Olives or olives are foods of great nutritional value, rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, fiber, vitamins and minerals that, in addition, do not contain any component that is toxic to dogs. That is why you can offer them to your dog as a reward, sporadically. However, it is important that you take into account some considerations to prevent improper consumption from causing problems in your dog.
If you are wondering if dogs can eat olives, we recommend that you read the following article on our site where we explain how you can safely give them to your pet.
Is it bad for dogs to eat olives?
Olives or olives are the fruit of the olive tree (Olea europaea), a tree typical of countries with a Mediterranean climate. They are fleshy fruits, of variable size, that contain a seed or bone inside. Depending on their color, they are classified as green olives (those that are harvested before ripening) and black olives (those that are harvested at full maturity or shortly before).
Olives are a food of great nutritional value, especially black olives due to their longer stay on the tree. Next, we list the most important aspects of its nutritional composition:
- They are fatty fruits: with a high content of monounsaturated fatty acids (mainly oleic acid). Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid from the omega 9 family that provides numerous he alth benefits An example of this is that it helps lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. It also has anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties. If you want to know more information about natural anti-inflammatories for dogs, don't hesitate to read this article.
- They are a good source of fiber: which is necessary to regulate intestinal transit, stool consistency and maintain a microbiota beneficial gut. We recommend this other post about Fiber for dogs dogs - Importance, food and supplements.
- They are an important source of vitamin E: which helps protect cells against oxidative stress. You can find more information on our site about Vitamin E for dogs - Dosage and uses.
- They are rich in calcium: an essential nutrient that contributes to the formation of good bone structure and the proper functioning of the nervous system, muscular and hormonal.
If at this point you are wondering if dogs can eat black olives or if dogs can eat green olives, the answer is yes. As we have just explained, olives are foods with great nutritional value that, moreover, do not have any component that is toxic to dogs.
Therefore, dogs can eat olives: both black and green olives. However, it is important to clarify the answer, since inadequate consumption can cause problems in your dog. In case you decide to give your dog olives, you must make sure that they are boneless and that they are not stuffed with any ingredient (such as garlic, onion, anchovies or peppers). In addition, you should administer them in moderation since they provide very high amounts of sodium. You can give him an olive or two as a reward on an occasional basis, but not routinely.
Can dogs eat pitted olives?
As we have mentioned, olives are fruits that contain a seed or stone inside. If you decide to give your dog olives as a reward sporadically, you should make sure they are pitted olives.
Bones are a great choking hazard for dogs as, being very voracious animals, they are likely to swallow the unchewed olives and the bone ends up obstructing the airways. On the other hand, if they decide to chew them, dental problems or lesions may appear on the oral mucosa, due to the hardness of the bones. Furthermore, during digestion, the sharp edges of the olive pits could injure the gastrointestinal mucosa, causing ulcers and inflammatory processes in the digestive system.
Therefore, although dogs can eat black and green olives, it is important that before offering them we make sure they are pitted.
What if my dog eats olives?
If your dog eats an olive as a treat sporadically, it shouldn't have any negative consequences. In fact, it is a food rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, fiber, vitamins and minerals, which provide numerous he alth benefits.
However, in dogs with a particularly sensitive digestive system to changes in food or suffering from chronic digestive pathologies (such as inflammatory bowel disease, allergies or intolerances), the ingestion of olives could cause digestive processes with vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain. In these cases, we must avoid offering them olives or any other food that is not part of their usual diet.
If you want to know more information about digestive problems in dogs, consult this article that we recommend.
On the other hand, we must remember that olives are usually preserved in brine, so they have a high sodium content Normally, the Sodium requirement in the diet of adult dogs is low, between 0.12-0.61% expressed as dry matter. If your dog accidentally ate too many olives, his blood sodium levels would rise and there would be a greater urinary excretion of water and sodium to try to compensate. In the event that this occurs, it is important that you provide your dog with freely available water, to prevent imbalances in the hydro-electrolyte balance from occurring. In addition, you should notify your trusted veterinarian, as it may have repercussions on blood pressure, especially in dogs with heart or kidney disease.
Finally, remember that if you decide to offer your dog olives, these must not have a stone or be filled with any ingredient. Now We have commented on the risks posed by the pit of olives in dogs (choking, dental injuries, gastrointestinal ulcers, etc.), in the same way that we must remember that many of the ingredients with which olives are usually filled can be very toxic to dogs. For example, onion and garlic cause oxidative damage to red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemias.
How to give olives to a dog?
In summary, if you are going to offer olives to your dog, remember these three key points:
- Just do it Occasionally: as a reward.
- Make sure that they are bone-free.
- Make sure that they are not stuffed with any ingredients.
