Can Dogs Eat Olives?
⚠️ It depends. Plain olives aren't toxic, but they're high in salt and the pits are dangerous.
Plain olives themselves aren't toxic to dogs, but they come with several concerns. Most olives are cured in brine, making them extremely high in sodium. The pits pose choking hazards and can cause intestinal blockage or tooth damage. Stuffed olives may contain harmful ingredients like garlic, blue cheese, or almonds. While olives contain some healthy fats, the risks and high sodium content generally outweigh any benefits for dogs.
Important Information
🩺 Possible Symptoms
- ●Salt toxicity: excessive thirst, vomiting, tremors
- ●Choking on pit: gagging, distress, pawing at mouth
- ●Intestinal blockage: vomiting, constipation, lethargy
- ●Tooth damage from pits: pain, difficulty eating
- ●High fat: diarrhea, pancreatitis risk
- ●Dehydration from sodium
📋 What to Do
1. Check if pits were consumed (choking/blockage risk)
2. Determine salt content and amount eaten
3. Provide plenty of fresh water for salt intake
4. Monitor for excessive thirst and urination
5. Watch for signs of intestinal blockage if pits swallowed
6. Check what olives were stuffed with
7. Contact vet if large amount consumed
🛡️ Prevention & Tips
It's best to avoid giving olives to dogs entirely. If you must share, give only one plain, pitted, low-sodium olive very rarely. Never give stuffed olives. Remove all pits first. Rinse brined olives to reduce salt (though they'll still be high). Keep olive containers sealed and out of reach. Choose healthier, lower-sodium treats designed for dogs.