Mary Allen
Olives are typical of the Mediterranean region. However, the taste of the stone fruit is controversial among lovers of Mediterranean cuisine. Either you love olives. Or you don’t like them at all.
It’s the same with our dogs. Some dogs love to eat olives. And some four-legged friends avoid these special fruits. But our dogs are allowed to eat olives at all. Or can they even harm you?
Only feed olives without pits
In a nutshell, the answer is: “Dogs can eat olives”. Pitted olives are usually well tolerated. The Mediterranean superfood contains many healthy ingredients. The high-fat content is harmless as long as your four-legged friend does not eat too many olives.
Before giving olives to your dog, be sure to remove the pit. He can be dangerous for your four-legged friend. In rare cases, the nucleus can block the airway. It, therefore, poses a choking hazard.
The risk of intestinal obstruction from olive stones is significantly greater. They remain in the intestinal tract. There they block the transport of the intestinal contents. A life-threatening intestinal obstruction occurs.
Olives for dogs
You can get olives in many different varieties on the market. They are offered all naturally. They are often pickled in oil or brine. And olives can be stuffed, for example with paprika paste or almonds.
But not every variant is suitable as a dog snack for your four-legged friend.
If you want to feed your dog olives, go for unsalted olives. Because olives in brine are unsuitable for your darling. The high amount of salt is very unhealthy for your four-legged friend. Completely natural olives without additives are often available fresh at markets.
Stuffed olives are also not a suitable dog meal. Just like olives in oil, because the fruit is naturally very fatty. If you also put them in oil, that means too much fat for your dog.
If your dog tends to be overweight, you should generally avoid olives. The same applies if he is already overweight.
Green or black olives?
The olive is the fruit of the olive tree (lat. Olea europaea ). It is elliptical to spherical. Their length is up to four centimeters. It is about two centimeters wide. A very hardcore sits in the soft flesh of the fruit.
Olives are available in green and black. The difference between the two is very simple. Green olives are unripe. Black or purple-brown olives, on the other hand, are fully ripe.
Green olives are inedible. They are very bitter. Therefore, these fruits are soaked in water several times. This flushes out the bitter substances from the fruit. You can then eat these olives.
Olives are particularly rich in unsaturated fatty acids. These are very important for the cardiovascular system. In addition, olives are rich in sodium, phosphorus, calcium, and iron.
Of great importance is the content of vitamins A, E, K, and folic acid. Olives also contain a large number of secondary plant substances. These also contribute to health.
The positive nutritional properties are useful for your dog’s health. That’s why you’re allowed to give them a few olives to eat from time to time. However, you should pay attention to a few things.
Identify black-colored olives
When buying the olives, make sure they are ripe, i.e. dark olives. But be careful. You can sometimes find black olives in stores that are not yet ripe. These are colored fruits. Green olives are colored with sodium hydroxide and ferrous gluconate to simulate ripeness.
You can recognize colored fruits by their uniform pitch-black color. However, ferrous gluconate is considered harmless in foods and medicines. It is therefore approved as a food additive under the designation E 579.
Olive trees have been cultivated for thousands of years
Olive trees have existed since the fourth millennium BC. People have always valued the olive as a useful plant. You can’t imagine many Mediterranean dishes without olives. We like to eat them as a snack with a glass of wine.
The main use of the olive is to make oil. Around 90 percent of the olive harvest ends up in oil production. Olive oil is one of the highest quality and best tasting oils.
Can I give olive oil to my dog?
You don’t want to deprive your dog of the healthy ingredients of the olives? However, you can not imagine feeding olives?
Then the solution is very simple. Buy high-quality, cold-pressed olive oil. You can add this to your dog’s food from time to time. In this way, you can give your dog valuable nutrients easily and without danger.
Olive oil consists mostly of oleic acid, palmitic acid, and linoleic acid. The content of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is negligible. Overall, the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids is just under 10%.
So why does olive oil have this reputation for being particularly healthy? This is due to a high proportion of provitamin A and two antioxidants.
Are olives toxic to dogs?
Pitted ripe olives are not toxic to dogs. Because of the fat content, you should only feed the Mediterranean fruits in small amounts. If your dog is sensitive, it may develop an allergic reaction to the fruit. In some dogs, eating olives causes vomiting or diarrhea.
Therefore, you should pay attention to good quality when feeding your four-legged friend. Give only very small pieces at the beginning. Observe how your dog tolerates olives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs eat green olives?
On top of that, fruits are also healthy because they contain a lot of unsaturated fatty acids. Besides, you’d have to hit hard to get fat from it. 100 grams of green olives have just 154 calories, the black ones a little less. For comparison, potato chips have over 550.
What is the best oil for dogs?
Since the dog absorbs many omega-6 fatty acids from the meat when it is fed raw, it is important to ensure that the oil has an increased content of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oils such as salmon oil, cod oil, or cod liver oil, and certain vegetable oils such as hemp, linseed, rapeseed, or walnut oil are very rich in this regard.
What does flaxseed oil do for dogs?
Linseed oil is rich in valuable nutrients and is, therefore, the ideal supplement for barf, dry and wet food. Linseed oil supports skin and coat health and ensures a shiny coat. Linseed oil strengthens the immune system and promotes healthy digestion for more well-being.
Which oil for a beautiful coat?
Evening primrose oil is especially important for dogs’ skin as it helps to regulate the skin’s water balance. With a regular intake of evening primrose oil, your four-legged friend also benefits from soft and shiny fur and helps against itching and dry skin.
Is canola oil good for dogs?
It is well suited for skin and coat problems and promotes the healing process in the event of inflammation. Rapeseed oil has the highest proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids and is a great addition to dog food.
Which oil against dandruff in dogs?
Which oil helps against dandruff in dogs? Oils that contain a lot of high-quality unsaturated fatty acids are well suited. These include salmon oil, linseed oil, hemp oil, and safflower oil. For particularly stubborn dandruff, walnut oil is used internally and externally.
What do dogs find disgusting?
Spices. In particular, hot spices such as chili or cayenne pepper should never come near the dog’s nose. The irritation of the mucous membranes is immense and hurts the dog. Cinnamon is also unpleasant for dogs and even has a carcinogenic effect.
How toxic are chives to dogs?
Onions, chives, and garlic are toxic to dogs. Their essential oils contain sulfides, which destroy red blood cells in dogs and can lead to life-threatening anemia. Spices are generally difficult for dogs to digest.