Are Olive Trees Poisonous to Dogs?

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but certain plants don’t get along too well with our canine companions. For whatever reason, some well-known plants (like yews, mistletoe, English ivy and castor oil plants) can cause them serious harm. If dogs ingest even a little of one of these harmful plants, the consequences to their health could be disastrous.

Besides those that are known to be toxic to dogs, there are dozens more that can still cause them harm. Innocent-looking tulips and lilies, for example, can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and drooling if they’re ingested. And this doesn’t just apply to dogs – cats need to be kept away from them too.

With all that in mind, if you have dogs (or pets of any kind) and fancy an olive tree, you’re right to wonder: are they safe for pets?

Are olive trees pet-friendly?

You’ll be pleased to hear that, yes, olive trees are perfectly safe for pets. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) doesn’t include olive trees (or the fruit they produce) on its extensive list of toxic plants, and there’s no evidence to suggest they can be poisonous to either dogs or cats.

Your dog will be just fine chewing on olive tree bark and even eating olives, although there is a ‘but’. We don’t recommend encouraging your dog to eat the olives or allowing them to eat multiple one after another, as the pits contained within them could potentially block your pet’s throat and cause them to choke. If you have a young dog, these pits are also firm enough to potentially chip a tooth!

In a nutshell though, provided you’re careful and don’t allow your dog to eat the fruit, olive trees are perfectly safe.

Browse the UK’s largest range of olive trees

Now you know olive trees are dog-safe, explore the vast selection of stunning specimens available at Olive Grove Oundle. We deliver across the UK – order yours online today!