Is Olive Oil OK For Dogs?

A natural oil extracted from olives, olive oil is full of health benefits for human diets and dog diets alike. Here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of olive oil and how to safely incorporate it into your dog’s diet.

Can Dogs Have Olive Oil? Is Olive Oil Good For Dogs?

Yes, dogs can have olive oil! Olive oil is good for dogs in moderation and even has several health benefits when added to a balanced doggy diet.

Olive oil is a healthy source of vitamins and minerals that every dog’s diet needs. Extra virgin olive oil is known for helping dogs maintain healthy skin and a shiny coat.

Health Benefits of Olive Oil For Dogs

Olive oil has several wellness properties for pups. It can boost your dog’s immune system, help them maintain a healthy coat, and be a great source of healthy fats. Here are the health benefits you can expect from adding a little EVOO to your dog’s meals.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants like vitamin E regulate free radical damage in your dog’s body, helping to prevent things like cardiovascular disease and tissue damage. Vitamin E is also important for making sure your dog’s coat stays healthy.

Olive oil also contains a type of antioxidant called carotenoids, a pigment found in certain foods like carrots, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Carotenoids are known for their ability to boost a dog’s immune system and play a major role in maintaining your dog’s health.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Olive oil contains several types of omega fatty acids, particularly the omega-3s your furry friend needs to maintain a healthy diet! Omega-3s are another type of healthy fats dogs need.

These essential minerals promote heart health and help prevent heart disease, as well as improve brain function and reduce cognitive decline.

Monounsaturated Fats

Monounsaturated fats are healthy fatty acids found in certain foods. The main type of fat found in olive oil is oleic acid. Dogs need these healthy fats to maintain immune health, raise good cholesterol, and lower bad cholesterol in older dogs.

Monounsaturated fats also help break down fat cells in the body and move them through the digestive system. Since olive oil works as a natural laxative, it can help your dog with digestive issues like constipation while working as a dietary aid to prevent weight gain and maintain a healthy body weight.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Olive oil is a great anti-inflammatory food for both humans and dogs! Inflammation is caused when your dog’s body responds to an injury or threat of infection, which can happen in any part of their body. The cells around the issue become inflamed as they produce new cells to replace those affected.

The anti-inflammatory properties in olive oil come mainly from polyphenols (oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol). These powerful antioxidants are also known for their anti-cancer properties. Polyphenols can also promote joint health in dogs, and help ease symptoms of chronic conditions like arthritis.

How Does Olive Oil Help Dog’s Skin and Coat?

Dogs who struggle with dry, flaky skin can certainly benefit from olive oil in their diet. The vitamin E in olive oil soothes dry skin and replenishes moisture, leaving your dog’s skin soft and their coat healthy and shiny. The oleic acid found in olive oil may also contribute to a dog’s skin health, and help reduce itching caused by allergies.

How To Add Olive Oil To Your Dog’s Diet

Adding olive oil to your dog’s food can be a huge benefit, but it’s important to start with high-quality food in the first place. JustFoodForDog’s natural dog food meals are made from all-natural, whole ingredients and contain no preservatives, dyes, or other pesky additives.

You can add a teaspoon of olive oil over your dog’s dry food or mix it in with wet food. Adding small amounts of olive oil to homemade dog treat recipes, like this DIY chickpea dog treat recipe, is another way you can incorporate the benefits of olive oil into a tasty snack for your pooch.

How Much Olive Oil Should My Dog Have?

Give olive oil to your dog in small amounts, particularly when you first begin adding olive oil to your dog’s diet. A teaspoon of olive oil with their meal is plenty to start.

Too much olive oil can irritate your dog’s digestive tract and induce vomiting, or cause your dog’s stool to be extremely loose and cause diarrhea. Dogs with sensitive stomachs should only have very small quantities of olive oil to prevent stomach or digestive issues.

What If My Dog Has Too Much Olive Oil?

The excess fat in olive oil can cause stomach issues for dogs and even lead to health issues like pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a condition where your dog’s pancreas becomes inflamed. This causes a lot of discomfort as well as vomiting or diarrhea. No one wants that for their pooch!

What Other Oils Are Good For Dogs?

Olive oil is a healthy addition to a dog’s diet in most cases, but some dogs’ digestive systems may not process it well. Olive oil is also relatively expensive. There are other oils that dogs can get major health benefits from, like algae oil.

Fish Oil

Fish oil is also well known for helping dogs who have dry skin and dandruff. It’s full of omega-3s which of course contribute to your dog’s healthy skin and shin coat, but they also promote heart and joint health in pups. JustFoodForDog’s Omega+ supplements for dogs are a great way to add omega-3s to your dog’s diet and reap all the health benefits they offer.

Algae Oil

Algae oil, sometimes called algal oil, is a microalgae that’s 100% vegetarian and vegan. It’s a great plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A and D. It’s also known for helping to improve things like eye health and memory in dogs as well as reducing inflammation.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is full of nutrients and benefits for dogs, both in their diet and applied topically. Rich in fatty acids and healthy fats, coconut oil can greatly improve your dog’s skin and make their coat extra shiny. If adding coconut oil to your dog’s food, make sure to give it to them only in small amounts. Too much coconut oil can cause serious stomach upset and lead to pancreatitis in dogs.