Is cooking oil terrible for dogs? We have prepared a comprehensive guide about all the cooking oils that are good or bad for dogs’ health and skin. 

It is common to pour oils onto a dog’s skin or in food for its healthy coat or body. This may sometimes lead to severe allergic reactions and diarrhea. This is why it is essential to know what oils will help your dog stay healthy and which ones would have negative impacts. 

If you plan to add oil to your dog’s diet, we have written this article for you. Let’s dive deeper into the positive and negative impacts of cooking oils on your dogs. 

Treating Dog’s Skin with Cooking Oil

Your dog might be suffering from skin dryness. If the dryness is severe, we recommend you visit a veterinarian. For usual dryness, you can treat it with cooking oils.

The best among all is Omega-6 fatty acid. You can either rub or feed it to your dog to moisturize its skin and reduce inflammation. 

Do not use butter, grease, or vegetable oil for dryness. It may harm the dog’s coat more.

How to Apply Cooking Oil on a Dog’s Coat?

Below is the method to apply oil on a dog’s coat to reduce dryness:

  1. Heat the oil until warm.
  2. Dip two fingers into the oil.
  3. Start rubbing the fingers on the dry area.
  4. Rub it till the skin absorbs all the oil. 

This method can only help reduce dryness and act as a calming massage for your four-legged friend. Also, make sure that you don’t apply too much oil as it will clog the dog’s skin pores. 

Is cooking oil a renewable resource? Read our comprehensive guide. 

What Cooking Oils are Good for Dogs?

Here is a list of good cooking oils for your dog, except if he is allergic to any of these. Generally, these oils will work wonders on your dog’s skin, keeping it conditioned, shiny, and allergy-free. 

Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil helps keep a dog’s skin moisturized and shiny. It promotes healthy immune and organ function and heart health. 

Dosage Instructions:

  • ½ teaspoon for small dogs.
  • 1 teaspoon for medium dogs.
  • 2 teaspoons for large dogs.

Fish Oil

Fish oil comes packed with EPA and DHA and provides many benefits to dogs, such as better learning, development, and vision. Also, it is known to ease itchy skin, inflammation, allergies, dandruff, and arthritis. 

It improves the memory of your four-legged friend and makes its coat shiny. You can feed fish oil capsules or pour it as a liquid on food. 

Dosage Instructions:

  • a 500mg tablet is for every 15 pounds weight.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is responsible for enhancing digestion issues, improve dog coats, and soothe itchy skin. Additionally, it makes dog breath stink less. 

Dosage Instructions:

  • ½ teaspoon for every 20 pounds weight.

Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed oil normalizes blood pressure and improves kidney function in dogs. It also helps treat arthritis and is an excellent alternative to fish oil. 

It is also known to soothe allergies, inflammation, and sneezing. However, too much flaxseed oil intake may cause diarrhea. 

Dosage Instructions:

  • ½ teaspoon for small dogs.
  • 1 teaspoon for medium dogs.
  • 2 teaspoons for large dogs.

Olive Oil

Olive oil works great for keeping dogs healthy overall, its coat shiny, and diabetes and cardiovascular diseases under control. It is a good alternative for omega-6 fatty acid. You better use it pure for quick results.

Dosage Instructions:

  • ½ teaspoon for every 20 pounds weight. 

Krill Oil

Krill oil contains EPA and DHA, which promote joint and skin health of the dogs. 

Dosage Instructions:

  • a 500mg tablet is for every 15 pounds weight.

Is Cooking Oil Bad for Dogs?

If taken in a large amount, cooking oil is awful for dogs. It is possible that the dog would have to go through pancreas surgery. 

Besides, it may vomit, suffer from greasy diarrhea and abdominal pain. However, if the dog intakes a small amount of cooking oil, it will be fine within 1-2 days.

It’s even worse if the dog consumes used cooking oil. Due to constant exposure to high heat, cooking oil breaks down. This used cooking oil is harmful to both humans and dogs. 

Also, it contains leftover foods. If the food in used cooking oil is safe for dogs, there might be chances that the particular cooking oil may be less harmful to dogs. 

Precautionary Measures While Feeding Cooking Oils to Your Dog

When feeding your dogs oils that are safe for them, make sure not to exceed daily dosage as it can result in diarrhea, greasy stools, weight gain, and Vitamin E deficiency. 

Too many fatty acids can result in certain liver conditions. Your dog may be allergic to certain foods such as peanut and soybean. It will give them a stomachache. 

If you feed your dog overheated oils, even if the oil is safe for it when unused, it can poison them. Additionally, if your dog drinks cooking oil from dirty fryers, it may cause toxicity too. 

FAQs – Is Cooking Oil Bad for Dogs?

Are you still wondering if cooking oil is bad for dogs? The frequently asked questions below may help you understand it better. 

How to Wash Cooking Oil on Dogs?

Has your dog accidentally thrown itself in cooking oil? Worry no more. Follow the guide below to wash cooking oil off him. 

  1. Mix baking soda and water in a bowl to form a thick paste.
  2. Apply this paste to the greasy areas. 
  3. Let the paste dry. 
  4. Brush off the baking soda. 
  5. Pour warm water over the dog’s body.
  6. Mix dog shampoo and five drops of dishwashing liquid. 
  7. Rub this mixture on the whole body. 
  8. Let it soak for 5 minutes. 
  9. Rinse the soap with water and dry with a clean towel.
  10. If you still see grease, apply soap and wash again. 

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Is Vegetable Oil Toxic for Dogs?

No, it is not toxic but neither healthy. If a dog intakes too much oil, it may result in diarrhea, pancreatitis, obesity, allergies, or, the worst scenario, death. 

If the dog ingests a small amount of vegetable oil, it will be fine within 1-2 days. If you notice poisoning symptoms, greasy stools, high fever, or difficulty breathing, run it to the veterinarian as soon as possible. 

How to Make a Dog Coat Shinier?

Besides feeding olive oil, omega fatty acids, and fish oil or applying it onto the dog’s coat, providing it protein and excellent grooming can make its hair look shinier. 

Protein, in general, is suitable for skin and nails, and a dog’s coat is 90% protein. Feeding it with protein will make its coat glossy. Additionally, brushing a dog’s coat daily to remove dead hair can also help make its hair shinier. 

Is Chicken Fat Bad for Dogs?

No, it is not. Research shows that chicken fat is high in omega-6 and is digestible. Additionally, it gives a tasty flavor to food. You can feed your dog chicken fat to taste more flavorful, digestible, and omega-6 rich. 

Is Baby Oil Safe for Dogs?

No, it is not. Baby oil is a petroleum distillate, just like motor oil and all petroleum distillates are harmful to dogs. Also, it is not digestible and contains contaminants like scents and chemicals that are toxic to dogs. 

However, if you are using baby oil to coat a dog’s skin, it may be a good idea. Baby oil works wonders on dogs’ skin and helps get rid of winter dryness and itching. It is an inexpensive solution that penetrates quickly through a dog’s skin to soothe inflammation. 

Here is a guide on how to apply baby oil on dog’s skin:

  • Dip your fingers in baby oil.
  • Start rubbing the dry areas.
  • Keep rubbing until oil absorbs fully in the skin. 
  • If the skin is still dry, increase the amount of oil used by 2-3 drops.
  • Wait for 2 hours. 
  • Gently brush your dog’s coat (brushing helps stimulate natural oil production in dogs)

We recommend you use scent-free baby oil as your dog may be allergic to artificial smells in oil. If your dog still shows allergic reactions, stop using baby oil and take it to a veterinarian.

Is engine oil toxic to dogs? Read our guide here.

Final Words

If someone you know asks if cooking oil is bad for dogs, now you have an answer. Before you decide to feed oil to your dog or cake their coat with it, make sure you do proper research or get your four-legged friend checked by a veterinarian. 

If you sprinkle any of the oils mentioned above on your dog’s food, ensure that you don’t exceed the limited dosage. If the dog ingests more oil than recommended, your dog will start vomiting, suffer from diarrhea, or in the worst scenarios, collapse. 

Some dogs may be allergic to unusual substances; if you notice allergy symptoms, run to a veterinarian as soon as possible.