- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Canola oil is a vegetable oil made from the seeds of canola plants, which are a type of rapeseed plant. Many people use this oil in cooking, and you might have some canola oil in your pantry right now! You’ll also find this dog-safe oil on the ingredients label of many commercial dog foods.
Dogs can eat canola oil safely, in small amounts, according to Dr. Athena Gaffud, owner of Country Vet Mom mobile veterinary services. She adds, though, that it’s important to consider the quality of the canola oil you use.
Canola oil goes through several stages of processing before reaching the shelf at your grocery store. The vast majority of canola crops in the United States and Canada are genetically modified to improve the oil’s quality and increase the canola plant’s tolerance of herbicides.
If you have any concerns about your dog’s health and safety, it won’t hurt to give them organic canola oil. But you don’t necessarily need to add any canola oil to their diet, either.
Read on to learn more about canola oil for dogs, including benefits, health risks, and alternatives.
Does Canola Oil Have Any Benefits For Dogs?
Canola oil is a good source of vitamins E and K, but it doesn’t offer many other nutrients. It does, however, have a low level of saturated fat.
Canola oil also provides essential fatty acids, namely omega-3 and omega-6, which help promote healthy skin, a lustrous coat, and overall joint well-being, Dr. Gaffud says.
That said, if your dog eats a commercial dog food, they’re most likely getting all the nutrients they need from that food already, according to Dr. Grant Little, DVM, vet expert with JustAnswer. He adds that canola oil may be a beneficial addition if your dog doesn’t get enough of the right nutrients from their food.
And of course, if you want to give them a little boost of nutrients, you can ask your vet about adding a supplement to their diet.
Dr. Little also says you can add canola oil to homemade dog food to help supplement different vitamins and fatty acids and balance their diet.
Important: If you’re cooking food at home for your dog, talk to your vet first to make sure you provide all the right nutrients in the right balance for their needs.
Does Canola Oil Have Any Risks For Dogs?
Canola oil is generally safe for dogs in small amounts, though some dogs could possibly have an allergy.
In large amounts, this oil may pose a few risks, especially if your dog doesn’t usually eat it.
According to Dr. Gaffud, a common risk includes digestive upset like diarrhea or vomiting. She also adds that the high omega-6 content in canola oil may cause stomach or intestinal inflammation in some dogs if not balanced with omega-3s.
Canola oil is a fat, which can be dangerous for dogs in larg amounts—especially dogs with a higher risk of developing pancreatitis. “This potentially life-threatening condition is very painful and intense to treat,” Dr. Little says, adding that breeds more likely to develop pancreatitis include Schnauzers and Yorkies.
Due to the risk of pancreatitis, it’s very important to use caution with the amount of fat in your dog’s diet. Dogs do need some fat, but it’s best to avoid adding extra oils and fats without your vet’s approval.
How To Feed Canola Oil To Dogs
Both Dr. Gaffud and Dr. Little agree that the recommended amount of canola oil for a dog will highly depend on that individual dog and their health needs or dietary goals.
Before adding canola oil, or any new ingredient, to your dog’s diet, it’s important to ask your vet about the right amount for your dog’s size, health, and diet needs.
“Canola oil is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) for canine diets when used at a level of 8.2 grams of oil per 100 grams of total dietary intake,” Dr. Gaffud says.
Of course, it’s not always easy to make these calculations at home, and she emphasizes the importance of talking to your vet to get more specific guidelines for your pup.
You can also find tools online to develop a balanced diet for your dog through consultations with vet nutritionists, Dr. Little says. He recommends Balance.it as one of his go-to resources for calculating and formulating diets for pets.
“In the self-formulation section, they have a spot where you can add canola oil as an ingredient,” he says.
Can Dogs Have Other Oils?
Dogs do need fat in their diet, just like people do—but other oils have better nutritional profiles than canola oil.
Dr. Gaffud says common recommendations for dogs include fish oil, coconut oil, and flaxseed oil:
- Fish oil: This oil is rich in EPA and DHA, two forms of omega-3 fatty acids your dog’s body can easily use.
- Coconut oil: Some vets may suggest this oil for its antimicrobial properties and skin and coat benefits.
- Flaxseed oil: This oil isn’t quite as effective as fish oil, but it also provides plant-based omega-3 fatty acids.
Dr. Little points out, though, that not every dog will need extra oil added to their food.
If you’re feeding a commercial dog food with an AAFCO-approved statement, your dog is eating a well-balanced diet and likely doesn’t need the oil, he explains.
He adds that it’s important to consider all the nutrients you include when feeding your dog a home-cooked diet long-term to make sure they get a well-balanced diet. And again, always start by talking to your vet!
