Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Your Pet? You Betcha!

“Five Ways Olive Oil is a Pet’s Best Friend”

Holistic medicine is in your kitchen

Ever use olive oil to remove ticks from a dog? Clean your pooch’s ears? Can you really add olive oil to your cat’s shampoo? Whether olive oil is used for home cures or health, this ancient remedy—a powerful golden liquid—is a versatile and natural helper for both dogs and cats in the 21st century. Here are some things you can use it for, straight from the bottle.

1. Smooth a Dog’s Snout. As a South Lake Tahoe pets author who knows what cold, dry air does to my skin, I can tell that oil may be helpful to dogs’ cold noses. My two Brittanys, Simon and Seth, love the snow. If their paws can become red, dry and cracked from long walks on the cold, dry ground, why not their tender black noses? RemedyRx: Use a small amount of extra virgin olive oil (only the best for our pets, right?) on your dog’s nose and gently massage in.

2. Fight Ticks. I know in mountain regions, a tick or two can find their way into a dog’s coat. Rather than try lighting a match to the pesky tick on your best friend, there are safer, natural remedies. Remedy Rx: In the film City of Angels, Maggie (Meg Ryan), a surgeon, must remove a tick from her yellow Lab. Her doctorboyfriend’s first recommendation is alcohol. When Maggie claims she doesn’t have any hospital stuff in her home, he inquires about olive oil. She offers jalapeno or rosemary. It was a dab of rosemary olive that was the oil of choice and did the trick to remove the tick.

3. Gooey Foot Pads. Uh-oh. Did Fluffy or Fido step in something sticky such as gum or tar? This sticky situation can be frustrating for both pet and caretaker. So, what can you do rather than watch your poor cat or dog lick and chew the unwanted substance? Olive oil comes to the rescue. Remedy Rx: Try soaking the foot pad in a solution of warm saltwater and olive oil. The two ingredients may break up the foreign substance, and both the oil and the salt may also soothe any redness.

4. Clean Ears. Dogs and cats can get ear mites, small parasitic creatures that take up residence in their ears, causing itching and inflammation. Olive oil or a natural product that contains it, whether you use it to prevent a case of ear mites or to treat it, may help ease the itch and fight the infection. Remedy Rx: You can dab olive oil on a cotton ball and rub gently inside and outside your pet’s ear canal.

5. Dog and Cat Shampoo. Olive oil in your pet’s shampoo? You bet. The olive oil may keep the skin healthy and leave the coat shining. Also, it may help maintain good skin hydration and even prevent matting on a long-haired pet. Remedy Rx: Mix 1/2 teaspoon with your pet’s recommended amount of natural shampoo. Massage in, then rinse.

And that's not all. Yep, without a doubt I go gourmet food for the pooches, too.

Dog Biscuits They'll Roll Over For!

Cheese Dog Biscuits

3 cups oat flour

1 cup grated Cheddar cheese

1 egg

2 tablespoons olive oil

Water to moisten



In a large bowl, add all the ingredients. Mix well, form into a ball, and roll out to a 1/4-inch thickness with a rolling pin. Cut into desired shapes, place on cookie sheets, and back in a 325 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until well browned. Turn off the oven, leaving the bisuits in the oven until cooled. (Source: http://www.knowbetterdogfood.com/)


Excerpted from The Healing Powers of Olive Oil (purchased by One Spirit Book Club).