Our furry friends love to beg! If you own a canine, you can attest to this fact personally. If you find yourself snacking on some black olives or enjoying them on your pizza, your dog has probably shown some interest in them.
Like most good canine parents, you have probably wondered if black olives are safe to eat. You have likely even made an interest search asking; can dogs eat black olives?
The answer is complicated and not that simple!
Are Black Olives Good for My Dog?
According to the American Kennel Club, your canine can eat black olives. In fact, a black olive every once in a while will not hurt your pup and may even offer some health benefits. However, they cannot enjoy the snack excessively, especially if salted.
Usually, black olives are salted and pickled, containing high amounts of sodium. The high amounts of sodium are potentially hazardous for your canine friend and lead to kidney problems, pancreatic issues, dehydration, and salt poisoning.
If black olives are given to your canine correctly, they can benefit your dog’s health. Olives are high in healthy fats, help control body fat in dogs, and have anti-inflammatory properties.
Black olives are also high in vitamins and antioxidants that are great for your canine’s immune system and help to prevent illness.
Can Dogs Eat Black Olives?
Can dogs eat black olives? The answer is yes because black olives are not directly toxic to canines. However, the details are a bit more complicated.
According to Dr. Andrew Miller MRCVS, there are several risks to consider when your dog consumes black olives.
First, dogs can choke on black olive pits and break their teeth on black olive pits. Olive pits can be quite large for a pup and can plug your canine’s airways. Additionally, if your dog swallows a black olive pit, it can become stuck in your dog’s intestinal tracts.
Both situations can result in severe injury or even death.
Did You Know?
Olives are a great topping for pizza. Ok, you probably did know that. But do you also know: Can Dogs Eat Pizza?
Second, black olives can be stuffed or soaked with foods that are toxic to dogs.
Black olives are usually soaked in oils or seasonings, potentially very dangerous for your canine. This is especially true for garlic, as garlic is frequently paired with black olives.
Onions are sometimes stuffed in black olives as well, which is another issue. Both garlic and onions are highly toxic to dogs. Another risk is black olives that have been soaked in alcohol. Your canine should never consume alcohol.
It is best to avoid altogether olives that have been stuffed or soaked!
Third, frequently feeding your dog black olives puts them at risk of developing various health issues. As previously mentioned, too many black olives can pose several health risks because of the high amount of sodium in black olives.
What Do I Do if My Dog Eats Black Olives?
If you occasionally give your dog an unstuffed black olive, you have no reason to worry, especially if the black olives are unsalted.
You can keep an eye on your dog if you are worried. If there is an issue, your dog’s behavior will indicate so. If your dog is indicating that he or she does not feel well, contact your vet for guidance.
Generally, olives are perfectly safe for your pet to consume in moderation.
Do You Know?
Lots of snacks are safe for dogs, but some snacks you should just not give your pet. We sat down and did some research and our vet has verified it: Can Dogs Eat Bell Peppers?
