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Can and should dogs eat olive oil?

2020-10-07

The short answer: YES! 

Love dogs? So do we! And as dog lovers, we naturally want the very best for the animals we welcome into our homes, ensuring that they are as happy and healthy as they can be. You won’t be surprised to hear that it is the food you provide for your pets that, more than anything else, will influence their future health, happiness, energy levels and maybe even their vet bills!

But what about olive oil? Can and should dogs eat olive oil?

The short answer: YES! 

Olive oil is not only perfectly safe for dogs, but incredibly beneficial for your dog’s health. Now let's look at those all-important facts in a little more detail...

Olive oil for dog health  

We all know that Extra Virgin Olive Oil is one of the healthiest fats for humans, but what about our dogs? Good news, dog lovers, it brings us great pleasure to say that the awesome nutritional value of olive oil is just as helpful and healthy for our canine companions too!

All the goodness we humans get from premium, high quality olive oils - rich in phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients - does just as much good for a dog’s immune system. 

Not everyone realises but dogs can experience heart disease and diabetes, just like their owners. As the person providing their food, the responsibility lies with you to ensure they are eating the right amounts of the right foods. Introducing good fats into your dog’s diet can help lower levels of bad cholesterol, reducing their chances of experiencing such issues in later life. 

Antioxidant-rich extra virgin olive oil is also a great anti-inflammatory. This is perfect for soothing those tender legs from chasing other dogs around the park and to assist with blood flow and circulation. 

Olive oil for skin and fur

Wondering if olive oil can help your dog on the outside as much as the inside? Absolutely! 

We already busted the myth that olive oil is bad for human skin (Spoiler Alert: it turns out olive oil is incredibly beneficial for our skin!). We explored how olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil because it contains polyphenols that are amazing antioxidants, is an excellent natural moisturiser that helps clear bacteria and inflammation. This is totally true for your dogs skin too!

If your furry friend suffers from dry skin, introducing a little olive oil into their diet, or gently massaging oil into the dry patches, will soon start to clear it up. Olive oil is definitely the most delicious solution we’ve encountered for helping to prevent skin damage and protect our pooches from dry skin. Plus, it’s widely available and superbly cost-effective compared to vet bills!   

Also, remember those olive oil hair masks from our #HomeSpa campaign? You guessed it, they work wonders on doggie fur too! Follow the recipe on our Instagram page for a sure way to a silky smooth shine that would turn even Swayze green with envy! 

Choose the right olive oil for your dog

As we mentioned earlier, all the goodness we look for in olive oil is also good for our pets. So the easiest way to choose the best olive oil for your dog’s health is to choose the olive oil that is best for your own! 

You should start by looking for a high quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Be careful though - not all extra virgin olive oils are the same, and not all oils that claim to be extra virgin really are extra virgin! There are very specific standards oil has to meet to be classed as “extra virgin”.

When you purchase La Española olive oils, we guarantee that you are buying authentic olive oil that meets those extra virgin standards and stays fresh throughout the process, from the tree to the table of every home. This allows us to preserve all its intensity in both flavour and taste.

Too much of a good thing? 

Okay, this is an important bit. While olive oil comes with a fantastic array of health benefits that you don’t often see in other foods, we must remember that everything is best served when served in moderation. In the case of olive oil, too much could cause irritation for some dogs and lead to an upset tummy. It’s also worth noting that although olive oil is a ‘good’ fat, it’s still a fat. This means it has a high calorie content which could lead to weight issues if you’re using too much. 

We have seen that one tablespoon added to dry food should be enough for dogs weighing 10-20kg, and a tablespoon for larger dogs over 40kg. However, we would always advise that you seek guidance from your vet if you are planning to add olive oil regularly to the dog’s dinner. Our furry friends are individuals, after all, as any dog owner will happily tell you!