Are Cooking Oils Safe for Your Dog? Expert Guidance on What to Feed Your Pet

When you have a dog as a pet it is important to know what types of foods are healthy for its diet, and which food products can have a negative impact on the dog's health. Giving your dog food that it is unable to digest can cause stomach problems and allergic reactions. If you are considering giving your dog table scraps or other human food, you should know whether cooking oils used to prepare the foods are safe for dog consumption.

Be sure to contact your veterinarian before giving your dog any oil, or any non-cooking oil, to be sure it's safe for your dog. If your dog has a high fat diet it could be at risk for pancreatitis. This is an inflammation of the pancreas which can be caused by too much fat or greasy foods.It is a serious condition, requiring veterinary treatment and care.

Warning signs of a dog eating cooking oil

If you aren't sure how well your dog will tolerate cooking oils, only give it a little bit of the food at a time. Look for the warning signs that will indicate how well your dog is digesting the oils. If your dog gets into a pan of bacon grease or fatty oil, she will likely have vomiting first and then have diarrhea later. Dogs are resilient, even though their digestive system can be remarkably sensitive.

If symptoms are mild, you may be able to treat the issue at home by withholding food for 12 to 24 hours. If your dog needs to eliminate or comes down with a cause of loose stools or diarrhea, it can be assumed that the cooking oil – or the food itself – did not agree with your dog. Either way, you should steer clear from feeding it again to your dog. If your dog has no unusual reaction from the food prepared in cooking oil, then you can try serving it to your dog again.

Vegetable oil for dogs in moderation

It is okay to feed dogs cooking oils in moderation, but cooking oils contain fat and are highly caloric, so too much of them can lead to canine health issues. Liver conditions can form due to a dog that consumes too much fatty acids. It is always recommended to check with your dog's veterinarian to determine how much cooking oil is safe for your dog to consume. Your vet will have suggestions for exact amounts of cooking oils and frequency.