Who doesn’t love olives? They’re juicy, sweet, tangy and oh so delicious! When you’re eating pizza topped with olives or cutting some up for your pasta, it’s tempting to slip some under the table to your dog. Those puppy dog eyes seem irresistible! And it’s technically fruit, so what’s the harm, you’d think?
But wait, have you asked yourself whether dogs can eat olives?
You don’t want your pooch to fall sick due to lack of information. It’s best to stay informed about the dos and don’ts of canine food care to keep them in the best of heath.
Don’t worry, we’ve compiled a list of all the common concerns for you to sit back, relax and read.
Read on below to understand the guidelines of feeding olives to your little pooch, fuss free and harmlessly.
Can dogs have Olives?
Yes, dogs can have olives. While you contemplate whether to feed them, know that the matter isn’t about yes or no. It’s about how, in which form, you feed olives to your furry pet.
If the olives are naturally plucked from trees, there is no harm in giving them to your dog. They should be unsalted, unpickled and free from any preservatives. The next time you open a can of sliced olives, don’t feed them to your dog! Feeding canned olives to your dog can seriously affect their gut health since the high amount of sodium doesn’t suit them. Instead, olives in the form of fresh fruit are available plentiful. They have the green light as food!
Are Olives Bad for Dogs?
We must remember that dogs are wild animals, only domesticated a few centuries ago. While olives aren’t toxic, they can’t be ruled out as harmless.
Olives have a high amount of monounsaturated fats. High fat levels affect the pancreas, and can cause hyperlipidaemia and heart disease. Also, keep in mind that every dog is different. If new food like olives gives your pet tummy pains, its best to avoid them for their health!
Veterinarians suggest pet owners to avoid food like onions and avocados, known to be toxic to pets. Instead of merely googling as you’re doing now, talk to your vet! Don’t be scared by these warnings though, read on below to understand how you can feed olives to your favourite pooch safely!
Can dogs eat olives safely?
Almost anything in excess is toxic, even water! The same applies to olives, which are perfectly safe for dogs, big and small, to eat in moderation.
It’s important to bear in mind that the olives are only harmless in their natural state, i.e. as fresh fruit, not as the toxic sodium fused pickled ones. You can keep olives as treats for your little fluff ball, since a few are enough for them. It’s a big problem only if you find an entire bowl of olives missing. The poor dog will likely develop diarrhea. The high fat content also makes it unhealthy in excess.
Try feeding your dog a little piece of olive for the first time. You never know, they might be allergic or dislike the taste in general!
Overripe and mouldy olive fruits are not supposed to be fed to your dog, so throw them out if they’re spoiled! A big no-no as suggested by veterinarians is non-pitted olives. Not only are they hard to bite and swallow, they become choking hazards to the dog. Unlike humans, they lack the ability to un-pit the olives by themselves so it is imperative that you don’t forget to do so.
A healthy pup is a happy pup!
We get it, dogs are the most precious beings ever!
Are Olives Good for Dogs?
Fruits are extremely delicious, healthy and overloaded with a plethora of vitamins. Fruits like apples, bananas and cranberries are great snacks for dogs since they provide fiber and make for a sweet treat!
Since olives are a type of fruit, it is a given that they’ll be filled with beneficial nutrients. Vitamin E, copper, iron and calcium are just some of the minerals and vitamins in them. For example: white dog breeds like the Chihuahua can benefit from olives since they suffer badly with dry skin in their ears. When eaten in moderation, the fat from olives is actually good for the dog. It keeps the heart and blood healthy and reduces diabetes. The monounsaturated fat inside of olives helps in preventing age-related arthritis in dogs, later on in life.
It has been found that olives also have probiotic properties due to the fermentation processing. Probiotic food improves the overall gut health by contributing to the healthy gut bacterial flora. Because of the abundance of vitamins A, D, E and K, olives can help improve bone health and fight inflammation in the body. It can also improve vision and coat condition!
However, a point to be made is that dogs don’t need to eat olives at all. All the essential nutrients can be taken from dog food since it is specially designed for these animals only. Your dog’s coat will be fresh and shiny irrespective of olives, so no need to fret!
Are Olives Poisonous to Dogs?
No, this fact is completely untrue. Olives do not pose any threat to dogs, presumed that they’re fed in accordance to the expert guidelines. This notion arose because of the misconception around fruit with pits; they can get stuck in the windpipe of your pet and lead to choking.
Compounds like caffeine, theobromine and foods like garlic and onions are on the list of no-nos. Olives, on the other hand, are relatively harmless and do not contain life-threatening compounds.
You must already know by now to keep your dog away from such olives, or any food that is particularly high in sodium. There are some olives that are also mixed with seasonings, preservatives, cheese or any other flavour enhancer. We get it, they’re super tasty to us and you’d have a hard time feeding the same to your dog. But beware because they can contain the worst danger to your dog, garlic.
Make sure to stay far away from these kinds of olives – at least for your beloved pooch’s health!
How many olives should you feed your dog?
You might be wondering about the exact quantity – two, three, ten? Where should you draw the limit on these treats?
Well, start off by feeding your dog to a couple of olives twice a week.
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You should exercise caution with dogs with sensitive tummies. Any new food that you give then should be introduced very slowly. Stop immediately and ask advice from your vet if you notice a difference in their bowel movement, or any other change in behaviour.
Can dogs eat black olives ?
Fully ripened olives are black in colour. They have a slightly sweeter and less bitter taste than their unripe counterparts. Some studies have suggested that black olives are a healthier choice since they have a lower amount of sodium.
A deep, dark purple variety of olives known as Kalamata olives are found in Greece. They are safe for your dog only if you get the pitted variety. Keep them as treats and never forget to remove the olive pit yourself before feeding it to your dog. These olives have a higher sodium content than black olives.
Can dogs eat green olives ?
Green and black olives don’t really have any difference, the only difference between the two is that one is riper than the other. Green olives are harvested from olive trees early in the ripening process than black olives.
However, there isn’t any big difference between the two varieties apart from colour- go ahead and take your pick for your pup!
Can dogs eat green olives with pimentos ?
Pimentos is a type of cherry pepper. They are beautifully paired with olives since the sweetness of pepper cuts with the bitterness of olives. The classic combination has been around since the 1700s, actually!
However, can dogs eat green olives with pimentos? Yes, pimentos are harmless to the dog and you can feed it to them. They give health benefits like Vitamin A and C, beta-carotene which improves eye health. Make sure that green olives have only pimentos stuffed inside, nothing else like salty additives that compromise your canine companion’s health interests.
Now that you’ve read all the dos and don’ts of feeding olives to your dog, check out this fun video of a dog owner feeding his favourite little pup olives. It’s quite hilarious and we’re sure you’ll love it too!
Source:
https://dogcare.dailypuppy.com/can-give-dogs-olives-2705.html