the pimentos are the only thing placed into the olive.

Unfortunately, garlic, cheese, onion, oil, salt, and other flavoring ingredients are, more often than not, found to be a part of pimentos. These ingredients are terrible for your dog’s health, and it would be best if you take care to avoid them.

What Are The Different Kinds Of Olives You Can Feed Your Dog?

Here are some different kinds of olives that you can introduce your dog to gradually!

  • Green olives
  • Black olives
  • Greek olives
  • Manzanilla olives
  • Kalamata olives

While you can feed your dog all the types of olives, you must remember that unsalted, unflavored, and organic olives are best for your dog. Further, to prevent your dog from choking on these tasty snacks, you should take care to pit the olives before you feed them.

Can Dogs Eat Kalamata Olives?

As long as the Kalamata olives that you’re feeding your dog are unflavored, organic, and preferably pitted, your dog can eat kalamata olives safely!

Can Dogs Eat Olives From the Tree?

The fact is that raw and fresh olives are probably the healthiest way to feed olives to your dogs. But, the issue in doing that arises because of the pit of the olives.

Green olive fruits growing on tree with thin stalks and pointed foliage in countryside

The pits of olives are not only hard but extremely dangerous because your dog can choke on them very easily. Therefore, if your dog wants to eat olives from the tree, make sure you remove the pit before feeding it to him.

Are Olive Trees Poisonous to Dogs?

No, olive trees are not poisonous to dogs. However, they can present themselves as choking hazards. Therefore, be attentive toward your dog while it chews a branch of an olive tree.

What if a Dog Eats an Olive Pit? Are Dogs Allergic To Olives?

When a dog eats an olive pit, two scenarios might pan out.

In the first scenario, your dog can choke on the pit because of its small size and the fact that it is hard.

In the second scenario, your dog might chip his tooth because of how hard the pit is. Therefore, while feeding fresh olives to your dog, you must remember to get rid of the pits.

Dogs can be allergic to olives. Even though this allergy is not a common occurrence, you must take care to check whether your dog is allergic to olives or not.

The way to do this is to introduce a small piece of olive to your dog. Observe your dog for a few hours after this. If your dog shows no signs of discomfort or any allergic symptoms, it likely is not allergic to olives.

However, if your dog does show allergic reactions, consult your vet immediately.

Are Seasoned Olives OK?

No, any olives that have seasoning and flavoring on them are not OK for your dog.

Are Stuffed Olives OK?

You should avoid feeding your dog stuffed olives.

Olives, Stuffed Olives, Tapas, Pintxo, Appetizer

Usually, stuffed olives are flavored with salt and other ingredients, which can harm your dog.

What Happens If The Dogs Eat One Olive Too Many?

Typically, the best course of action you can take when your dogs have eaten one olive too many is to hydrate them and observe them for any digestive issues like diarrhea or vomiting.

Unless your dog exhibits any of these symptoms, you need not panic. Take him to the vet to be sure that your dog is healthy.

However, if you do notice your dog urinating excessively, feeling dehydrated, vomiting, or experiencing loose motions, consult your vet on an emergency basis.

FAQS

Can dogs choke on olives?

Dogs can’t choke on olives, but the pits are potential choking hazards.

How poisonous are olives to dogs?

Olives aren’t poisonous to dogs. However, you should feed your dogs olives in moderate quantities only.

How Many Olives Can Dogs Eat?

Dogs can eat about two olives per week. Exceeding that might invite digestive issues for your dog.

About the author

I'm Gulshan, a passionate pet enthusiast. Dive into my world where I share tips, stories, and snapshots of my animal adventures. Here, pets are more than just animals; they're heartbeats that enrich our lives. Join our journey!