Can dogs eat olives?
Safe in moderationDogs can eat a plain, pitted, unsalted olive now and then, but brined or seasoned olives are too salty and the pit is a choking and blockage hazard.
Reviewed by the Webvet Veterinarian Team · Last reviewed June 26, 2026
Can Dogs Eat Olives?
Dogs can eat olives in moderation, but only if they are plain, pitted, and unsalted. The olive itself is not toxic to dogs, so a stray one that rolls off the counter is not an emergency. The trouble starts with how olives are usually sold and served: brined in salt, marinated in oil, stuffed with garlic or cheese, or left with the hard pit inside. Those versions are the ones that make dogs sick, and the pit is a genuine choking and blockage risk. Treat olives as an occasional novelty, not a daily snack.
- 1Plain, pitted, unsalted olives are safe for dogs in small amounts.
- 2Brined, marinated, and stuffed olives are too salty and can be seasoned with garlic or onion, which are toxic to dogs.
- 3The pit is a choking hazard and can crack teeth or block the intestines. Always remove it.
- 4One or two olives for a big dog and half of one for a small dog is plenty, and only now and then.
- 5Olives are high in fat, so too many can upset the stomach or trigger pancreatitis in sensitive dogs.
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Are olives safe for dogs?
The flesh of an olive is not poisonous to dogs. Olives contain no chemical that harms them, which is why you will sometimes see olive oil or olive extract listed in commercial dog foods. In their plain, natural form, olives even carry a few nutrients that are genuinely good for dogs, including healthy monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, and antioxidants that support skin, coat, and immune health. Those benefits are minor, though, and your dog already gets everything they need from a complete diet, so olives are a novelty rather than a nutritional must. If your dog swipes a single plain olive off your plate, there is no reason to panic.
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The catch is that almost no olive you buy is plain. Most olives sold in jars, cans, and at the deli counter have been cured in a heavy salt brine to make them edible and shelf-stable. That brine leaves each olive packed with sodium, far more than a dog should ever take in at once. Green olives tend to be saltier than black olives, but both are cured, and both should be rinsed and portioned carefully if you offer them at all. The safe answer is to buy or reserve plain, unsalted olives for your dog and skip anything that has been marinated, stuffed, or flavored.
Why olives can be risky for dogs
The biggest risk is salt. Brined olives carry so much sodium that eating several can leave a dog thirsty, nauseous, and shaky. In large amounts, salt can cause dangerous dehydration and, at the extreme, salt poisoning with tremors or seizures. Dogs with heart or kidney conditions are especially sensitive to the sodium load and should avoid brined olives entirely.
The second risk is what gets added to olives. Stuffed and marinated olives may contain garlic, onion, blue cheese, pimentos, or seasoning blends. Garlic and onion are toxic to dogs and can damage red blood cells, so a garlic-stuffed olive is a real hazard even in small numbers. Anything cured with extra oil or spice can also upset a dog's stomach.
The third risk is the pit. An olive pit is small enough to swallow but hard enough to crack a molar or wedge in the digestive tract. In a small dog especially, a single pit can cause a blockage that needs veterinary care. Finally, olives are fatty. A few are fine, but a fatty snacking habit can lead to weight gain, digestive upset, or pancreatitis in dogs prone to it.
How many olives can a dog have?
Keep the portion tiny. For most dogs, one or two plain, pitted, unsalted olives is a reasonable ceiling for a large breed, while a small dog should get no more than half of one. Olives, like all treats, should stay under 10% of your dog's daily calories, and the rest of the diet should come from a complete, balanced dog food. Offer olives only occasionally rather than every day, and always introduce a new food in a small amount so you can watch for any stomach upset. Puppies, senior dogs, and toy breeds have even less room for salty, fatty extras, so lean toward the smaller end of any serving. If your dog is on a sodium-restricted diet for a heart or kidney condition, olives are worth skipping altogether.
| Dog size | Plain, pitted, unsalted olives | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 20 lb) | Half of one, chopped | Rarely |
| Medium (20 to 50 lb) | One | Occasionally |
| Large (over 50 lb) | One to two | Occasionally |
How to prepare and serve olives
Start with the right olive. Choose plain, unsalted olives rather than the brined, marinated, or stuffed kinds. If all you have are jarred olives, rinse them thoroughly under running water to wash off as much brine as you can, though this only helps and does not make a very salty olive truly safe. Next, remove the pit every single time, even for a big dog. Then cut the olive into small pieces, especially for small dogs, to lower the choking risk.
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Never serve olives that have been seasoned with garlic, onion, or spice, and skip olives packed in oil-heavy marinades. Offer the plain pieces on their own or tucked into a lick mat, and always give them as a standalone treat rather than mixed into a salty human dish. If your dog has never had an olive, give a single small piece first and wait a day to make sure it agrees with them.
What to do if your dog ate too many olives
A single plain olive is almost never a problem, so if that is all your dog ate, just keep an eye on them. If your dog got into a bowl of salty brined olives, ate garlic-stuffed or marinated ones, or swallowed a pit, pay closer attention. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst or drinking, drooling, lethargy, or signs of stomach pain. A swallowed pit can cause gagging, retching, or repeated attempts to vomit if it becomes lodged.
Call your veterinarian if your dog shows any of those symptoms or if you know they ate a pit, a large number of salty olives, or anything containing garlic or onion. Have the details ready, including roughly how many olives and what kind. For after-hours guidance you can reach the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. When in doubt, a quick call is always safer than waiting to see what happens.
Safe alternatives to olives
If you want a treat that gives your dog something to look forward to without the salt and pit, there are better everyday options. Blueberries are low in calories, rich in antioxidants, and the perfect bite size for training. Watermelon is hydrating and sweet, just seedless and rind-free. Carrots are another crunchy, low-fat choice many dogs love. Any of these makes a safer daily habit than olives while still feeling like a special snack.
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Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs eat black olives or green olives?
Dogs can eat both black and green olives as long as they are plain, pitted, and unsalted. Green olives are usually saltier than black olives, but both are typically cured in brine, so rinse them, remove the pit, and keep the portion small either way.
Can dogs eat olives in brine or from a jar?
Brined and jarred olives are best avoided because of their heavy salt content. If it is all you have, rinse one well and remove the pit, but plain, unsalted olives are far safer. Never give brined olives to a dog with heart or kidney disease.
Are olive pits dangerous for dogs?
Yes. Olive pits are a choking hazard, can crack a dog's teeth, and may cause an intestinal blockage, which is especially risky for small dogs. Always remove the pit before offering an olive. If your dog swallowed a pit, watch for gagging, vomiting, or belly pain and call your vet.
What are the signs of olive poisoning in dogs?
Plain olives rarely cause poisoning, but salty or garlic-stuffed olives can. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, drooling, lethargy, or tremors. Garlic and onion seasoning can damage red blood cells. If you see these signs, contact your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.
Sources
Reviewed by the Webvet Veterinarian Team
General guidance based on credible veterinary sources — not a diagnosis or a substitute for your veterinarian. If your pet ate something toxic or is unwell, contact your vet or a pet poison line right away.