Can dogs eat it?
Can dogs eat olives?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Plain, pitted olives are not toxic to dogs, so one or two are fine as an occasional snack. Most olives, though, are cured in salty brine and served with garlic, herbs or stuffings, and the pits are a choking and blockage hazard. Pitted, rinsed and plain is the only way to share them.
Salt is the everyday issue
Brined olives can contain 1.5 to 2 g of salt per 100 g. A single olive is not much, but a dog that eats a whole jar's worth takes in far more sodium than it should. Rinsing olives under the tap removes some of the surface brine.
Excessive salt can make a dog very thirsty and, in large amounts, seriously unwell.
Olive oil is a separate question: it is not toxic, but a tablespoon holds around 120 calories of pure fat, so it should not be poured over your dog's food without your vet's agreement.
Pits and choking
Olive pits are hard, sharp-ended and about 1.5 to 2 cm (under 1 in) long. They can crack teeth, lodge in the throat of small dogs, or sit in the intestine. Buy pitted olives if you plan to share, and never leave a bowl of unpitted olives on a low table.
Stuffed and marinated olives
Olives stuffed with garlic, blue cheese, anchovy or chili, and those marinated with garlic cloves and herbs in oil, bring extra risks. Garlic is toxic to dogs, and oily marinades add fat. Tapenade combines several of these. Keep them all for people.
How many is reasonable
For a medium dog of 15 kg (33 lb), one or two plain pitted olives now and then is plenty. Small dogs can have half of one. Olives are around 115 to 145 calories per 100 g, mostly from fat, so they are not an ideal regular reward.
Key takeaways
- Plain pitted olives are not toxic to dogs.
- Brined olives are salty, so rinse and limit them.
- Pits can cause choking, broken teeth or blockages.
- Garlic-stuffed and marinated olives are not safe.