Now we have another important question that we need to discuss!
“Can dogs eat olives?”
Does every time you make some healthy salad with olives on it always get to see your dog looking at you with her adorable puppy eyes? I know that most of us loving pet parents want nothing but the best for our furry friends. This is why we always love to share with them our healthy foods.
So you may be tempted to share your green salad with olives with her, especially that we know how healthy and nutritious olives are. But is it safe for your dog? This is what we are about to learn, so please keep on reading below.
Are Olives Safe For Your Dogs?
So let’s get straight to one big question, “Can dogs eat olives?”
The short answer is yes, but you have to do this in moderation. You can give olives to your dog as an occasional treat, or if you want, you can chop up small quantities of it and occasionally add it to their meal.
But for the long answer, well, it is a little more complicated than that. Though olives are now poisonous to dogs, you have to remember that not all olives have been created equal. Anyway, here are some things you need to consider before giving your pet some olives.
- Don’t give your dog canned or pickled varieties of olives. Olives naturally contain sodium, so you have to avoid those varieties in the can or pickled since the additional salt, as well as spices, are not good for your dog. In fact, these ingredients can even lead to serious long-term health issues.
- Stuffed olives are a big no-no! Feta cheese, blue cheese, and anchovies are the most common ingredients used as fillings and none of these are particularly good for your furry friend. Worst of all, they may have preservatives as well as other ingredients for taste such as garlic, which can be extremely toxic to your dog.
- Be careful with the pits. Make sure that the olives you will serve are free from any pits. Remember that all seeds can be toxic and can even be a fatal choking hazard and may damage or break her teeth. Green olives are usually the ones with pits, while black olives don’t.
- Make sure the olives are not moldy. Of course, we want to serve the freshest olives to our lovely pets. The old ones may already have molds on them and remember that this is absolutely not good for your pet. It can even cause tremors and seizures.
- Opt for black olives. You will find both green and black olives in the market. The difference? Well, the black ones are ripe while the green ones are not. Moreover, green olives also contain a little bit more sodium on it.
Now, How Much Olives Should You Give To Your Dog?
Just like us, not all of the dogs will like olives. This fruit is also an acquired taste. If your dog hasn’t had one before, I suggest you give just a little piece at a time so you can observe if he has an allergic reaction to it or not.
Olives also contain oil, which is good to be consumed in moderation. Too much of it can result in a runny tummy for your dog. Moreover, this fruit has a fairly high amount of fat which can result in weight gain, and again, there is this issue about salt.
Benefits of Olives to Your Dog
Below are some of the essential benefits that olives can offer to your pet:
- Olives are a good source of protein and are rich in vitamins and minerals such as calcium Vitamin A, E, and K which are known to improve your dog’s vision, her coat’s condition and of course, bone health.
- Olives are rich with the good kind of fat or monounsaturated fat too that will help lessen unhealthy cholesterol levels as well as break down fat cells which is vital for a healthy weight loss
- Olives contain antioxidants, vitamin E, chlorophyll and carotenoids which is important in boosting your dog’s immune system.
Olive oil also comes with amazing benefits to your dogs. Olive oil has been known to be a wonder food for both man and animals. Its benefits range from lowering the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases to preventing several forms of cancer and improving the immunity system so it will be able to fight off diseases. Also, thanks to the several contents of antioxidants, olive oil can help prevent the oxidation of free radical cells in the body. This is a process that can drastically speed up the aging process.
Supplementing your dog’s diet with something like olive oil is not necessary, but it can be a welcome addition from time to time.
Final Thought
“Can dogs eat olives?” – Isn’t it great to know the answer to this question and allow your dogs to benefit from nutritious treats? As long as you give them to her in moderation and they will be served naturally, there should be no problem.
But just in case your dog has eaten in large quantities, whether preserved or not, then you should contact your vet immediately. Jarred olives contain high amounts of sodium, and this could be a problem.
And as I already mentioned, the pits can also be a threat to the digestive system of your pups. So it is recommended that you pay a visit with your dog to your vet, depending on the size and the breed of your dog and, of course, the amount that has been ingested.
Anyway, if you still have any more questions, feel free to leave them in the comment section below so I can get to discuss them with you.
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