What cooking oils are safe for dogs?

As any competent cook will know, there is a vast range of cooking oils many of which offer benefits to humans when they are used for cooking and other applications.

But what cooking oils are safe for dogs? In this article I’ll look at 5 cooking oils that are safe for your dog.

The five best cooking oils for dogs are fish oil, sunflower oil, flaxseed oil, coconut oil and olive oil. Each of these oils can be given to your dog and each oil can provide a range of different benefits from helping with digestion through to supporting healthy skin and coat. If you are looking to choose then we recommend olive oil. It’s a great all rounder and is suitable for dogs of all breeds and ages.

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Do you need to give oils to your dog?

Feeding a well balanced diet to your dog, along with regular exercise, is the best way to help him to stay fit and healthy.

There can be times, however, when your dog might need a boost to help to support his development and maintenance and adding a high quality oil to his meals can supplement his diet with healthy nutrients.

Many oils contain Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids helping your dog to reach and maintain optimum health levels.

In this simple guide we will look at the five best options.

Fish Oil

Fish oil is one of the most highly recommended oils, by vets, to give to dogs.

It is packed with EPA and DHA, two essential fatty acids that provide natural anti inflammatory effects, helping to reduce aches and pains.

This oil can also help with skin irritations and aid and support healthy skin and coat.

Additionally fish oil can also help your dog with his cognitive functions of memory, vision and learning.

How to feed fish oil to a dog

Aim to give your dog around 1000mg of fish oil for every 30 pounds of body weight.

Always consider his existing diet and check whether this contains EPA and DHA so that you don’t overdose him.

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Coconut Oil

Coconut oil can help your dog if he has an upset stomach or experiences regular digestive issues.

In addition to containing over 90% of healthy fats, coconut oil can help a dog to lose weight, improve energy levels and help with dry and itchy skin.

Coconut oil is particularly helpful for older dogs and can help with cognitive functions.

How to give coconut oil to a dog

Coconut oil is high in calories so you will need to be measured in the amount that you serve to your dog.

Always use organic oil without any additives and give your dog a quarter of a teaspoon for every 10 pounds of weight, twice a day.

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Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil is a great source of Omega 6 fatty acids with lower levels of saturated fats than animal based oils.

This supplement can help with healthy skin and coat as well as increased energy levels and aiding healthy organ function.

Serving sunflower oil to a dog

You can simply add a teaspoonful of sunflower oil to your dog’s daily meal for him to get the best result.

Remember that, like all oils, sunflower oil contains many calories and you should adjust the amount of food that you serve if you notice that your dog is increasing weight.

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Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed oil is less well known than the others although it provides a whole range of nutritional benefits.

Levels of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are similar to those that are in fish and, for dogs that have fish allergies, flaxseed can be a good alternative.

This oil is can help to reduce arthritic pain, develop a healthy coat and reduce inflammation.

Giving flaxseed oil to a dog

Small dogs – half a teaspoon daily

Medium dogs – 1 teaspoon daily

Large dogs – 2 teaspoons daily

Very large dogs – 1 tablespoon daily

Always monitor your dog and if he shows any signs of diarrhea then you should stop serving.

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Olive Oil

100% extra virgin olive oil is one of the best cooking oils that you can give to a dog. Not only is it a great choice for humans, it is also great for your dog.

Olive oil has numerous benefits which include:

Helping with weight loss

Improving the immune system

Supporting healthy skin and coat

It is a good choice for dogs that may have allergies with the other oils

How much olive oil to give to a dog

For small dogs half a teaspoon daily, a medium dog 1 teaspoon and a large dog 2 to 3 teaspoons.

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Best way to serve cooking oils to a dog

Most of these oils are available in capsule or liquid form and, in our view you should always opt for the liquid choice.

Oils in liquid form are easier to find and you will have a greater choice when you look for the liquid versions.

Adding oil to your dog’s food is much easier and, unlike a capsule, your dog cannot spit it out or avoid it.

You can also add liquid oils to a syringe which you can then easily use to dose your dog via the side of his mouth.

Final Words

The cooking oils outlined above are all perfectly safe to give to dogs.

All dogs will benefit from added oil to their diet and they can help with the development and maintenance of your dog’s health.

Always check with your vet before you make any changes to your dog’s diet and if you have any concerns about your dog’s health then your vet should be the first point of contact for professional advice.