Many tasty dishes call for olive oil as a cooking medium. It adds a delicious touch to salads and bread when drizzled over them. Since olive oil is good for humans in many ways, including their hair and skin, you may be wondering if your dog can also benefit from it.
Olive oil is safe to give to dogs. But before you hand over the olive oil, you should educate yourself. Olive oil has both positive and negative effects in high doses; moderation is key.
Is there a safe maximum? What possible dangers could there be? Here, we’ll examine its benefits for canines and discuss ways to work it into your pet’s diet.
Is Olive Oil Good for Dogs?
As luck would have it, moderate amounts of olive oil are safe for canine consumption. They may even benefit from it. Olive oil’s skin- and coat-boosting properties are especially apparent when used regularly.
Olive oil also contains the beneficial fatty acids that you may have seen advertised by dog food manufacturers. Giving your dog olive oil on a regular basis can help him develop a stronger, glossier coat, though the effects may take some time to become noticeable.
The benefits of olive oil for canines go far beyond their shiny coats. Antioxidants like vitamin E are abundant in extra virgin olive oil and can help safeguard your dog from the dangers of free radicals.
Because monounsaturated fats in olive oil are effective at reducing cholesterol by preventing the formation of new fat cells, using it to help your dog lose weight is a win-win. Olive oil is another option for relieving your dog’s constipation by helping to loosen the bowels.
Last but not least, olive oil can boost your dog’s food’s flavor and texture. You can add a little olive oil to your pet’s food to make it more enticing if they are a finicky eater and are refusing to eat it.
The Benefits of Olive Oil for Dogs
1. It’s good for your dog’s skin and coat
You may have noticed that many premium dog food brands boast the presence of fatty acids in their food. What these brands don’t tell you is that you can easily add these acids yourself by mixing a teaspoon of olive oil into your dog’s regular meal.
Your dog’s skin will stay healthy and supple thanks to the olive oil’s phytonutrients, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids. Your dog’s coat will benefit from these nutrients as well, gaining sheen and strength.
We advise against rubbing olive oil into your dog’s fur because he or she is likely to lick it off, nullifying the treatment’s effects.
A teaspoon of olive oil added to your dog’s diet should help with the dry skin. Given its lower acidity, extra virgin olive oil is our top pick.
2. It can help your dog maintain healthy body weight
Olive oil’s monounsaturated fats contribute to lipolysis (the breakdown of adipose tissue) and cholesterol reduction.
The laxative properties of olive oil make it a great addition to your dog’s food, and it can help stimulate your dog’s digestive system.
Olive oil should be avoided if your dog has diarrhea or vomiting because it can make the condition worse.
3. It can improve the taste and consistency of your dog’s food
If your dog is picky about what they eat, you might try adding a little olive oil to their dish to give it a different flavor and texture. If your dog is eating dry or old food, this method may be more helpful.
4. It can boost your dog’s immune system and stave off cognitive decline
Antioxidants in olive oil, such as vitamin E, may help prevent free radical damage to your dog’s cell membranes.
Tissue damage and diseases like dementia and cardiovascular disease can result from free radicals’ over-oxidation of cells.
Antioxidants have been shown to reduce the effects of free radicals in humans, and it appears that dogs experience the same benefit.
What Are the Risks of Giving Your Dog Olive Oil?
Even though it may have some positive effects on a dog’s health, olive oil is high in calories and fat. In other words, if your dog has a history of overeating, he or she will likely continue to put on extra pounds.
If your dog is overweight, consult your veterinarian before adding oil or other “human food” to its diet.
In the event that your dog consumes too much olive oil, such as if a bottle were to be dropped on the floor or if you did not add it to their diet moderately, they may experience stomach distress and diarrhea.
Consuming an excessive amount of fat can also lead to pancreatitis.
Serving Size
Mix in a teaspoon (for dogs weighing 30–40 pounds) to a tablespoon (for dogs weighing 90–100 pounds) with your dog’s regular meal on a daily or weekly basis. Olive oil, coconut oil, and fish oil are all excellent alternatives that can be rotated in as “healthy shots” into your dog’s diet.
What Kind of Olive Oil Can Dogs Have?
If you want to see real change, use extra virgin oil. The process of cold pressing the finest olives used in its production helps to preserve many of the oil’s invaluable nutrients.
However, low-quality olives that have been heated or chemically processed to remove their beneficial characteristics are the source of pure and light olive oils.
The lower acidity of extra virgin olive oil is also easier on a dog’s stomach.
How Much Olive Oil Can Dogs Have?
Although adding olive oil to your diet can have health benefits, doing so too quickly or in excessive amounts (more than two teaspoons per day) can have the opposite effect.
The easiest and healthiest way to add olive oil to your dog’s diet is to add a teaspoon to a meal (appropriate for a medium-sized, 30- to 40-pound dog).
If your veterinarian gives the green light, you can give olive oil to your pet once a week or even every day. A larger dog breed would be fine with a tablespoon per day.
To avoid any potential reactions, it is best to gradually introduce new substances to your dog over time. Extra virgin olive oil is ideal for your dog’s diet because it is lower in acid than regular olive oil.
Conclusion
In addition to improving your dog’s appetite for dry food, olive oil has many other benefits.
To begin with, it can improve the health of their skin and fur, which is especially helpful for dogs that shed. It has the potential to raise the moisture content of the skin, which in turn will saturate the fur and make it soft and supple.
Second, because it reduces inflammation and facilitates joint lubrication, it is great for canines that have mobility issues due to arthritic joints. Especially helpful for senior canine companions.
Last but not least, your dog’s health will benefit from the antioxidants in the food. Incorporating olive oil into your dog’s diet is likely to have positive effects on your pet’s health.
Be cautious when first introducing the oil to your dog. Inquire with your vet about whether weekly or daily dosing is preferable.
For optimal results, give your dog premium dog food. Read on to learn about other dog-friendly foods and share them with other pet parents. Doing so can make a dog’s life better.