Can Fish Oil or Olive Oil Cause Diarrhea in Dogs?

When you give your dog some oil and you smell something spoiled -- DIARRHEA CHA-CHA-CHA! Fish and olive oil are great for your canine and provide a host of benefits. There are no major side-effects, but too much may cause your dog a temporary bout of diarrhea.

Olive oil benefits dogs in many ways. It helps reduce dry skin and skin flakiness. Olive oil can help promote weight loss, as the monounsaturated fats it contains encourage the breakdown of fat inside fat cells. It also contains oleic acid, which is believed to prevent cancer. Olive oil staves off cardiovascular disease and diabetes as well as preventing cognitive decline with aging.

Fish oil also helps promote healthy skin and a shiny coat in canines. It decreases inflammation, increases stamina and can increase your pet's appetite when added to his food due to the enhanced fish flavor.

No major side effects are associated with olive or fish oil, although excess amounts can lead to diarrhea. Don't exceed a half tablespoon of olive oil per setting. Add 5 to 10 drops to his food twice a day for the best results. You can also apply olive oil topically using a prepared solution of 5 to 10 tablespoons of olive oil diluted in water. Massage this into your dog's fur once a day. For fish oil, multiple your dog's weight in pounds by 20. The resulting number is the dose in milligrams of fish oil you should add to his food.